Does TV’s The Fall condone violence against women?

I CAN’T understand reviewer Christopher Stevens’s negative reaction to the BBC2/RTE crime series The Fall (Mail). I’m a little old lady of 72. If anyone is likely to be offended by violence, pornography and misogyny, it’s me. As it is, I’m impressed by the convincing characterisation of personalities that I’m unlikely — I hope — ever to meet. We all need to be aware that charm is the most dangerous characteristic a human can possess. And we should remember you can’t plan anything. You never know when you’re going to fall through a hole in the floor. My only complaint is about Gillian Anderson’s voice. Her laryngitis was so bad this week, I couldn’t make out a word she said.

EDNA REITH, London N19.

I CONGRATULATE Christopher Stevens for speaking out against the universal praise showered on The Fall, which I have stopped watching. The heavy sexual overtones in the slightest action by the actors and the cruelty depicted is unnerving: it’s symptomatic of the ills that trouble our society today. It’s surely not beneficial to encourage disconnected feelings towards rape, murder and fear as this series does. Gillian Anderson’s character is becoming more human as her past is revealed, but she appears amoral and one will find, I suppose, that she had a childhood of abuse. Surely, it’s time to show people how to be loving, kind, compassionate and decent parents, lovers and partners.

Mrs ANN EDWARDS, London.

IT’S suggested some viewers are obtaining perverse pleasure from watching violence against women. I derive my enjoyment from the series as a whole, including being interested in the characters. I certainly don’t endorse violence against women, but The Fall is entertainment with a dark subject matter at its heart, a psychological thriller presented in a hugely viewable and interesting way.

MEGAN RAWLINS, Poole, Dorset.