“Obscurities and Irish Coppers: The Show You Haven’t Been
Watching on NETFLIX”
NEW ARRIVALS
DRAMA/NETFLIX ORIGINALS
THE FALL
(2013-2016, Approx. 60 minutes per episode, 18 ep., BBC
NORTHERN IRELAND)
I hate using the words “atmospheric” and “moody” when it
comes to foreign shows about killers and cops. But if you are looking for a
visual definition of both of those over-used adjectives, look no further than
BBC’s THE FALL.
Starring Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella
Gibson and Jamie Dornan as serial killer Paul Spector, this is a tale of what
drives us, what consumes us, and what we do to save ourselves when things start
to fall apart. It’s also about protecting ourselves from our own destructive
behavior, and how we can never outrun our demons. This is a smart, thoughtful
show—even more so in its third (and what looks to be final) season. It focuses
on the little things that make us human, and exploits them in such a way as to
show that it’s all the little parts of the psyche that can drive you mad or
make you desperate for utter control.
The newly posted third season picks up within minutes of
that “what the hell did she just do?!?” finale of the choppy second season. And
if the frenetic energy of the first episode doesn’t grab you, you need to go
back to watching sitcoms with laugh-tracks and old episodes of “Murder, She
Wrote.” There is not really a weak episode in this final act, but that first
one (not to mention the shocking finale) may change what you expect from your
TV.
If the first season focused on the crime, and the second on
the capture, this one centers on the strengthening of the case against Spector,
and the aftermath of the events of the previous storylines. Allowing Dorner to
explore a different side of the totally mental killer makes for smart
television; if you find yourself sympathizing with the psychopath, the
writer/director has done his job right. And Allan Cubitt does his job
exceedingly well. The acting, as usual is superb. Anderson shows the same depth
she did in the previous arcs, and it never gets tiring. Her Gibson is achingly
human; watching how easily she connects with victims yet struggles so
internally with her colleagues is heartbreaking at times.
And Dorner…oh, Dorner. You sexy, violent beast, you. The
surprises he has in store for you this time around are even viler than before,
because it’s no longer just a matter of the serial killer at large. Now, it’s a
matter of do they really have the animal caged? And what kind of animal is it,
exactly?
Surprisingly, this show has yet to be recognized by any
American awards shows; it has yet to win an Emmy, which is a shame that needs
to be corrected. Again, that first episode… it is poetic, violent in its
realistic ballet of doctors saving lives, and brutal in its honest portrayal of
normal people caught up in horrible circumstances. If only every show you watch
this year showed the same painstaking care that this one does when it comes to
dealing with its characters and subject matter…
And if none of that makes you want to watch the show,
remember: Irish people have really cool accents. You’re welcome.
Series Grade: A-
Season Three Grade: A
-- T.S. Kummelman
You guys have been a little slow, lately…no challenges?!?
This is a lot easier than it sounds, kids; Netflix always throws some stupid
sounding queues together for you (Quirky Bollywood Movies, Foreign Horror
Comedies, etc), so think of something creative and make me hunt this stuff
down! Otherwise, I’m binge watching “Stranger Things” as many times as I can
over the next few weeks…
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