I have mixed feelings about the side-by-side stories running through this season. One thing I'm sure of is that the way they were split in this episode was distracting. The story line of the Sandbrook case has been boring up until the end of this episode. Ironically, at the beginning of the season, I thought it was a mistake to continue with the trial of last season's murder. I just wanted a totally new case. Now I'm hooked and it's mostly due to Marianne Jean-Baptiste. I've loved her in Cold Case and how much I loathe her character in this show is a testimony to her superb acting ability. There are so many excellent individual performances in this one that even as a sometimes boring episode, it deserves at least an 8/10.
6 Reviews
The Greatest Crime Drama Ever
AndrewAppleby28 January 2015
Chris Chibnall's crime drama of an investigation into the death of a local boy in a small town in Dorset is one that has had the population talking. The multi-award winning Broadchurch's run for two seasons through 2013 and 2015 have now kept the audience gripped and on the edge of their seat. I feel like it is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, crime drama around. It's run of eight episodes per season keeps the audience guessing as it did me. Unlike the common crime dramas where it takes you halfway through the series before you guess whodunit, Broadchurch had me guessing till the very end, and still delivered a shock twist.
The show has really outdone itself with a star studded cast with the likes of David Tennant who once again shows why he is such an amazing actor by bringing the portrayal of DI Alec Hardy, a police officer haunted by his past, to life. Olivia Coleman sells the role of DS Ellie Miller to us perfectly and the on stage chemistry between Tennant and Coleman is a beautifully crafted relationship. Along with other great actors and actresses such as Arthur Darvill, David Bradley, Jodie Whittaker and Eve Myles, the show really doesn't fail to entertain.
Everything that makes this show the success that it is, whether it is the cast, the writing, the story arc or the score to transcend the sadness and grief of the town deserves every reward it has ever gotten.
The show has really outdone itself with a star studded cast with the likes of David Tennant who once again shows why he is such an amazing actor by bringing the portrayal of DI Alec Hardy, a police officer haunted by his past, to life. Olivia Coleman sells the role of DS Ellie Miller to us perfectly and the on stage chemistry between Tennant and Coleman is a beautifully crafted relationship. Along with other great actors and actresses such as Arthur Darvill, David Bradley, Jodie Whittaker and Eve Myles, the show really doesn't fail to entertain.
Everything that makes this show the success that it is, whether it is the cast, the writing, the story arc or the score to transcend the sadness and grief of the town deserves every reward it has ever gotten.
Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt
Hitchcoc24 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Alec and Ellie continue their tempestuous relationship. She is continually puzzled by his terse manner. They return to the scene of the previous murder, where the father of one of the girls blames him for incompetence and wants him out of the way. Meanwhile, there is the return of Susan, the key lady, who finds that Tom is staying in her Caravan (after frequent meetings with Mark--who knows where that is going). She finds Nigel and tells him that she has nine months to live from lung cancer. He rejects her and walks away. She then becomes a star witness. She says that the man she saw the night of the murder was Nigel. This is top quality television. This may rank second for me to "Game of Thrones" for intrigue.
Very boring.
Sleepin_Dragon9 September 2022
Ellie's sister Lucy takes to the stand, but gives a very different version of events, Alex returns to Sandbrook.
Well, it's good to see more faces from the show's first series make a return, Pauline Quirke, Joe Sims etc, so for fans of the show, that's a real positive.
I love Broadchurch, but, this particular episode, is just a convoluted mess. Pacing is the first major issue here, it is so inexcusably slow, there's deep and atmospheric, and then there's just plain dull, and I'm sorry, but this was tedious beyond belief.
It is saved by some sublime acting, Tennant and Colman once again, and it is immaculately produced, genuinely it looks unbelievably slick and stylish.
It's trying to give you an insight into the loopholes and problems associated with the legal system, but the split focus makes it hard to concentrate on Danny's death.
In the scheme of this great series, this one was unforgivable. 5/10.
Well, it's good to see more faces from the show's first series make a return, Pauline Quirke, Joe Sims etc, so for fans of the show, that's a real positive.
I love Broadchurch, but, this particular episode, is just a convoluted mess. Pacing is the first major issue here, it is so inexcusably slow, there's deep and atmospheric, and then there's just plain dull, and I'm sorry, but this was tedious beyond belief.
It is saved by some sublime acting, Tennant and Colman once again, and it is immaculately produced, genuinely it looks unbelievably slick and stylish.
It's trying to give you an insight into the loopholes and problems associated with the legal system, but the split focus makes it hard to concentrate on Danny's death.
In the scheme of this great series, this one was unforgivable. 5/10.
Season 2: why the confusion
jasonbuckley-0296225 April 2021
Many inconsistencies from season 1
huiyusun8 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Why would Susan wright lie and say it's Nigel that she saw? Her reasoning for saying it in season 1 makes much more sense as she didn't know the killer then. But now she knows it's not nigel, so I just can't understand her motive at all. It's like the writers have forgotten a number of plots in season 1.
Another major inconsistency is that Alec's wife seemed completely normal and not at all affected by lying, having an affair and causing a guilty man to walk free in season 1. She just seemed giddy and happy, like excuse me?
The writers need to respect their audience and not just abandon or modify established facts from season 1 just because it's more convenient.
Another major inconsistency is that Alec's wife seemed completely normal and not at all affected by lying, having an affair and causing a guilty man to walk free in season 1. She just seemed giddy and happy, like excuse me?
The writers need to respect their audience and not just abandon or modify established facts from season 1 just because it's more convenient.
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