Photo: Courtesy of BBC.Full disclosure: We love TV. So much so, that sometimes we'd rather spend a whole weekend in front of the tube than dancing in da club. Is a lack of television service holding you back from feeling our joy? No problem! You can get by just fine on Netflix, Hulu, and the myriad other streaming services rapidly taking over the home entertainment industry (thank you, Internet!).
Some shows are just better when binge-watched. Whether it's the latest BBC comedy, a PBS miniseries from the '70s, or just that cultish show prematurely scrubbed from a network, we're hooked on the stream. Staying In(stant) is your guide to the best of streaming content. Each week, we bring you a show we're obsessed with and think you should be, too.
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This Week: The Fall, a terrifying BBC drama about a serial killer terrorizing women in Belfast, and a police inspector desperately trying to track him down.
Where To Watch: Netflix
How I Got Hooked: I'm going to be totally honest about this and say that The Fall 100% caught my eye because of one Jamie Dornan. I remembered his gorgeous mug from when he played the sheriff in Once Upon a Time. He showed talent beyond a cutesy role on an ABC show, and have you seen his Calvin Klein ads? They give me the vapors.
Superficiality aside, I was eager to see Dornan act in more serious roles, so I was happy to learn about The Fall from Entertainment Weekly when it debuted on Netflix. It also stars Gillian Anderson, and any former X-Files fan will be glad to see her return to form as detective Stella Gibson.
Actually, it can be straight-up terrifying at times. Dornan's character, Paul Spector, specifically preys on young, professional women in their 20s who live alone. That basically describes my life, too, so this is kind of of my worst nightmare. Plus, when Spector isn't brutally murdering women he stalks, he's a professional grief counselor who's married with two young children of his own. His double life is scary, because you know people like this do actually exist.
Dornan and Anderson both completely disappear into their roles. You forget that you're watching a former model, who will soon garner major international attention as Christian Grey, and Dana Scully. Instead, you're watching a gripping pursuit of cat and mouse that feels all too real.
Best Episode: Season 1, Episode 5, the final episode of the first season. Gibson is finally closing in on Spector, and you're on the edge of your seat waiting for his reign of terror in Belfast to end. Then, he completely changes the game in a shocking twist I don't want to spoil for you. Needless to say, you'll be counting down the days until season 2 (the trailer for which you can watch here) arrives this fall. Quick pro tip another R29 editor brought up: You may want to watch with the subtitles on, as the accents are strong.
Why You'll Love It: It feels a little weird to say that you'll "love" a show about a serial killer, but The Fall is one of those slow-burn psychological thrillers that gets under your skin and pulls you in. The characters, writing, cinematography, and direction are all superb. Plus, come on: Jamie Dornan with an accent. The struggle of finding a serial killer attractive is real.