Gillian Anderson's The Fall

Here's an interview with Katie Benedetto's alter ego, a young lady fluent in 4 languages.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/q-and-a/a35710/the-fall-aisling-franciosi-interview/

Love her comment re: Thanks, Mom & Dad...

Irish names are hard for me to pronounce, much less spell. More stuff from the actress of the lady garden fame.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/enterta...l-season-2-sally-ann-bronagh-waugh-interview/

Speaking of unusual names... I loved the title of this article about why Archie Panjabi is leaving "The Good Wife".

http://www.eonline.com/news/616754/...-the-good-wife-after-kissing-gillian-anderson

And more with Gillian.

http://www.eonline.com/news/613806/...ure-of-the-x-files-and-of-course-jamie-dornan

ETA:

MORE Gillian:

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/enterta...gillian-anderson-the-fall-season-2-interview/

 

The first one is pronounced Ash-leen or Ashling, depending on where in the country one is or one's parents' preference. The second is pronounced Broe-nah.

 

Thanks Captain!

Here's a great review in Time, encouraged the snowbound east coast to binge on "The Fall" this week.

http://time.com/3682332/the-fall-jamie-dornan-50-shades/


Here's a nice interview with Jamie on his way to filming season 2. "I'd like to stop tying women up."

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/sep/23/the-fall-jamie-dornan-bbc2-series

Funny, I never think of him ^^ as an underwear model.

I prefer think of him as Sheriff Graham, AKA "the Huntsman" from "Once Upon a Time".

Another interesting review of "The Fall".

http://www.salon.com/2015/01/25/sat...ary_on_the_culture_of_violence_against_women/

I don't agree with all of the above reviewer's assumptions, but I do agree with the idea that one of the things I like most about this show is how inscrutable Stella Gibson appears to be.

The ^^ reviewer obviously hasn't watched the deleted scenes... (which as we all know are not canon until they are included in the broadcast show), but in one deleted scene Stella tells Tom Anderson that she was the same age as Katie Benedetto when her own (Stella's) father died.

That makes me think of Stella's statement to Jim Burns re: her dream diary, that initially it was done for investigative reasons... but that it was not procedural. Initially I thought the "investigational reasons" were work related, but how can that be if they are not procedural? Now I think its related to investigating the death of her father. At her (greatly advanced ) current age, I wouldn't be surprised to find out "that" death investigation has already been concluded so she no longer "has" to write down the dreams, she just does it because its a habit.

That closure may be one of the reasons why Paul couldn't "get under her skin" when he challenged her distant relationship with her own father. And her refusal to take the bait, to rise up and tease HIM with HIS relationship with Olivia showed the strength of her character.

The ^^ reviewer talks about how Stella cried when she watched the Rose Stagg tape... but she also cried when she watched Olivia's interrogation. Two "women" (Rose and Olivia) who will forever be changed by one deranged man.

I find it interesting (?) that whenever any of the reviewers (so far) talk about Stella's freeing philosophy re: sex, that no one questions the fact that she's basically trolling through the workplace for sexual conquests.

If Gibson was a man asking his female subordinate to transfer a good looking woman to the task force (after already confessing to that same subordinate 2 weeks ago re: a sexual liaison with another detective just hours before "she" died) we'd be rolling our eyes and decrying the power imbalance in the relationship and the fact that the women had to have sex with the task force leader to get promoted.

In fact, in some of the deleted scenes, you see the Mustachioed Detective tease his female partner how "much" Gibson obviously wants HIM. Makes that same (McNally? ) female's discomfort when Stella woke her up to take the hair clips from her bun all the more eye opening. This discomfort was palpable even though NcNally (?) did not know at the time (we think) about Stella's fumbled encounter with the pathologist.

I wonder if we don't hear those complaints about Gibson using the workplace as her own personal buffet because the female Superintendent is felt to have less power than the male... or because we are so surprised re: her actions that we don't even wonder about that "what's good for the goose vs the gander" ethical issue.

I find it strange that its only with Reed Smith that Stella wonders about what she's doing... when she "nearly crossed the same line" as she told Jim in season 2 episode 4.

Cross what line Stella? Get drunk and force a sexual encounter upon the "object" of her attentions like Jim tried with you that same night. In other words, to put it in Stella's season 1 terms... "Woman 'subject' f*cks woman 'object'." Or is it as she later tells Jim in that same conversation... people have certain emotional and physical needs that only interaction with other people can satisfy... that its important to pick the appropriate partner, and she realizes Reed wasn't appropriate for her physical needs.

Reed, in the few short weeks Stella's known her in Belfast "isn't" simply an object like Olsen was, a mutual agreeable sexual "one night stand". Reed was becoming her friend. Someone to drink with, to talk to, to confide in, someone to discuss the philosophy of child raising with... not someone to take to your bed one night in a "slam bam thank you ma'am fashion" that she thought she was getting with season 1 Olsen or season 2 Anderson. Olsen had sex with 2 women in the 24 hours before his death, neither of them his wife while Reed was "brought up in Croydon" and was being swept away by Stella before she even knew what was happening.


Reed's probably thanking god or cursing slow elevators right about now.

Remember how ticked off Stella was to receive the sexting photos from Olsen after their encounter?

Did you also notice how irritated Stella was with Anderson in the 6th episode when he was questioning her decision to let Spector lead them on the wild goose chase for Rose? SEE Stella... that is why you don't have sex with people on your team. They think they have the right to question your professional judgment just because they've seen you naked!

The interesting thing to me... was that AFTER being shot down by Reed in the hotel, after that uncomfortable "chit chat" on the road side as they suited up to visit the hanged lady crime scene... Stella couldn't stay away from Reed. She's already arranging to have Tom added to her task force, but we also see her drive to the pathologist's office to talk to Reed about something that could have just as easily been handled on the phone.

Not only that, we see Stella nap on Reed's couch while the doctor finishes her work and even wait for Reed to change before (?) what? Before the two go out for drinks, dinner? Maybe Tom is being set up to take care of Stella's physical needs, but I suspect the Inspector has realized who the appropriate person is to help her with her emotional ones.

Trying to understand Detective Superintendent Gibson would make a great 3rd season.

 

These AfterEllen recaps are hilarious.

Here are the links... and some samples to whet your appetite.


Episode 2.01: "Why grown men shouldn't play with dollies."

"So then Sally Ann calls Paul to confront him. He is too busy making a proper breakfast fry-up of what appears to be eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and kidneys. Any time a killer eats organs, Hannibal Lecter opens a new bottle of chianti."

http://www.afterellen.com/tv/232108-the-fall-recap-2-1-why-grown-men-shouldnt-play-with-dollies



Episode 2.02 "A Rose by any other name would be just as screwed"

"I contend we should put all teenagers in a catatonic sleep from age 13 to age 19. They’re only to be awoken when they can think rationally enough to not antagonize serial killers."

http://www.afterellen.com/tv/400735-fall-recap-2-2-rose-name-just-screwed



Episode 2.03 Get on the elevator, you idiot!

"Katie genuinely wants a relationship with Paul and is actively trying to gain his approval. She tells him about her alibi and even asks if he is pleased with her. Never before have I wanted to reach through a TV screen and shake someone as much as Katie. And that’s including all six seasons of The L Word."

Even better is this observation.

Poor Tanya sputters, “I can’t. I can’t. I was brought up in Croydon.” Stella almost chuckles back, “What’s that supposed to mean?”–never losing focus on Tanya’s lips. But, alas, the conventionality of Croydon wins out and Tanya walks away. Let me repeat that, Tanya leaves Stella hanging at the elevator. She does not go upstairs to Stella’s room and Stella’s bed.

I know, I KNOW. It goes against every law known to science, nature and the universe for her to not go upstairs with DSI Stella Gibson. In fact, it’s probably a crime against all those things. I’m pretty sure her refusal ripped a hole in the space-time continuum. The fabric of reality is folding over onto itself. Up is down, down is up.

The look on Stella’s face says it all. Mmmm, girl, you missed out.


http://www.afterellen.com/tv/401647-fall-recap-2-3-get-elevator-idiot




Episode 2.4 The sky is falling, the sky is falling"


While on the surface this is a cat-and-mouse show about the hunt for a killer, so much simmers underneath about our society and how we see ourselves. What we see. What we want other people to see. What we don’t want other people to see. And it has Gillian Anderson. Jesus, this is a good show.

...

Right, I’m sorry, you were wondering about the plot. Good lady detective and bad dude detective (it’s so much more descriptive than their actual names) go to visit Liz Tyler, the wife whose husband Paul had the scuffle with and is now in a safe house for abused women. She tells them about how Paul helped her, and the night he visited unannounced. She admits she wanted something more to happen with him. Oh, honey, you so dodged a bullet there – like Matrix-style bullet dodging.

http://www.afterellen.com/tv/402785-fall-recap-2-4-sky-falling-sky-falling




Episode 2.5 "What's in the trunk?"

ACC Burns is waiting in what appears to be a prison waiting room. Wait, are we going to have a very special crossover episode with Orange Is the New Black? You just know Stella and Alex Vause would hit it off–nudge-nudge, wink-wink. You just know.

...

The team is also still tracking the Benedetto Girl who arrives at Paul’s sleazy hotel. Katie goes up to Paul’s room, but not before attracting the attention of the even more sleazy hotel manager. Once inside, Katie goes to town demolishing all traces of Paul’s crimes. She burns the lock of hair and tries to flush the memory card. Once again, I am not screaming, “Stop Her! Oh my God, stop her!” at my TV. Allegedly.

...

This show is legit like a monster truck rally. They’ll sell you the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge.

...

And that’s that. Show over. They’ve got their man. Time for a final bad pun and for David Caruso to put on his sunglasses, right? Right? I’m sorry. I’ve watched a lot of terrible crime procedurals in my day. My expectations may be a little skewed.

...

Oh, shit, is this Rose’s car? I start having "Seven" flashbacks as police slowly open the trunk. What’s in the trunk? What’s in the trunk? WHAT’S IN THE TRUNK?

In the jumble of burnt junk is unmistakably an arm and hand. So, yeah, that’s bad.

Can you believe there’s only one episode left? Bloody hell, how is this thing going to end?


http://www.afterellen.com/tv/404437-fall-recap-2-5-whats-trunk





Episode 2.6 "Actually, its all about ethics in serial murder"

When last we saw the detectives they were closing in on a burned out car. In the car was, luckily, not the equally burned out body of Rose Stagg. It was the burned out body of the mannequin Paul had been being creepy with last season. When the presence of a freaky ass melted-up doll is good news, you know a show is seriously intense.

...

The manager of Paul’s sleazy hotel lived up to the sleazy status and recorded countless thousands of videos of his guests in their rooms through the peephole. Great, now I’m duct taping all peepholes in my hotel room from now on.

...

Paul stares her down with those dead fish eyes. I’m pretty sure, the whole lesbian thing notwithstanding, I would never find Jamie sexy as Christian Grey because of the way he so thoroughly inhabited Paul Spector.

...

I’d like to take a moment to pay appreciation to the director of photography for the copious, lingering close-up on Gillian Anderson’s face throughout this season. I cannot emphasize enough how appreciated they truly are. Give me your address and a basket of well-deserved mini-muffins are on their way. Guaranteed.

...

Stella poses the question I posed before, who the fuck was Paul talking to when he called the viewer a “sick shit?” Him? Her? People who like to watch shows about people like him? Wait, does that mean us? Stop making me feel so introspective, show. I just like my stories, OK?

...

Not to get too Thoreau, but Stella is going through the woods deliberately. This is the most nerve-wracking hike in the forest since Little Red Riding hood took that stroll with her picnic basket. I don’t know what I’m expecting: booby traps, tree elves, the Blair Witch.



http://www.afterellen.com/tv/405629-fall-recap-2-6-actually-ethics-serial-murder

 

For all season 1 nitpickers who need to know how DS Gibson got from the Brawley crime scene to the hospital where Anne Brawley hung onto life by the barest of threads ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWX_VZv9kSU

... another deleted scene who's loss is mourned on AfterEllen..

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWX_VZv9kSU[/yt]



A great season 1 video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieTGb_MERt8

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieTGb_MERt8[/yt]

An even better season 2 video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK5gdTAllYo

Needless to say... HUGE spoilers within.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK5gdTAllYo[/yt]

Here's a video that's trying to repair that hole RIPPED in the AFTER-ELLEN SPACE-TIME CONTINIUM when Reed left Stella "hanging" at the elevator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIXoLqzyBIk

Personally I just love the smack down Stella Gibson laid on the solicitor from Bacon & Day.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIXoLqzyBIk[/yt]

Its almost as good as the one Julia Sugarbaker laid on "Ray Don" 30 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xS54IGEGI

"We know who you are."

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xS54IGEGI[/yt]

 

"Damn your eyes,"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJB4R-vmd4

This video needs to be another 2 minutes longer.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJB4R-vmd4[/yt]

And interview with Alan Cubitt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaR3qtmM8tg

Writer, producer, season 2 director.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaR3qtmM8tg[/yt]

Not everyone likes the 2nd series... but this reviewer certainly does like the box set.

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jan/08/the-fall-review-gillian-anderson-jamie-dornan

Different strokes for different folks. 2 very different reviews of the same episode.

For:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...e-Fall-Episode-3-Review-Gillian-Anderson.html

Against: http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...-episode-three-once-good-drama-losing-its-way

I've read through this disappointed reviewer's other blogs on the series and although I agree the Kate Benedetto storyline became less suspenseful once we realize she's really fallen for Paul and not playing him, I find it funny that the reviewer can't accept the idea of a love struck teen doing whatever a serial killer wants.

Maybe she should skip over to Canada and check out a woman named Karla Homolka to see what women have done "for love".

http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/bernardo/index_1.html


Remember the desktop painting Spector left on Stella's computer? Henry Fuseli's "The Nightmare".

http://a402.idata.over-blog.com/2/73/31/88/Divers/The_Nightmare-_1782.jpg

Here's a great article on the painting itself. I have to admit, I never noticed the horse.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...s/fuseli-henry-the-nightmare-1781-797997.html


FINALLY...

...the important stuff.

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/...natomy-of-dci-stella-gibsons-series-2-blouses

 

Tina Fey and Gillian talk "Netflix" and its effect on modern "TV".

http://www.indiewire.com/article/wh...x-its-not-the-future-its-the-present-20150107

Gillian discussing "The Fall", "Hannibal", "Street Car Named Desire" and her new book... "A Vision of Fire".

No wonder this lady doesn't have time to sit and watch TV.

http://nypost.com/2015/01/19/gillian-andersons-a-legend-of-the-fall-in-netflix-series/

Of course, this also begs the question, where would she fit in a series 3 of "The Fall" much less a new "X Files" TV show?

http://www.independent.ie/entertain...he-picked-on-jamie-dornan-a-lot-30921156.html

Maybe the new "X files" will follow the suggested format of a "new" Xena: Warrior Princess. The old cast hands off the franchise to a "new generation" of Scully/Mulder wannabes.

Or a maybe a complete JJ Abrams / Star Trek reboot like this guy wants, but how do you do that with the same guys?.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/01/22/could-an-x-files-reboot-could-be-a-good-idea

This is an older interview, talking about her future projects (Like Streetcar) and current projects. Has anyone watched her "Great Expectations"?

http://www.out.com/entertainment/te...n-lesbian-love-xfiles-Miss-Havisham?page=full

 

I finally got around to watching the first episode of "The Fall," and holy cow, that was a great little hour of television. I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest.

 

Excellent!

Don't be shy if you like the next eps just as much.

The good news is you won't have to wait a year between series 1 & 2.

This kills me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu8S9x2UMqI

Is she closing BOTH eyes when she fires???

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu8S9x2UMqI[/yt]

 

Here's another great review.

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertai...-the-most-feminist-show-on-television/384751/

It even brings up my point about dipping her pen in the company inkwell.

ETA: Another review discussing the question "is this show misogynistic?"

http://www.themarysue.com/the-fall-isnt-classy-misogyny/

This next one is an indictment against shows that show "violence against women" (VAW).

It speculates that this started with Prime Suspect in 1991 and escalated with L&O SVU where eventually even the female detective is beset by a murdering rapist.

I guess she doesn't know about the 1947 reality of "The Black Dahlia" or how even in the 1980's our TV showed female detectives as victims of rape. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Christine Cagney.)

http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2015/02/03/...in-a-cop-show-without-violence-against-women/

Perhaps the best we can hope for is a continued discussion about VAW and a celebration of when that violence is stopped.

Now, on a different note...

This just made me chuckle at "The Good Wife" comments.

http://www.shewired.com/television/2015/01/23/5-reasons-become-obsessed-fall?page=full

As does this one, trying to compare and contrast Scully and Gibson.

http://www.bustle.com/articles/5996...kicks-ass-but-is-she-better-than-agent-scully

 

Still no word on a season 3, but if it happens, it looks like Dr. Reed Smith will be in it if this article is to be believed.

http://www.afterellen.com/tv/407895-gillian-anderson-loves-playing-sexual-fearless-woman-fall

More posts on "Is Gillian the new Helen"?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...Gillian-Anderson-is-the-new-Helen-Mirren.html


More praise for The Fall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqavnPA-wHs

And a tease for the possible reboot of X Files.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqavnPA-wHs[/yt]



Nerdist Podcast with Gillian Anderson, supposedly talking X Files, The Fall, and even her new Scifi novel "A Vision of Fire".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3tfXOHkPM

Its an hour and quarter long... Gillian doesn't get introduced until 7 minutes in and then its just general silliness until 14:30 in when she starts talking Hollywood. 59:30 is when she talks about her books and was writing while flying between Crisis, Hannibal and The Fall's sets. We don't get much on "The Fall" and don't even hear a brief mention of ''Stella Gibson" until 61 min in.

Ahhhh, these nerds are so foolish they haven't even SEEN The Fall yet.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3tfXOHkPM[/yt]

Okay, the MANY non-Fall moments.

Geez... (min 25) I never knew Eric Stolz played Marty McFly for 4 weeks before they decided "Nope, lets go with MJF".

29:30 ish is when they start talking X Files and how she nearly got fired a couple times.

Gillian lied about her age when she applied for the X Files job, claiming she was 3 years OLDER than she actually was. "I'm a child in the pilot, pretending to be an adult."

Love the part about her daughter loving her visit to the Harry Potter set and not realizing she grew up on X Files set and was held by aliens and put in the mouth of a fake crocodile.

Minute 49 ish is when they start talking new X Files. #XFiles 2015

Hmmm, they claimed a viewership of a couple hundred thousand, but it has only 1300 views in the last 4 weeks.

 

Finished Season 1. I have to admit I was expecting a little more closure, but it was still really entertaining.

I found the plot with Aaron Monroe and his German prostitute cocaine party a little weird. I was waiting for it to have more of a connection to the serial killer, but it never did.

Anyway, on to Season 2.

 

Image how that "lack of closure" affected those of us who had to wait months for season 2!

(And since I came to the party late, I "only" had to wait 9 months. )

I think Monroe et al were there to distract us and to remind us while Stella focuses solely on the one "serial offender", the regular cops have to keep juggling all the other balls that the Belfast criminal element is throwing at them.

 

Okay, so I just finished Season 2, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm glad that the Aaron Monroe story was more or less dropped and that this season focused more on the serial killer.

Now here's my issue. This season ends on a cliffhanger, which is fine. However, once that cliffhanger is resolved, I can't see much of a story left for Season 3. The cliffhanger will need to be resolved one of two ways:

1) Paul survives his gunshot wound, spends some time in the hospital, and goes to prison.

2) Paul dies, in which case Season 3 seems pretty much pointless.

Either way, I'm just not sure where they could go after that. What will Season 3 be? A courtroom drama where they try and sentence Paul? Unless they introduce some convoluted twist that puts his guilt into question, I can't see that taking very long, especially since we a) saw him commit the murders and b) he already confessed.

I suppose they could write in a scenario where he manages to escape, but that would be completely ridiculous and unbelievable.

Even if they decide to wrap up the Paul storyline, that would be the end of Stella. The only reason she was brought in was to review the Alice Monroe murder file; with that case closed, she would go back home to her normal job.

 

Maybe, but it seems weird to give him a cliffhanger ending in Season 2 if they're just going to be done with him in Season 3.

 

I don't see the end as a cliff hanger.

I think Paul

Spoiler: too late now?

died as we watched Stella frantically try to "save" him. Not as Detective Sergeant Tom Anderson and beat cop Danielle Farrington probably thought, 'because she "wanted" him to live more than Tom', but because as the lead detective on the case Stella didn't want Paul to "escape" her and Belfast's justice in the final seconds.

The 3rd season can be placed a year or so after

Spoiler: 2nd season finale

Spector's death

when something else occurs in Belfast that requires another London intervention, and DI Gibson is sent back to consult once again.

It will be too soon for the new killer to be

Spoiler

Katie Benedetto,

since she won't have matured enough by then to make a credible foe.

ETA: Spoiler warnings in the 21st century.

Its really hard to "discuss" a series that has basically already released its full 2nd season run (6.5 hours) in its entirety a month ago with everything couched within spoiler tags.

Perhaps we need some new guidelines for these "Age of Netflix" full season "dumps" along the lines of... everything is forbidden until X number of days/weeks after initial release... or everything is fair game in the thread as soon as the final ep is released.

This fear of "spoiling" really hampered the Kate/OitNB thread in the Voyager forum because some of us watched everything the first weekend (3 guesses what camp I fell into and the 1st 2 don't count ) and some took a few weeks. The inability to discuss freely resulted in very little discussion at all.

 

Maybe the thread title should contain a spoiler warning?

 

WARNING WILL ROBINSON, WARNING!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

And, um,

SPOILERS BEHIND!