The Fall Season 2 Episodes 4 Thru 6 Reviews: Other Peoples Pain Gives Me Pleasure (Season Finale)

When we last caught up with "The Fall' the police had declared Paul Spector their primary suspect in the "Belfast Strangler" murders. Now they just had to prove it (which wont be easy). At the same time, Paul is becoming increasingly obsessed with Stella. He even broke into her hotel room, read her journal, and left a strange painting on her laptop. He was hiding in the closet when Jim arrived (so Paul heard them discussing the case).

Hiding From Paul

Stella finally figures out that Paul is visiting his only surviving victim in the hospital. Annie was so traumatized that she doesnt recognize that the bereavement counselor is the man that attacked her. Stella hightails it to the hospital and moves Annie into another room seconds before Paul gets off the elevator. Hagstrom holds Paul at bay. I'm impressed with her ability to make up feasible lies on the spot. Sally Ann catches Paul in the lobby. She tried calling his phone but it's never on (accidentally on purpose of course). She opened his mail and finds he's working at the hospital. Annie tells Stella that Paul helped her more than any other counselors. Why? He mirrored her behavior (which is one of his common ploys). Annie finally remembers it was Paul who attacked her (and killed her brother).

Poor Rose!

Another body is found face down in the woods. She had been hanging from a tree. Could it be Rose? Gibson and Dr Smith arrive. They are both relieved to learn it's not. Stella plans to trick Paul by saying the dead woman is Rose. She informs Tom ahead of time so he and the children wont be traumatized.

Detectives Martin and McNally visit Liz who is in hiding from her husband Jimmy (because he's very abusive). You'll remember back in season 1 they were seeing Paul for therapy after their son died.

While the Spectors are at a birthday party, the police search their home for evidence. Unfortunately the upstairs roof caves in. The Spectors will be home any second. The police rush to make it look like an accident. When Paul arrives, it appears a flood caused by the hot water heater destroyed the place.

Katie Needs A Serious Reality Check

Paul and Katie talk. She has written alibis for him for all the nights he was out murdering women. He declares her ready to take the next step. He wants Katie to do something horrible to her best friend Daisy. Run Daisy! Run for your life!

The police determine that Peter Paul Spector is not Jewish. He was adopted by a Jewish couple. His real last name is Marshall. His father is in prison in Canada for murdering a man. His mother committed suicide. Jim visits the imprisoned pedophile priest (Father Jensen) to get info on Paul while he was at the orphanage. The priest is completely delusional saying he is not guilty of any crime. He was only showing love and affection to children. Jensen says he will tell Jim what he knows about the boy IF Jim calls him "father". This makes Jim sick to his stomach. I have the same feeling. Jensen says he did not molest Peter (who was then known as Peter Baldwin, initials PB). As a youth Paul broke into lots of homes, taking women's underwear, spying on them, etc. His sexual obsessions began early in life.

The Videos Paul Takes Of Himself Are Particularly Effective. You Can Definitely See the Deference Btwn Paul Acting Normal And What He's Really Like.

Both Katie and Paul lead the police on wild goose chases. He runs into the botanical gardens and discards evidence in a lily pond. He already burnt the rest of his journals in the home sink. When exiting the gardens we think Paul will escape but Jimmy spots him. He and a friend beat the crap out of Paul and threaten him with a gun. Sometimes hooligans are useful. Meanwhile Katie heads to Paul's hotel room. She removes the evidence (a lock of hair under a drawer and a memory card that was hidden in a wall outlet). She barely gets done before the police break in. Officer Hagstrom takes her down in quick order. I'm really liking Hagstrom. She's a bad ass.

Hagstrom Is My New Favorite Person

Across town, PC Dani Ferrington and her partner arrive to find Paul on his knees. As soon as they pull up, she is shot through the door (but luckily has a bulletproof vest on). The other officer returns fire and strikes Jimmy's friend. Jimmy gets away. They let Paul go-- only to arrest him a minute later.

So to recap, Paul has been arrested. Katie has been arrested. Sally Ann has been arrested. The police go through Paul's phone and find videos of Rose pleading for her life. It was heartbreaking to watch Rose and to watch Stella watching Rose.

I Would Suggest Jimmy Pummel Him A Few More Times... With A Hammer

Gibson sends DC McNally into Paul's cell to charge him for the murder of Joe Brawley and the attempted murder of Annie Brawley. She first has her let her hair down and change into something more suggestive. She has dark hair and is just Paul's type.

As episode 6 opens the police find an abandoned building where Rose might be held. Stella sees a chair and a tripod but Rose is nowhere to be found. Is Rose already dead?

One of Jimmy's loser friends calls saying he saw Liz in Bangor. He then goes to Paul's house where reporters are hanging out. He takes a journalist friends car and phone and leaves. He attacks Liz with a gun. A number of the other women try to protect her but are knocked around. It look like he will kill her but he leaves after hearing sirens. What a jerk.

Stella sends Anderson to try to get intel out of Katie. He is similar in age and look to Paul. Remember the guy that was spying at Spector's hotel? He owns the place. Not only is he a peeper but he also had cameras inside the rooms. They see where Spector tied up Katie.

Sally Ann's Only Crime Is Being Trusting And Gullible (And I'm Sure That's Why Paul Married Her)

It finally dawn on Sally Ann. Her daughter has a necklace that belonged to Rose Stagg. Sally starts bleeding during the interrogation and loses the baby. The police will not hold her. She knows nothing about Paul's activities.

DCI Eastwood informs Paul that he is also being charged with the murders of Sarah Kay, Fiona Gallagher, and Alice Monroe. Paul says he will speak with Stella and no one else.

Who's Playing Who?

Stella tries to get Paul to talk about his past. He had a lock of her hair and a picture of his mother in his possession. Paul eventually talks about his violent sexual fantasies. Fiona Gallagher was the first woman he murdered. How was he able to hold off for so long? He occupied himself with other "projects" (studying women but not harming them). Then he had children which took up all of his time. He considers himself free and God-like and says she wouldnt understand. Stella takes him down a peg or two saying "its an addiction, like any other." He says she has an unhealthy interest in her father. He also suggests Stella has no sympathy for Joe Brawley's murder. She only cares about the women. The interview is concluded but not until Paul says its only just begun between them.

Paul And Tom

To no one's surprise Stella and Tom Anderson end up in bed. Tom suggests that he reminds Stella of Spector. Stella says that is a repellent idea. She hates Paul with every fiber of her being.

Spector has an offer for Stella. Spector is allowed to meet with Olivia. In return, he'll show them where Rose is. They travel way out into the woods. Just when we think she's been sent on a wild goose chase, Stella finds Rose's car. In the trunk is Rose. She is barely clinging to life. Paul left her some food and water. He also carved "I Love You" in her arm. The medics carry her away.

Just as Stella is walking back to the where Paul and Tom are handcuffed together, Crazy Jimmy shows up and shoots both of them and several others. Then the police shoot him. Stella tries to stop Paul's bleeding but it look he's a goner.. unless of course they want to do a season 3.

Favorite Quotes: Note: the dialogue was excellent in several scenes so I wanted to include here.

Paul: "Other people's pain gives me pleasure." Katie: "Even mine?" Paul: "Especially yours."
"Are you ready to embrace the darkness? It's not about sex. It's about deciding the essential nature of the world. Is it a world a place of pain and suffering, grief and despair or is it a place full of sweetness and joy, all sweetness and light... There's suffering all around us. Why not take some pleasure from it?"- Paul to Katie.
"Happiness in others is an affront to our own pain and suffering Katie. If others people's happiness pains us then why not reduce their happiness?."- Paul.
"I love and am loved. And nothing you do can take that away."- Rose to Paul.
"Men like Spector are al too human, too understandable. He's not a monster, he's just a man."- Stella to Jim.
"The thoughts, the feelings that I experience are way beyond anything that could call fantasies. Sounds and colors are more vivid, odors more intense. My skin becomes sensitive to even the slightest of pressure... Its utterly compelling, compulsive. Nothing can pull you back from the edge. Not laws or threats of punishment, morality, religion fear of death. All of those things are as meaningless as the life you are about to extinguish."- Paul to Stella about his obsessions.
"You're a barren spinster so you couldnt know but small children take up all of your time."- Paul to Stella on how he waited till his 30s to start killing.
Paul: "I'm not a rapist." Stella: "You violate them. You're a rapist." Paul: "I perform no overt sexual acts on my victims". Stella: "You are driven by sexual fantasies and you act out with force."
Stella: "Where did your hatred of women come from?" Paul: "I dont hate women. I hate everyone and everything including myself."
Stella: "You are going to prison. How are you free?" Paul: "I live at a level of intensity unknown to you and others or your type. You will never know the almost God-like power that I feel when that last bit of breath leaves a body. That feeling of complete possession." Stella: "Yes you felt empowered, invincible even. But you're under arrest."
Stella to Paul: "Its an addiction, like every other."
"We're done here. You have everything you need from me. But be aware it's not over between us. In fact it's just begun."- Paul to Stella.
"A woman, I forget who, asked a male friend why men were afraid of women. He replied they were afraid that women might laugh at them. When she asked a group of women why women felt threatened by men they said 'We're afraid they might kill us'".- Stella.
"My advice to you is if you havent already, dont. I've tasted the fantasy and the deed. The fantasy is way more piquant."- Paul to Anderson about Stella.
Upon hearing that Rose is still alive after he locked in a trunk for weeks, Paul raises an eyebrow and simply replies "unexpected".

A Great Picture Of Jamie And Gillian

Grade: 5 Monsters (out of 5). Excellent episodes and a perfect ending in my opinion. I loved the way the camera lingered on everyone's faces and movements. This allowed the viewers time to really feel what the characters were feeling. Yes the show is a crime thriller but it's also a character study of both Paul and Stella. My guess is this will be on my top 10 list of 2015. Yes it was that good!

Is there any need for another season? I dont think so since everything was fairly well wrapped up. Will Paul die? Hopefully. Will Rose live? Most hopefully. Will Jimmy die? Hopefully times two. Will Anderson survive? Does anyone care? If there is a season 3 I will definitely be watching.