The Fall

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Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 141 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 141
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 141
  3. Negative: 18 out of 141
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User Reviews

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  1. MissusC
    Jan 8, 2017
    6
    Season 1 is fabulous. Season 2 is very good as well. The cat & mouse game between Stella & Paul Spector twists & turns between them & everyone else in their orbit. The characters Anderson & Dornan play are excellent. The setting in Belfast Northern Ireland adds interest. The show sometimes moves at with typical "British TV" ssllllooowwnneesss but it still kept my interest.
    And then BANG!    Season 1 is fabulous. Season 2 is very good as well. The cat & mouse game between Stella & Paul Spector twists & turns between them & everyone else in their orbit. The characters Anderson & Dornan play are excellent. The setting in Belfast Northern Ireland adds interest. The show sometimes moves at with typical "British TV" ssllllooowwnneesss but it still kept my interest.
    And then BANG! In Season 3 the whole show falls apart & it ruined all the good feelings I'd built up for this show. Talk, talk, more talk, & then some more talking all in dark rooms. Lots of stuff left unresolved. Am so glad I had fast forward or I might have given up before I got to the end. There's rumor of a season 4 but I'm not sure I'd be interested.
    If you want to watch this show, quit after Season 2 or keep your fast fwd clicker handy.    … Expand
  2. Lx1R
    Jul 6, 2017
    7
    I really enjoyed The Fall as a deep psychological analysis of the killer's mind, although some side stories and characters really didn't feel so compelling. I really enjoyed this Noire vibe. Acting and music were all pretty top notch. My only regret is that I still feel the series overextended after the second season. To me, the second season's finale should have been the series' true ending.
  3. Tss5078
    Jan 3, 2016
    4
    For all the amazing new programming Netflix originals has brought us, it has also strung along a whole list of shows that weren't good enough to be picked up by cable, The Fall is one such show. It may sound ridiculous to say that a six episode season felt too long, but when it came to this show, that was certainly the case.

    In Belfast, there has been a string of murders that the police    For all the amazing new programming Netflix originals has brought us, it has also strung along a whole list of shows that weren't good enough to be picked up by cable, The Fall is one such show. It may sound ridiculous to say that a six episode season felt too long, but when it came to this show, that was certainly the case.

    In Belfast, there has been a string of murders that the police are unequipped to handle, so they called in one of Scotland Yards top investigators to help solve the crime. The description of the show could lead one to assume that this would be a great murder mystery series, and it might have been, if not for the fact that the show parallels the investigation with the killers life. There is no mystery here, other than how something like this was turned into a series. The Fall has maybe enough content for a movie, and even then it wouldn't be a very good one.

    X-Files star Gillian Anderson stars in a role that is completely unbelievable for her. First we are to believe, that because she has red hair and freckles, that she is from Ireland, when her ridiculous attempt at an accent says otherwise. Beyond that, she plays this icy cold, promiscuous woman, who makes a hell of a lot of mistakes for a woman whose supposed to be the best Scotland Yard has too offer.

    As for the first season, it's only six episodes, but it felt more like six days, as it moves at a snails pace. British Dramas are almost always dry, but this series takes the cake, not only is it as slow as can be, but there is very little action and absolutely no attempts at humor to break up the monotony.

    The Fall is painfully straight-forward, slow moving, and it leaves nothing to the imagination. Unfortunately, once you start the series, it's like a car crash, it's horrible, but hard to look away. I wanted to like this show, so I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing does, it just builds to a anti-climatic cliffhanger, that leads us into season two, which I wanted absolutely no part of.

    The name Gillian Anderson may peak the interest of my fellow science fiction aficionados, and if you ask Netflix, they'll tell you it's the greatest mystery of all time, but the only mystery to me, is why I continued to watch this show after the first episode.    … Expand
  4. oakridge
    Jun 14, 2013
    5
    Starts well, but falls apart and interest wanes. Somertimes its confusing just as to which girl is on screen as they all look alike (I know this is the point, but it makes it a frustrating watch). Gillian Anderson's unconventional cop is a fabulous invention, however, and she is never less than sensational when on screen.
  5. see-the-world
    Mar 10, 2015
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Just awful.

    I have tried to push through this mindless series and it's a chore.

    The cops, the victims, the people surrounding the killer are clueless. The killer is reckless. This should have been solved in the second episode. My God they have a drawing of him! They have him on film! He's been to the police station! He even helped the girl on the train by drawing his beard in the picture!

    It doesn't matter what he does, who sees him and even IF someone does know(the teenager).

    I haven't finished season 2 but I can imagine that the only way they catch him is if he walks into the police station and scream: "Here I am!"

    So many things should have given him away(can his wife be any dumber)and yet he does what he wants.

    At least make him clever. Don't make the people pursuing him stupid.    … Expand
  6. toliverjohn
    Jul 26, 2013
    9
    Very intense show that draws the viewer in. It seems more realistic to me than other police shows. The danger for the police in modern was also very well played.
  7. Rytis
    Apr 17, 2014
    5
    Is Belfast really so bad? Corrupt police, cheating husbands, whoring detectives? Also, how can the killer be so sloppy? He puts a necklace of a killed girl on his daughter's neck, he then keeps cut hair in the first drawer! He doesn't bother to wait for his daughter's room to be empty to take / put away his incriminating stuff. Moreover, I felt on many occasions like some themes wereIs Belfast really so bad? Corrupt police, cheating husbands, whoring detectives? Also, how can the killer be so sloppy? He puts a necklace of a killed girl on his daughter's neck, he then keeps cut hair in the first drawer! He doesn't bother to wait for his daughter's room to be empty to take / put away his incriminating stuff. Moreover, I felt on many occasions like some themes were forced as from a point of view of a state owned TV, like dealing with Facebook account of a deceased person, or making the men in police force so lame as to insult females in front of them. Again, are people really so dull stereotypical "machos" in Northern Ireland? And with religion. I'm not interested...… Expand
  8. charleym
    Apr 26, 2014
    6
    I guess I'm just not a Gillian Anderson fan. Her frozen-faced "acting" just leaves me cold, and it doesn't help that her character remains almost completely undeveloped (except for her silly vulpine sex life) in this first season. As to the story itself, it's okay, but I hate the way all the plot lines are left dangling at the end. What comes through most clearly is modern-day Belfast andI guess I'm just not a Gillian Anderson fan. Her frozen-faced "acting" just leaves me cold, and it doesn't help that her character remains almost completely undeveloped (except for her silly vulpine sex life) in this first season. As to the story itself, it's okay, but I hate the way all the plot lines are left dangling at the end. What comes through most clearly is modern-day Belfast and all the reasons not to go there.… Expand
  9. noahsap
    Jul 21, 2013
    9
    Really compelling character study. It's an absolute mind$&%@. I highly recommend it to fans of crime/detective dramas. Prepare yourself to enter the mind of a serial killer. It is undoubtedly disturbing, but you'll soon find yourself unable to turn it off. These BBC miniseries are generally top-notch. I would say that Americans are largely unaware of the quality of these productions. DoReally compelling character study. It's an absolute mind$&%@. I highly recommend it to fans of crime/detective dramas. Prepare yourself to enter the mind of a serial killer. It is undoubtedly disturbing, but you'll soon find yourself unable to turn it off. These BBC miniseries are generally top-notch. I would say that Americans are largely unaware of the quality of these productions. Do yourself a favor; if you're even considering checking this one out, just turn it on for 20 minutes or so to check it out. I guarantee you'll be hooked.… Expand
  10. myksal
    Dec 6, 2014
    1
    We used to talk about "seeing " a movie, but so many new films are shot without lighting, you really can't see much. I barely made it through the first episode, which wasn't interesting enough to sit through any more. Very little story development, characters of little interest. Kind of a long variation of "Criminal Minds."
  11. Jhwarfield
    Sep 6, 2013
    7
    This Northern Ireland thriller gives you a glimpse into a city you could barely ever see without a passport. It was a nice little relief between seasons of Luther.
  12. muldjord
    Aug 24, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I started watching this show with great interest. The plot seemed interesting and it has some great acting in there. When I reached episode 2 I thought to myself that he would most certainly be caught soon so the story could move on to other things. But he wasn't caught. In fact the show seemed to slow down tremendously as if it suddenly realized it had to go on for 3 more episodes. But I kept watching thinking that I was sure he would at least be caught in the 5th episode... So. Yeah. He wasn't either. And that's when I gave up. It was basically 3 episodes of nothing. The side plot? I have no idea what is was all about, just seemed like even more filler to me. And now I am expected to start watching season 2? Let me guess; he'll not be caught in the first two episodes of that season either.

    It seems like it's a bit of a wasted potential. A main story that's been stretched beyond what it should have been. Waaay beyond.

    It's not without its merits though, so if you are doing other stuff around the house, put this on. There's some interesting stuff in there. And you won't miss much by only paying attention occasionally.    … Expand
  13. KristiMac
    Dec 10, 2015
    9
    Thoroughly engrossing, with a superb and multilayered performance by Anderson. Jamie Dornan is much more comfortable with his natural accent than in 50 Shades - and much cuter with a beard. Sally-Ann, who plays his wife, is excellent. Never a dull moment. I deducted a point, however, for the incomplete side plot; i.e., the one with the cocaine and the prostitutes and the crookedThoroughly engrossing, with a superb and multilayered performance by Anderson. Jamie Dornan is much more comfortable with his natural accent than in 50 Shades - and much cuter with a beard. Sally-Ann, who plays his wife, is excellent. Never a dull moment. I deducted a point, however, for the incomplete side plot; i.e., the one with the cocaine and the prostitutes and the crooked policemen - didn't understand what on earth any of it was about, and I don't think the writers knew either, since they dropped it entirely after Season 1. I wish Dani, the young officer who serves as Stella's "right-hand man" in Season 1 had more storyline in the second season.… Expand
  14. silasbodnick
    Mar 21, 2014
    10
    Whenever anyone asks me for my money recommendation on Netflix I always tell them to rent or to stream the fall. This is one of Gillian Anderson's best works and even Jamie Dornan who will be the lead in 50 shades of gray is subtly scary. It's only about four or five episodes but it certainly worth your time.
  15. bruceylegs
    Jun 28, 2013
    10
    Intense, disturbing but a hell of a ride! Both Anderson's cop and the killer are both complex, unknowable characters. Up there with Breaking Bad when it comes to intelligent TV.
  16. cmullen84
    Sep 26, 2015
    3
    I only watched the first episode and part of the second. The show is boring and slow. Gillian Anderson gives a flat, emotionless performance. I've never seen anyone look so bored in a sex scene.
  17. JimneyC
    Dec 28, 2015
    3
    Whereas American mystery and crime shows can wrap up crimes in sixty minutes less commercials, it takes the Brits two to three seasons. Somewhere in the middle would be ideal. As much as one can become immersed in the " The Fall" storyline, the endless dreariness and requisite incompetence to carry it, renders the story into a gloomy, and logically intolerable mess. After two seasons onWhereas American mystery and crime shows can wrap up crimes in sixty minutes less commercials, it takes the Brits two to three seasons. Somewhere in the middle would be ideal. As much as one can become immersed in the " The Fall" storyline, the endless dreariness and requisite incompetence to carry it, renders the story into a gloomy, and logically intolerable mess. After two seasons on the same story, there's no reason to carry it to another.… Expand
  18. JustShai
    Mar 31, 2016
    2
    I have one rule of thumb when it comes to TV series: if it hasnt hooked me in the first 15 minutes I move on to something more stimulating. I must say.,fan that I am of most BBC series, intrigued as I was about the plot, and curious of what the fuss was about I turned on my Netflix and was prepared to binge watch a show with positive reviews..BUT...( sigh)..what an utter and completeI have one rule of thumb when it comes to TV series: if it hasnt hooked me in the first 15 minutes I move on to something more stimulating. I must say.,fan that I am of most BBC series, intrigued as I was about the plot, and curious of what the fuss was about I turned on my Netflix and was prepared to binge watch a show with positive reviews..BUT...( sigh)..what an utter and complete disappointment! Slow paced is an understatement. Snails are slow paced..molasses in winter is slow paced. The Fall is like a funeral that never ends.It is grey, confusing, with all the suspense and drama of watching cars rust and paint dry. I made it to the end of the 1st episode but just barely. You'd have to strap me in a chair and staple my eyes open to get me to watch another. You want a good series to watch? Try Fargo, or Ray Donovan, or Breaking Bad, or Better Call Saul, or almost any other BBC series like Luther, or Sherlock. Believe me, if you give The Fall a miss, you won.t be missing anything.… Expand
  19. drlowdon
    Aug 28, 2014
    8
    When Belfast detectives run out of leads on a murder case Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Anderson) is brought in from London to help solve it. Pretty soon it becomes clear that the murder isn't a one off.

    The performances are excellent across the board and with Anderson and Dornan standing out in particular and, by focusing on both the police and killer, The Fall makes for an    When Belfast detectives run out of leads on a murder case Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Anderson) is brought in from London to help solve it. Pretty soon it becomes clear that the murder isn't a one off.

    The performances are excellent across the board and with Anderson and Dornan standing out in particular and, by focusing on both the police and killer, The Fall makes for an enthralling watch. There may only be five episodes in this first season but this is one of the best police drama series to hit our screens in a while.    … Expand
  20. Ravens1294
    Nov 21, 2014
    8
    A very good show that I wish I watched earlier. British crime dramas are often very high quality and much better than America's ones. The show follows a senior police official and the serial killer. Paul is a character you like even though he strangles women. He's charismatic, sweet, quiet, and he's hiding in plain sight. The scenes when he's killing women are often intense and prettyA very good show that I wish I watched earlier. British crime dramas are often very high quality and much better than America's ones. The show follows a senior police official and the serial killer. Paul is a character you like even though he strangles women. He's charismatic, sweet, quiet, and he's hiding in plain sight. The scenes when he's killing women are often intense and pretty graphic for some people. The show has some really good writing, the cinematography is great, and the music is chilly. The tone is dark and somber. Gillian Anderson does a good job with her character. Her character is mistreated by colleagues, people, etc because she's a woman is a power position. Each season is only 5 episodes and that is perfect. The show continues on season 2. I'm glad they did that because solving the crimes in only 5 episodes would be way too short. The show has very good acting, is really intense, good overall story, and it's very interesting to watch. Overall, a really good show.… Expand
  21. carold
    Jan 16, 2015
    8
    Riveting crime show, impressive performances, esp. Jamie Dornan. But why on Earth are they perpetually whispering? It's affected, pointless, faddish: See The Honorable Woman for more whispering.
  22. notforbreakfast
    Oct 31, 2014
    8
    It's emotive, slow-burning, intense fun. It's not perfect--it could learn to find a balance between plot and character, and when either one feels overdone--but it's never bad, or never brilliant
  23. mjoll
    Nov 16, 2014
    9
    Just watch all five episodes (binge!) and loved it. I never knew much about Anderson - didn't watch The X Files, but now I wish I had. She is simply awesome in this role. The entire cast, script and atmosphere very good. If I had just one minor critique, it might have been the sound editing. Sometimes there was dialogue that seemed murky in sound. This is really a great crime series,Just watch all five episodes (binge!) and loved it. I never knew much about Anderson - didn't watch The X Files, but now I wish I had. She is simply awesome in this role. The entire cast, script and atmosphere very good. If I had just one minor critique, it might have been the sound editing. Sometimes there was dialogue that seemed murky in sound. This is really a great crime series, unlike any other I've seen. Best of all, it's not another whodunnit because we know who did it all along, which really makes it even more creepy.… Expand
  24. dragonhead2010
    Sep 22, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After watching both season 1 and 2 I say it's just a o.k. to me. I've seen better "police" work on "law and order SVU" then in "Northern Ireland". The 15/16 year old girl in this series was a better detective, then the "Northern Ireland" police department. The lead detective (Stella Gibson) also did a good job in this series, but due to bad story line made her fall apart a bit. Like when she didn't update her crew, and could have just said "hey the killer my have a young daughter". But it took season 2 to convey this massage. And then she (Stella Gibson) get's upset at the other detective for leaving out this info. Granted the Northern Ireland police suck, she still should have update the police station so they can narrow down the killer. And whatever happen to going after the cop killer in season 2? A.k.a Stella Gibson ex boy toy, who was there just for sex. And the guy's she sleep with are just better looking "Zoolander" cops. Except for one who's is her superior, who's more emotionally unstable then the killer in this series. And I don't get the appeal of Stella Gibson. Why do guy's get emotional with her? She have less emotional then a sex robot. And the only one who get's her is the killer. And the killer wife is dumb. When the 15/16 year old girl told the wife she didn't have an affair with her husband, I would think "he have to be a killer"! I'm sorry if someone told me that my husband/spouse may have lied about having an affair, with A 15/16 YEAR OLD GIRL, then his lie is really really big. I did like Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson, but when the people around her is this incompetent, except for the 15/16 year old girl who then helps the killer. The series is just o.k to me.… Expand
  25. Bitash
    Jan 1, 2017
    10
    Another Succsessful British series, impeccable acting and writing. Andersons prformance is superb, just fantastic. A must see. You can't predict the scenes or what comes next. just exciting.
  26. Broyax
    Feb 11, 2023
    1
    Le retour de ‘Scully’… comme Commissaire aux trousses d’un tueur en série en Irlande du Nord… plus de **** hommes gris, plus de soucoupes volantes et plus de Mulder pour dérider l’atmosphère… Cela étant, Gillian Anderson est en pleine forme, belle et convaincante.

    Et cette série alors ? à part Gillian j’essaie de lui trouver des qualités… la froideur clinique, le réalisme peut-être ?    Le retour de ‘Scully’… comme Commissaire aux trousses d’un tueur en série en Irlande du Nord… plus de **** hommes gris, plus de soucoupes volantes et plus de Mulder pour dérider l’atmosphère… Cela étant, Gillian Anderson est en pleine forme, belle et convaincante.

    Et cette série alors ? à part Gillian j’essaie de lui trouver des qualités… la froideur clinique, le réalisme peut-être ? oui, on dirait un reportage à la télé, il manque juste le commentaire. A part ça, de l’émotion, de l’intérêt ? des personnages dont on se souvient ? à part Gillian je veux dire…

    Le psychopathe sans doute ? non on s’en branle complètement et c’est le problème rédhibitoire : on s’en branle à un point de tout ce qui peut arriver là dedans, un point… inimaginable ! C’est plat comme un épisode de Navarro ou du Commissaire Moulin. Mais avec Gillian Anderson.    … Expand
  27. bdjude
    Nov 23, 2017
    10
    Watched all the episodes and it blows you out to sky with it's supper suspense. Especially, the Season 1 and 2 ought to resonate even after many years to come. Wonder why Hollywood cannot bring-up a series like this when Ireland hit the jackpot.
  28. NURTUCKER
    Jan 4, 2018
    2
    What a shame!! The first season was OK - although annoyingly slow and difficult to understand as Gillian Anderson has a habit of whispering the whole time. But season 2 was worse and Season 3 was really off. If you have not watched it don't invest the money or the time on it. The plot is written very badly. There are so many situations that are very silly and does not make sense.What a shame!! The first season was OK - although annoyingly slow and difficult to understand as Gillian Anderson has a habit of whispering the whole time. But season 2 was worse and Season 3 was really off. If you have not watched it don't invest the money or the time on it. The plot is written very badly. There are so many situations that are very silly and does not make sense. Unanswered questions or very obvious points being missed by a supposedly very clever woman (Gillian Anderson). The whole Belfast Police Department is portrayed as weak and incompetent by the show.
    Jamie Dornan acts well although, I did not have high expectations of him due to the film he played in (50 shades). But he acts well in his role. But Gillian Anderson was utterly annoying. There was not a scene where I did not get annoyed by her acting. She is trying to portray an icy cold, strong, intelligent and charismatic detective but the way she acts and speaks and also DRESSES is ridiculous. Who dressed her for the show? She is a police officer god's sake but she is under the impression that she is a high profile investment banker or she thinks she belongs to a boardroom. She is constantly in super high heels, figure hugging skirts and silk blouses cleavage of which is always revealing her recent boob job. She tries very hard to look sexy all the time by pouting in 100% of the scenes and whispering for some reason rather than talking with a normal voice. IS there something wrong with her voice cords? or does she think that she sounds sexier and charismatic like this. She puts on a holster on top of a boardroom dress? and high heels all the time.
    In the film there were so many occasions that the police made stupid mistakes (which even I wouldn't) leading to death and danger to others. I believe the story is full of fillers and extreme slow motion that there was no need to expand this into three seasons. All could be fit into one season and that could have been better. Whoever wrote the story should start watching some of the recent Danish or French crime series and understand how realistic and likeable their characters are.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Jun 14, 2013
    100
    [A] cool yet intensely emotional British crime series. [24 Jun 2013, p.40]
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Jun 10, 2013
    70
    It’s a fine show, relying on slow-building tension rather than the gory shock value of series like “The Following,” and the five-episode arc now on Netflix is worth a look if you haven’t had your fill of cat-and-mouse dynamics.... Oddly, the character developed the least may be Ms. Anderson’s.
    Read full review
  3. Salon
    Jun 5, 2013
    80
    Some of these moments are memorable and stark. More are soporific. Both lend themselves to The Fall’s tone: these days, slow is what passes for serious. Anderson’s performance is what makes The Fall worth watching.
    Read full review
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