The Fall is a BBC crime drama. The series follows Detective Super Intendant, Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson from The X Files), who is brought in to review investigations, but is ultimately delegated to head up a team pursuing sexual predator and serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan from Fifty Shades of Grey) for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.  The two leads engage in a cat-and-mouse dynamic against a backdrop of corruption within the police department and the characters’ complicated personal lives.

There is a distinctively immersive visual style, i.e., frequent close-ups, which allows the audience to glean a good deal of emotion from facial queues, which the actors provide quite expertly.  At times the camera work takes us inside the head of the killer—showing us snippets of scenes from his perspective—imbuing viewers with either a nervous, jumpy, “don’t get caught” feeling or an uncomfortable sense of being entirely too involved in what is transpiring. There are some beautifully composed shots of scenery, but Alan Cubitt (creator, writer, and director) is careful not to let cinematography eat up all the screen time, and instead allows the actors to do what they’re paid for by having  heavy focus on the characters. Muted colors also add to the generally dark feel of the show.

The sound track is noteworthy as well. The music is subtle and fluidly imbued into a scene, and is sometimes entirely omitted. Mundane noises like the soft click of a light switch, the sharp squeak of a faucet, or the low groan of a wooden floorboard underfoot, are highlighted, emphasizing the ordinariness of a world where such horrifying things are taking place.

Overall, the show is a worthwhile watch. It’s a gripping series that takes an intriguing look at the humanity of both killers and cops alike, with some light social commentary about the perception of female power peppered in. Episodes average at about an hour in length, and are all available on Netflix, making the show prime binge watching material. There are two seasons available for streaming now, but a third season has finished shooting and is scheduled to be released shortly. Trailers have been released and look promising, but be warned: they contain heavy spoilers. Be sure to catch up before delving into any season 3 material!