Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan’s ‘Excellent’ Crime Thriller Finds New Audience on Prime Video

Crime drama fans looking for something darker and more psychologically unsettling have another series to discover on Prime Video. The Fall, the acclaimed BBC thriller starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, is now available on the platform after earning praise for its slow-burning suspense, complex characters and relentlessly tense atmosphere.

Originally broadcast on BBC Two in 2013, the Northern Ireland-set drama ran for three seasons before concluding in 2016. Rather than building its story around the identity of a mysterious killer, The Fall reveals its murderer almost immediately, shifting the tension toward the increasingly intense pursuit between detective and suspect.

What is The Fall about?

Gillian Anderson stars as Metropolitan Police Superintendent Stella Gibson, who is sent to Belfast to review a murder investigation that has made little progress.

Her search eventually places her on the trail of Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan. Spector leads an outwardly ordinary existence as a husband and father, while secretly stalking and murdering young professional women.

With viewers already knowing who the killer is, the drama instead focuses on Gibson’s painstaking investigation and Spector’s disturbing ability to maintain two radically different lives.

That unusual approach helped The Fall distinguish itself from more traditional crime mysteries, replacing the familiar “whodunnit” structure with a tense psychological battle.

Viewers praise its dark, slow-building tension

The series holds an impressive 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critical consensus highlighted its mounting tension and believable characters.

Audience reactions have been similarly enthusiastic. One IMDb reviewer described the series as “spine-tingling,” praising Anderson’s performance while noting how deeply Dornan explores his character’s disturbing psychology.

For some viewers, one of the show’s most unsettling elements is precisely how normal Spector initially appears. His family, children and job create an everyday exterior that sits in stark contrast to the person he secretly becomes.

Anderson has also attracted considerable praise for her performance as Stella Gibson, with one viewer calling her “an excellent choice” for the lead detective.

A crime drama that keeps viewers hooked

Beyond its central performances, viewers have praised The Fall for its cinematography, writing and carefully constructed atmosphere of menace.

One reviewer described the series as “interesting, dark and detailed with real people and real issues,” while another praised its complex, unpredictable characters and said the story keeps audiences “hooked and on the edge of your seat.”

The series’ impact also extended beyond Britain and Ireland. Its success eventually inspired a French adaptation titled Insoupçonnable.

With three seasons to explore, a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and two acclaimed performances at its centre, The Fall remains a compelling choice for viewers who prefer psychological tension and character-driven storytelling over conventional crime-show twists.

The Fall is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.