The British-Irish psychological crime drama may not be the most popular one out there, but judging by the reviews it has received, it might just be the best there is.
07:00, 28 Apr 2026Updated 07:55, 29 Apr 2026
The Fall – series two trailer
Viewers who love a good cop drama which leaves them on the edge of their seat from start to finish will be ecstatic to know there’s a series that does just that.
The British-Irish psychological crime drama may have premiered 13 years ago but judging by the reviews it has accrued since its release, it might just be the best there is — even surpassing gold standard likes of Broadchurch and Prime Suspect.
Starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in the lead supported by John Lynch, Stuart Graham, Niamh McGrady, Archie Panjabi, Bronagh Waugh, Sarah Beattie, and Laura Donnelly, The Fall was written and created for television by Allan Cubitt and first premiered on television in 2013.
Set in Northern Ireland — which is also where the show was filmed — this gripping series has garnered unprecedented praise from audiences and critics alike.
The show stars an A-list actress in the lead(Image: BBC/The Fall S2/Helen Sloan)
The series’ official plot states: “The psychological thriller examines the lives of two hunters — one is a serial killer who preys on victims in and around Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the other is a female detective drafted from the London Metropolitan Police to catch him. The local authorities have no suspects and no experience with cases involving sexually motivated serial killers; DSI Stella Gibson has.
“She heads a task force dedicated to solving the crime spree, with a simple motto: Anyone not part of the solution is part of the problem. The killer? He’s Paul Spector, a father and a husband leading a double life, as viewers learn from the outset. He’s hiding in plain sight, the protagonist in a cat and mouse game that is every police officer’s worst nightmare.”
Spanning three seasons in total, the first and second series of the show were highly lauded, each receiving a rating of 96% and 94% respectively on Rotten Tomatoes. Season three ratings dipped slightly at 65%, however the show maintains a smashing average of 85% across all three series.
The gripping cop drama has garnered unprecedented praise from audiences and critics(Image: BBC/Helen Sloan)
Audiences were blown away by The Fall, with one viewer writing: “A crime show like no other, the protagonist and antagonist are fascinating, the mood the show creates is mysterious and dark, and the subtle social commentary perfectly blends with the show’s narrative.”
An IMDB review of The Fall reads: “I just rewatched this show for the 3rd time and still found it very realistic and disturbing. It’s undoubtedly one of the best crime series that have ever been made.
“The show demonstrates a very in-depth psychological analysis into a serial killer’s mind which is not often a case in a crime drama. It makes the killer resemble our real life but somehow his background story and the portrayal makes this character more compassionate.”
Another IMDB user review showers praise on the cop drama: This is the best police drama I’ve seen in years. Acting is terrific, characters are complex, and the deliberate pacing is nerve-wracking.
“It’s especially good at covering highly technical subjects (police procedure, mental health, E. R procedures, law) without being pedantic or over expository — just professionals doing their jobs.”
The show has three seasons which can be streamed on Netflix and BBC iPlayer(Image: BBC/Helen Sloan)
One viewer said they were left shaken for hours after watching the ‘captivating’ show.
They added: “I was looking for something to pull me in and unplug me from reality and this series definitely does that. Both of the main actors were brilliant, and while from Gillian Anderson I expected, Jamie Dornan came as a surprise. It’s been a roller-coaster, a captivating experience and I loved it, even if it left me shaken for a couple of hours afterwards.”
While another review declares it to be the perfect series to binge watch.
They wrote: “A simply outstanding psychological thriller with a solid cast lead by Gillian Anderson (she can do no wrong) and Jamie Dornan. The latter turns in a chilling performance as the serial killer living the everyday life.
“The show is a rare gem, keeping me invested from start to finish. It also offers a finale that’s both satisfying and bleak, giving the audience proper closure. If you’re hunting for something to binge, look no further.”
Critics were also bowled over, with one writing: “This show is binge watching at its best; it’s at once compulsively watchable and intelligent, well-written and beautifully acted with compelling performances to boot.”
While another reviewer compared it to Helen Mirren’s blockbuster Prime Suspect and said: “Anderson is fantastic as an updated version of DI Jane Tennison, Helen Mirren’s detective in Prime Suspect – in her head she’s the boss but in reality she isn’t.”
All three seasons of The Fall are available to stream on Netflix and BBC iPlayer.