Gritty thriller set in Northern Ireland branded 'mesmerising'
The gripping thriller, which first graced BBC screens in 2013, features Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson alongside Jamie Dornan as serial murderer Paul Spector. Working as a Met Police officer, Stella is temporarily assigned to the Police Service of Northern Ireland to evaluate the advancement of a murder inquiry, with the serial killer remaining at large.
The programme garnered glowing reviews from critics and boasts a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its debut season. The Guardian placed it as the tenth finest television programme of 2013. Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in The Fall (Image: BBC)
The series in question is The Fall, which follows Stella's squad as they work relentlessly to construct a case and apprehend Paul.
The psychological cat-and-mouse drama earned high acclaim from Anderson, who lauded writer Allan Cubitt. Regarding what attracted her to the series, she remarked: "How good the writing was - Allan is a talented writer.
"I don't know how he manages to infuse so much of each character within the scene and the dialogue without description; it comes out in their personalities and their actions which is a hard thing for writers to do.
"He just intrinsically knows how to do that so the characters are unique and individual. That was it first and foremost.
"As an actor, anytime you are told something was written with you in mind it adds to your ego, but also to the enticement of it. It makes you prick up your ears." ACC Jim Burns (John Lynch) with DSI Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) (Image: Helen Sloan)
Fans have been sharing their thoughts on the series, with Dina Brown posting on Google Reviews: "What a shocker of a series. Not for the faint of heart, its brutal but very well acted.
"It starts out slow, but trust me stick with it, because it becomes an amazingly shocking ride.
"To see Gillian Anderson in this role like this was such a detour from what we have come to know her for. My goodness her acting has matured, and she plays the part perfect.
"The nemesis to her part was such a good actor that I found myself despising him as if the events were real. Fans of hardcore crime thriller will love this i think. I know I did."
Wendy Bardsley also chimed in: "A mesmerising show. The characters are fascinating, even the bit players and the cliche psychiatrist, there are also well written female roles.
"A lot is covered in terms of trauma, anger and what is good and evil. Lots of detail on procedures that not everyone will enjoy but I found fascinating.
"It is a great crime thriller with fast and slow action and some shocking explosions of rage and violence. Brilliant cast, even the children were good."
The Fall is available to stream on Netflix
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