The review about this product
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program (What's this?) This British/Irish crime series drama--five episodes around an hour each in length--by Allan Cubitt will chill the viewer with its stunningly eerie portrayal of serial killer Paul Spector (no spoiler here, the identity of the killer from the viewer's perspective is known from the start) as he shuffles his penchant for murder, his life as a loving husband/father and his role as a draw-outside-the-lines grief counselor. Played by Jamie Dornan in a departure from his role as the "Huntsman"in ABC's Once Upon A Time, Spector relentlessly scopes out his potential kills with the methodical relish of an art connoisseur acquiring just the right work of art to further complete his collection. With his choir boy looks foiling his Herculean strength, he manages to trigger a fresh sense of lurid fascination for viewers despite the fact that they have cut their eye teeth on the character of Hannibal Lector and have subsequently become immune to the horrific details of the unconventional mind. Spector intrigues; in spite of being inundated with Dexter, Dr. Joe Carroll of "The Following" and a raft of other killer crazies, we want to know what his backstory is. Why does he kill? Why only brunettes? And why the poses?
In a parallel narrative format, Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame enters as the cool, calm and collected British detective Stella Gibson in the still troubled arena of Northern Ireland who eventually delineates some pattern to what others see as random crimes. The viewer does not know much about Gibson other than the fact that she is driven, intellectually and educationally challenging and has a penchant for one night stands that she calls "sweet nights." Her seemingly emotionless focus is anything but--her underlying sensitivity seems comparatively cold when viewed alongside her male colleagues. Nonetheless, in these five episodes, she is bent on the successful discovery and arrest of this killer who seems hard-pressed to ramp up his lurid activities in a crescendo of action whose speed precipitates some mistakes that are devoid of his former and complete anonymity. As she tightens the noose around Spector's neck, we find out a scant more about her personal life with full awareness that more of this will be revealed as the series continues onward into further seasons.
The turbulent city of Belfast acts as a frenetic backdrop to the crimes; the killings are viewed by its investigators as affiliated with some long shadow cast by the city's historic troubles. Add to this state of perpetual unrest side stories that include a seductive fifteen year old babysitter, the execution of a police officer, a sleazy escort service, die-hard underground groups with long memories and the police prejudice amped by long-term religious sides. The result? A chaotic blend of fact and fiction that breathes with a gritty reality.
Bottom line? The BBC series "The Fall" is being renewed for a second season where more will be revealed about Detective Superintendent Gibson and serial killer Paul Spector. Lovers of this type of drama will not be disappointed, least of all by Jamie Dornan's chilling portrayal of a serial killer. This DVD set includes all five episodes and a 12 minute behind-the-scenes feature. Recommended as a good gift for the police procedural aficionado.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"
