The Fall came back with its 3rd and final season, airing in the UK on BBC, it will be soon available on Netflix. For those watching on the streaming platform, hope to see you back here when you watched the episodes. (Unless you don't mind spoilers)
The Fall is one of those shows that you might have spend more time waiting for new episodes than watching it. It's one of those great series that follow the tendency of shorter seasons, but completely flawless and spectacular cinematography. Since the first episode the music and color palette took over the mood and joined the dark theme of this show. A stoic Super Intendent Detective trying to catch a serial killer. But unlike any other TV show, we get more glimpses in the routine and family life of the killer than the hero.
After almost two years off air, let's recap what happened in the final moments of season 2. Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) led SDI Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) into the forest where supposedly, Rose Stagg, his latest victim, was. Luckily they found her in time, barely alive, but one of Paul's patients showed up, shooting Spector and policeman Tom Anderson (Colin Morgan).
Season 3 starts to uncover more to what makes Stella be the way she is, or at least makes the viewer wonder, while Paul Spector's life hangs from a thread.
Episode 1 is particularly slow describing the aftermath of Season 2 Finale. Slow doesn't mean boring, the episode is detailed into what the doctors feel about saving the life of an alleged sociopath, while Stella has to deal with her job being questioned, and the actions her bosses are choosing to make.
It starts with a metaphor that has continuity through the episode, while Spector lays unconscious. Paul is driving a car and it crashes with something we don't see, making him ponder to walk towards the light, where a feminine voice calls him by his real name, or back to the darkness, were he hears Olivia calling him daddy. He can't die, or it would become an incredible frustrating outcome, so of course, the doctors save him.
Meanwhile Stella has to deal with Rose's husband, and there's another moment where we get a glimpse into her mind, or where she's coming from. First her softness with Tom Anderson, when he questions why she run to Paul and not him; instead of being baffled she explains she wants justice, if he died, none of the families would have get the closure they deserve or the victims, justice. When she speaks with Tom Stagg, and tells him he has two choices, be there for Rose, and wait for her, or questioned why she complied to Paul's kidnap without putting up a fight. The way she says it, and her posture, can be read as something that is hunting Stella. Maybe a case, or something about her past.
Jim fills in for her to give the declaration to the press, and after checking up on Rose she wonders into the room Paul is, to be kicked out by the nurse. (Who is totally Paul's type making it great for suspense effect)
The build up in this episode ties in perfectly to Episode 2. Stella and Jim Burns questioned and investigation about their work, leading to the shooting in the forest, continues. Setting this problem as another conflict in the season. If their work is proved to me be negligent, could it mean that Paul can walk free? In the present time it shows that Stella's team is loyal to her. But other problem arise. First Rose realizes she's sharing the ICU with Spector so she asks to be discharged, and then there's some sort of complication of Paul's surgery, and when he finally wakes up for good, he suffers from memory loss, believing he was really in a car accident. In the meantime, Katie, his partner in crime, also number one fan, runs away from school and wanders around the halls of the hospital trying to see him.
The first episodes of season 3 continue with the show trend of a cold color palette reflecting the suspense and type of characters that bring the action forward in this story. Gillian Anderson's performance is beautiful to watch, having a talent to work with subtext and little details that give insight into Stella's life, while managing to work that cool and stoic exterior that sometimes crumble when she speaks and voices out some type of criticism to the patriarchy. I sincerely hope this season brings closure to the case, and whatever demons had been hunting her, too.
It causes a bit of nostalgia writing a review about a show as great as this one, knowing it's kind of farewell. Hope you're enjoying the show as much as I am enjoying it and talking about it.
What did you think of these episodes? Let's discuss it on the comments.
