THE FALL BBC2 Character Analysis

The Fall BBC 2 Serial Killer drama

Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector, Gillian Anderson as DSI Gibson in The Fall

I know it’s been a fair few weeks since the Fall was televised and watched consistently over the five weeks by over 3 million viewers, but I found it so intriguing that every so often since the end of series one I’ve ruminated about it and am pleased that the BBC have opted for a second series.

Despite the extremely good filming and excellent story lines linking the day to day Belfast with the horror of a serial killer my ruminations centred on the two main characters: DSI Gibson played by Gillian Anderson ( Scully from the X-Files) and the serial Killer Paul Spector played by Irish actor Jamie Dornan.

 Gillian Anderson as DSI Gibson

What fascinated me about these two characters was their similarities.  DSI Gibson has a unique sexual confidence that, early on has her approaching a stranger (albeit a fellow Police Officer) for sex.  She is portrayed as a woman who likes to be in charge sexually and it is later revealed that her affairs are always on her terms.  She appears to approach her sexual needs quite impersonally. 

Jamie Dornan as Phil Spector Serial Killer

 

This is also true of the Killer Paul Spector.  Naturally, as a sexual serial killer, he needs to be in control sexually.  He, like Gibson, selects his conquests carefully and like Gibson obviously wants to remain in control of the situation, to the extent that he only ‘loses control’ (masturbates) after he has prepared and killed his victim and in the safety of his own home.

Both Spector and Gibson share a dark impenetrability that puts others slightly off balance in their day to day lives.  They keep a huge section of themselves hidden (understandably in Spector’s case) and as the series progresses we learn a little more about his background as a foster child – Serial Killer Alert!!!   However, Gibson’s inner machinations remains an enigma right to the end of series one.

They are both highly intelligent and gifted people.  Certainly Gibson has a plethora of degrees and PHD’s behind her, as well as some prior experience of finding a serial killer; - How much has that experience contributed to her current personality? – I can’t wait to discover more in series Two.  Spector has some academic qualifications, hence his job as a grief counsellor, but his interests and talents lie in a more artistic direction.  He is clearly a literature lover and we’ve seen his detailed drawings.

Both characters share an implacable coldness that continually keeps us on edge.  Their facial expressions and responses to friends and colleagues are bland and non-committal.  Although we have seen Spector flying into a rage, Gibson manages to maintain her self -control even when under attack.

This is a Battle of the Minds between Gibson and Spector and I for one will not miss the next series.

Gillian Anderson and James Dornan portray their characters with an edgy darkness and icy single mindedness that promises an explosive second series.

All I can say is:  

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!