Crime-thriller The Fall had fans hooked when the BBC series arrived on Netflix– but many had strong views about the ending.
The Fall followed Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) on her quest to stop a serial killer causing terror.
But the killer, Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan, has proved far from easy to stop.
Here’s how season three ends, what it all means and what people thought of it.
Spoilers ahead.
What happens in the final episode of season three?
Paul Spector has abused and killed a number of women but DS Stella Gibson’s attempts to reach justice have not been successful so far.
Could the final episode of series three, Their Solitary Way, finally be the one where she manages it?
Spector is questioned about the death of Susan Harper, which happened some time back, in a lengthy interrogation at the start of the episode.
A calm Spector tells the officer that he, Harper, David Alvarez – who is serving time for her death – had gone out to a bar before going back to Harper’s house, claiming that she died during a consensual “sex game” that went wrong.
DS Gibson is also in the interrogation room, initially sitting calmly and quietly, allowing Spector to speak without interrupting, while the other officer, Tom Anderson, questions him.
She eventually tells Spector to speak up about the abuse he apparently suffered as a boy, claiming Alvarez took the blame for Spector because Spector had protected him from also being abused in his youth.
She calls on Spector to “drop the charade” and tells him she wants him to be “punished” for crimes he had committed – words that will prove significant as the episode continues. She also tells him that death would be “too easy an escape” for him.
He wants to be noticed, she said, but what he has been doing is just a “performance” and tells him to stop pretending he has lost his memory.
A violent turn
As the interview is suspended and the officers get up to leave, the scene takes a shocking turn.
Spector explosively lunges at DS Gibson, beating her severely until she is bleeding. He continues the attack until two security guards grab him and drag him out of the room. Gibson ends up in a hospital.
Spector has claimed to have amnesia, but this episode reveals that this is not necessarily true.
There is more violence to come, with Spector going on to attack two other characters at the clinic where he is undergoing psychiatric assessment – a clinician and a patient.
In a side-plot, it emerged that teenager Katie (Aisling Franciosi) has been self-harming. She had been enamoured with Spector and he had convinced her to assault a friend, which ended up with Katie landing in a juvenile detention centre.
DS Gibson comes to speak to her and in an emotional conversation between the pair, the detective tells her she had scars from self-harm too from grief from when her father died. She tells Katie that she needs to stop obsessing over Spector.
How does it all end?
It’s not a happy ending for Spector, DS Gibson or for anyone else for that matter.
In scenes that are difficult to watch, Spector, who is now in a situation it would be hard to find a way out of, kills himself.
He does so in a manner similar to that in which he claimed Susan Harper had died.
When he is found, it is too late to revive him.
When DS Gibson gets the news of his death, she is left looking devastated with tears in her eyes. It seems she is saddened that he has evaded justice or any form of punishment for his crimes.
The episode ends with DS Gibson returning to her home and standing alone in her kitchen with a glass of wine – a rather unsatisfying end to the case she had dedicated so much time to.
She sticks a note on her wall with the words: “He that loves not abides in death,” possibly as a reminder of how she and so many others’ lives had been affected by Spector, and as a reminder of the case.
What have fans said about it?
The series is dark and slow-burning throughout, with an intensity that kept many hooked.
But it is not a happy show and some felt the ending was rather frustrating and had left them unsatisfied – though it may be argued that this was the desired effect and the show was never designed to have a fairy tale ending.
People have been sharing their views on social media. One Twitter user said that while seasons one and two had been “blinding”, he felt “ripped off” after watching season three.
Several others said they felt “cheated” or “disappointed”.
https://twitter.com/danielle_12321_/status/1296547339906297856
https://twitter.com/abbiiegibsonn/status/1298719308802007040
Some were conflicted, saying that although they liked the show, they had hoped for a different ending.
But others enjoyed the show regardless, calling it a “must-watch”.
Series 1-3 of The Fall is available to stream on Netflix now.
As an expert in crime thrillers and television analysis, I've closely followed and studied numerous series, including "The Fall." I have a deep understanding of the elements that contribute to creating gripping narratives, character development, and audience reception within the crime thriller genre.
"The Fall" is a captivating crime drama that delves into the cat-and-mouse game between Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson and the elusive serial killer, Paul Spector. Played by Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan respectively, the series maintains a tense atmosphere throughout its three seasons, especially focusing on the final season's culminating events and the polarizing ending.
In the concluding episode of season three titled "Their Solitary Way," the intense interrogation of Paul Spector regarding the death of Susan Harper unfolds. DS Gibson attempts to coax out the truth from Spector, unveiling his troubled past and manipulative tactics. However, the situation takes a violent turn when Spector explosively attacks Gibson and subsequently inflicts harm on others at a psychiatric clinic, further emphasizing his dangerous nature.
Simultaneously, the subplot involving teenager Katie, manipulated by Spector, adds emotional depth to the narrative, highlighting the repercussions of his influence on vulnerable individuals.
The series finale takes a grim turn as Spector, trapped in an inescapable situation, mirrors the circ*mstances of a previous death and ultimately takes his own life. This conclusion leaves Gibson, and perhaps viewers, grappling with a sense of dissatisfaction and the lack of closure regarding justice for Spector's crimes.
Audience reactions to the ending have been mixed, with some expressing frustration or disappointment at the lack of a traditional resolution or retribution for Spector's actions. However, others appreciated the show's darker, more realistic portrayal and its departure from conventional storytelling.
Social media responses, exemplified by tweets, showcase the diverse range of opinions regarding the conclusion of "The Fall." While some viewers felt "cheated" or "ripped off" by the ending, others acknowledged the series' overall brilliance despite their conflicted feelings about the finale.
In summary, "The Fall" stands out as a dark and intense series, challenging traditional crime thriller endings and provoking varied responses from its audience. Its availability on Netflix has allowed viewers to immerse themselves in its gripping narrative and complex characters, despite the contentious nature of its conclusion.
