‘The Fall’ season 3, episode 5 review: A look into Paul Spector’s childhood

Last time on “The Fall” Paul was transferred to a psychiatric facility to undergo a much deeper analysis to see if he is fit to stand trial or if he can remember anything at all. There were glimpses of him maybe starting to remember in the closing credits (at least that is how we interpreted some of his comments to a fellow patient), but even if he does remember some things, we suspect he will be keeping that to himself for a while.

This week we are diving into the mind of Paul Spector and learning about his past, like the fact that he never knew his real father and his mother committed suicide when he was 8 years old (and he was the one to find her body with a belt around her neck). While in foster care, the staff abused the boys (including Paul) daily and Burns confirms (with forensic testing) that it’s all true. Not only that, but the head of staff had chosen Paul as his “favorite” and was abused more then the rest of the boys until he left the home.

Paul talks to the psychiatrist about his voyeurism saying that it used to bring him relief and at the same time a sense of loneliness. He also reveals that it wasn’t always sexual – that it was more about seeing real, warm, comfortable homes with loving families. As the loneliness and anger got to Paul as a young man, he started to break into these homes, because he felt that if he didn’t feel safe, then why should they have that luxury? Paul goes on to say that when he married Sally Ann and had Olivia he thought that those troubles in his youth were long gone, but he’s now being told that they escalated.

Paul’s solicitors are still going after Stella and trying to pull apart her character. Besides the dream journals they are ready to expose her multiple relationships with colleagues including the married ones. They are hoping to show that Stella had a vendetta against Paul and put his life in danger out in the woods that day, because he had intimate knowledge of her work affairs through being in her hotel room and her dream diary.

When Stella and Anderson meet up with Paul and his solicitor, they tell him that there is another murder, one that a man named David took the fall for, that happened during the time period that Paul can remember. David and Paul spent time together in the foster home for boys when they were younger and was someone that Paul helped during that time. David was with Paul the night a woman named Susan was killed, but since David had taken the blame there hadn’t been further investigation into it until now. Paul admits privately to his solicitors that the police have something on him that he can remember.

We have been waiting a long time to get some background on Paul and this week we finally had that. This show has a brilliant way of making us feel sympathy for someone like Paul who has destroyed the lives of many people, including his own family. We find that remarkable since very few shows can make you feel for the villain, but as much as we don’t want to, we find ourselves caring what happens to him. Episode grade: A

What did you think of this episode of “The Fall” and how do you want to see it all end? Leave us a comment in the box below.