‘The Fall’ Season 2 Episode 1 review

Given how highly rated the show was during its 2013 run – and following that cliffhanger ending – the second season of hit BBC Two’s The Fall was a majorly anticipated event. So, was the drama’s return worth the wait?

The events of this opening episode take place just ten days after Season 1’s finale, throwing us right back into the heart of the action. It’s nice that so many elements are picked up and it’s not simply a cat-and-mouse game between Stella (Gillian Anderson) and the villainous Paul (Jamie Dornan).

The aftermath is all here, touching on the surviving victim Annie Brawley (Karen Hassan), the disintegration of the Spector’s marriage, the repercussions surrounding James Olson’s shooting, the Belfast gangland threat and the Rose Stagg storyline, with all being given air to breathe.

Gillian Anderson is once again mesmerising as Superintendent Stella Gibson. The X-Files star adds to the character’s trademark pragmatic coldness with moments of raw emotional awareness, such as her contained remorse regarding James Olson’s death and her quiet empathy towards victim Annie when offering her the armband. It’s a graceful performance: compelling and one that befits an actress of Anderson’s charm and ability.

Forthcoming 50 Shades Of Grey lead Jamie Dornan is still captivating, but is given noticeably less to do here. The first half of the episode he’s resigned to broodily reacting to newspaper reports about the murders and angry voicemails from his estranged wife, Sally Ann (Bronagh Waugh).

However, on return to Belfast his character is really put to test, particularly in his confrontation with Katie and the final scenes with Rose (Valerie Kane) giving Dornan more of a chance to flex his muscle as the tense and pathological Spector.

It’s a very bleak affair stylistically, a visual metaphor for the series itself, maintaining a subdued pace that will frustrate some viewers, but this works for the episode in reflecting strong character moments that resonate and builds up notable tension that is rewarded in darker scenes, such as the Katie confrontation. This scene is so well written and acted and credit must go to young actress Aisling Franciosi as Katie.

It doesn’t all fit though. One scene that had me screaming at my TV in its absurdity is that scene on the train where Paul starts chatting to a blonde girl about the killings. You have to wonder why she would spark up a conversation about a murderer’s intent, volunteering the fact that she lives two streets away from the previous victim, all to a stranger who has just adjusted a criminal photofit image to look more like himself and who speaks in utterly creepy sentences, never volunteering anything about himself. Then she gives him her name and address (on her driving license) – could she be next?

However, the good far outweighs the bad here and the continuation of the murder investigation (finding the scissors that killed Joe Brawley), the return of Paul to Belfast – potentially as a grief counsellor to his own victims – is a twisted idea, but one that works well within the world of The Fall.

A strong opener with a few teething problems, but one backed up by committed performances from all concerned.