TV REVIEW: Broadchurch - Episode Eight

Did you figure out who the murderer was, then?  Before Episode 8? At what point exactly?  I knew all along, didn’t you? Nope, didn’t have a clue. How could you not? Etc etc…

You couldn’t go anywhere on Tuesday morning without overhearing conversations like these about the series finale of ITV’s Broadchurch. In fact, I myself made completely sure I was able to watch the final episode on the day of broadcast, a seriously rare occurrence, as I knew I wouldn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of making it to the end of the day without finding out who the murderer was otherwise. Certainly not once I’d been in the office longer than 30 seconds, anyway.

For a show always very much a whodunit, but one that built up momentum so slowly in parts that you almost forgot that it was, the final episodes of Broadchurch were wholly focused on exactly who killed Danny Lattimer.  Normally at this point I would yell ‘spolier alert!” in big capital letters lest anyone should unwittingly ruin the ending for themselves, but I reckon if you haven’t found time to watch it and see by this point in time, then you probably don’t care.  So, as it turns out, the killer was none other than copper’s husband Joe Miller (Matthew Gravelle), in an act of desperate guilt.  A revelation which came totally out of the blue. Or did it?

Looking back, there were quite a few warning signs flashing dangerously in his direction from the start. For one thing, and this is nothing more than traditional murder mystery fare, up until the final episode he was pretty well the only character in the ill-fated town who hadn’t been hauled in for questioning. And that’s including the vicar. He did, however, begin to act distinctly strangely towards the latter half of the series. Clues were definitely in the air. Particular stand out moments for me included his jokingly volunteering to be questioned by his wife if they were running out of suspects, the parallel thread with shifty Susan (Pauline Quirke), namely Ellie’s amazement that the former didn’t know what was going on under her own roof, and finally her nagging at him about all the household jobs he hadn’t finished lately. He was also just a little wholesome to be true, let’s face it. He even got along with Hardy which can hardly be taken as a good thing.

 Despite the fact that we found out pretty early on in the final episode that Joe was the murderer, the hour still had plenty to offer.  David Tennant performed admirably as hard as nails DI Hardy caught between his ingrained attitudes and the need to comfort the colleague he’s rubbed up the wrong way since day one, and Jodie Whittaker was fantastic as the grieving mother finally being given some semblance of closure. Andrew Buchan was pretty great as Mark Lattimer, too, particularly when visiting his son’s killer in his cell, who in turn was suitably guilt stricken and desperate. The absolute front runner in terms of outstanding performances, however, was without a flicker of doubt Olivia ‘give the woman a Bafta’ Colman, who’s desperation, grief and anger unleashed upon her husband was not only perfectly judged but genuinely distressing to watch.  The timing of the big reveal also meant we had plenty of time to watch her deal with the news, including the agonising moment when she had to tell her children.

In fact the only real issue to worry about is what on earth they’re going to do with Series 2 next year. Surely not another whodunit, in the same place? And surely not with the same detectives given that one wasn’t expected to live much longer than the murder victim and another was leaving town? The jury is still out on that one, but one thing we can be sure of- with 8.9 million people tuning in to the show’s final episode, Broadchurch, Series 1 at least, has been a reasonably massive victory for the ITV Drama department.  

And a very well done to them, too.

-          Jen

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TV REVIEW: Broadchurch - Episode Seven

The penultimate episode of Broadchurch is a whirlwind of revelations, accusations and emotion as we edge ever closer to finding out who killed Danny Latimer.

This week finds the suspect finger pointing back at Susan Wright (Pauline Quirke) as she is brought in for questioning following the return of Danny's skateboard to Tom (Adam Wilson). Miller (Olivia Colman) is forced to take on the leadership of the case after Hardy (David Tennant) is sidelined due to ill health. It doesn't take him long to be back on his feet and on the case again, leading to some wonderful to-and-froing between the best couple of detectives since Lewis and Hathaway left our screens. Elsewhere in Broadchurch, Echo editor Maggie (Carolyn Pickles) is doing her level best to dig up the dirt on Susan with the aid of puppy-dog Ollie (Jonathan Bailey). Reverend Paul Coates (Arthur Darvill) reveals some hidden truths about the relationship between Danny and Tom whilst Dodgy Nige (Joe Sims) discovers a secret about his past and finds himself in the spotlight.

Another packed episode of twists and turns, Broadchurch is one of the very few television shows I actually don't mind having breaks in because you always need a minute to catch your breath. We are now just one episode away from finding out who killed Danny Latimer all those weeks ago and I for one am still no closer to knowing who actually did it. For once, this isn't actually infuriating as Chris Chibnall has ensured there have been enough twists and revelations to keep even the easily distracted occupied. It helps that he has such an excellent cast to portray this town of characters with secrets to hide. The chemistry between the ensemble cast, especially in this episode, also gives the evocation of a real community, each affected in their own way by the brutal goings-on. Of course, one of them has to be the killer.

Each week has seen a couple of characters enter the frame for Danny's murder, with the majority of them being discounted through other secrets or a lack of evidence. And this week it is the turn of our favourite enigmas, Lurking Susan and Dodgy Nige who, it is revealed this week, are actually related. This is a much better twist than some drugs-related gangster ideas I'd got floating around in my brain. Fingers are firmly pointed at Dodgy Nige right now what with Lurking Susan absolutely sure that it was him dropping off the body and the revelation that he used to take Danny hunting for animals. 

I'm still not entirely sure it was him though as it seems a bit too neat just before the final episode. After all, there's still the mystery of Danny's mobile and Tom's laptop to be solved and the montage of all of the men involved in the case at the end of the episode tend to suggest that there is something tying them all together that hasn't been quite worked out yet. Mark's still got a couple of hours unaccounted for when he wasn't with Becca, Paul doesn't have an alibi for that night either and there has been lots of pointed comments to Ellie about not seeing something in your own home. Could it be that Joe Miller knows more than he's letting on?

I won't be writing again on the series now, unless I feel absolutely compelled to dissect the episode on my own blog, but it has been an excellent addition to the Monday evening schedule. I wasn't initially convinced because, as a veteran of many a crime show, it did seem as if it was another murder-by-numbers just in a beautiful location and with all-round excellent performances. As it progressed, I've found that I just haven't been able to decide who did it; the moment I think I know, a curveball is thrown and I'm left to re-assess before having another bash at it. I'm still thinking the Reverend has got something to do with it; Darvill has been given a lot of screen-time and the character is so determined to be helpful, there's just not something quite right there.

We shall find out next week and Jen will be here with her thoughts on Broadchurch's big finale. Let's hope it ends with a bang not a whimper.

- Becky

You can read Jen's review of Episode Six here.

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TV REVIEW: Broadchurch - Episode Four

The fourth episode of Broadchurch sees more of the town's residents added to its ever-growing suspect list. After last episode saw Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan) move down the priority suspect list following the revelation of his predictable affair with Becca Fisher (Simone McAullay), this week finds DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman) discovering more potential suspects as more evidence emerges. All whilst still taking the time for a nice spot of dinner which, as Jen observed, was a nice bit of comic relief. We're also given more of a glimpse into lurking Pauline Quirke, or Susan Wright/Elaine Jones as she's known in Broadchurch as well as a not entirely unexpected development with newsagent Jack Marshall (David Bradley).

Broadchurch is a very curious mix of both generic and good, the success of which is something I can't quite put my finger on. As Jen and I have observed over the past few episodes, a lot of the material is quite generic; we've had the suspect close to the family who turned out to be a red herring. He also happened to be involved in an affair that wasn't exactly a surprise. Then there are the various shady characters around the town who all have 'potential suspect' badges all hunted down by the detective with a murky past and unknown medical condition. And yet I'm still hooked.

To the show's credit, the fantastic ensemble cast sell the small town paranoia well, offering up a convincing dynamic between the outcasts and the tight-knit community. And whilst many characters may be wearing these suspect badges, as I shall now call them, I have yet to actually call which one of them may be the murderer. In more traditional murder mysteries, there would be another body by now to help guide both us and the detectives to whodunit. At this stage, I'm thinking Arthur Darvill's nervy reverend is something to do with it. Until this episode it had been Pauline Quirke, but she just got a bit too obvious.

In fact, Quirke's scenes this week were the only bad note in an otherwise excellent instalment. Her confrontation with the other plumber, creepy Nige (Joe Sims) was badly written, something you'd find in an awful episode of Eastenders instead of a tightly scripted ITV drama. Likewise, her threat to the newspaper editor was almost laughable. It's Pauline Quirke. Unfortunately, despite her acting ability, she is just not threatening. Bringing the character out of the shadows has unfortunately reduced her impact; before, she was a sinister presence and now, she seems to be becoming a cartoon villain. Or at least the next Phil Mitchell.

Alongside Susan Wright's upgrade to priority suspect, this episode also saw more things come to light about newsagent Jack. Bradley's performance was perfectly pitched, balancing the grumpy town elder with the vulnerable old man he became later in the episode as his past came back to haunt him. With the increased press presence in Broadchurch, something tells me that Jack will suddenly be thrust into the prime suspect spot, despite his assurances to the Latimers that he wasn't the killer.

As we're now halfway through the series, I think it's fair to say that revelations will start coming thick and fast though if Broadchurch continues to successfully shield its hand, it will be a while before we can predict Danny's killer.

- Becky

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TV REVIEW: Broadchurch - Episode Three

Now that we’ve reached the dizzying heights of Broadchurch, Episode 3 (I know, already!), we could be forgiven for expecting a few surprises here and there. A few plot twists and turns. And lo and behold, we were not disappointed.

Last week, we saw father of the deceased, Mark Latimer, taken down ol’ Broadchurch nick for a spot of questioning. Having seemingly lied about his whereabouts on the night his son disappeared, claiming to have been with a ‘friend’ he’d rather conveniently forgotten the name of, later remembering it to be hapless colleague Nige Carter (Joe Sims), not to mention the discovery of blood on the family boat, he was fast inching his way up to number one on the list of suspects. At least, that is, until lead investigators DI Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) uncovered the truth. Unfortunately, however, so later did wife Beth (Jodie Whittaker).

Meanwhile, Susan (Pauline Quirke) was acting progressively more suspiciously, behaving in such a hostile way towards the police that one can’t help but be surprised that she hasn’t been imprisoned for something or other already, whilst Will Mellor’s bumbling psychic, Steve, became more and more desperate to give Beth his message from Danny. Which he duly did. In other local news, Arthur Darvill’s Reverend Paul Coates crossed over into please-let-me-help-I’m-having-a-bit-of-a-professional-crisis-over-here overdrive, being the only person in the know about Beth’s baby. The two super sleuths were also as persistent as ever, although with some actual motive behind Karen’s (Vicky McClure) behaviour revealed, and editor Maggie (Carolyn Pickles) remained as hostile to all outside creative influences as ever.

So yes, plot developments. Most striking, was the discovery of Mark’s not so very subtle affair with local hotelier Becca Fisher (Simone McAullay), it being reasonably obvious from the get go that he wasn’t really responsible for the death of his son.  He was also introduced as a suspect far too early to ever really be believable. We all know from our heritage of countless detective programmes and crime novels that the real killer is always the wild card that swoops in at the end – the one who was there all along but nobody ever really considered. That said, the sympathetic, totally un-shifty and sort of on the periphery and thus actually a little bit of a suspect award would currently have to go to Reverend Coates, were it to go to anyone. And  in these times of general and widespread Church distrust, I can’t help but feel that, not only would it be a tad cliché if Darvill’s character turned out to be the murderer, It would also be far too reminiscent of a game of Cluedo come to life for my liking.

Episode 3 also saw a little bit of character development between the two police detectives, Hardy and Miller, with Ellie inviting Tennant’s Hardy round for dinner, because that is ‘what people around here do’. Clearly unhappy about the fact, she wouldn’t take no for an answer, leaving us looking forward to a welcome bit of light relief in the form of a cosy family meal gate-crashed by the matriarch’s grumpy and not terribly popular boss. And in a TV series about the murder of a childhood, family breakdown and town suspicion- goodness knows we could do with it. Meanwhile Beth developed a feistiness towards her husband, admittedly born from mistrust, that it seems we may see more of in later episodes.

Sp things are moving along nicely down in Broadchurch. Much in the same way as you’d expect from almost any detective series, but nicely nonetheless.

Broadchurch is next on tomorrow night, 9pm, ITV1.

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/broadchurch

Jen

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TV REVIEW: Broadchurch- Episode Two

Well, well. Kudos Productions have been busy. Having produced last week’s mini-series, Mayday here, their other, one assumes, main creations for 2013, Broadchurch is now showing on The Other Side. Otherwise known as ITV. 

As Becky wrote here in her review of Episode One, Broadchurch follows the after events of the murder of 11 year old Daniel Lattimer, late of the small seaside town. The show's main focus is on the reaction of Daniel’s family, as well as on the detectives running the operation, led by a very beardy, broody David Tennant as DI Alec Hardy, and the considerably warmer, perhaps slightly hapless DI Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman). Last week’s episode, as Becky said, was very much an establishing episode, with the audience catching glimpses of potential storylines, tensions and even suspects through our introduction to the townspeople and their home.  We’ve met the ever-versatile Arthur Darvill’s Reverend Coates, shifty Susan (not to be confused with Ripper Street’s long Susan), played by Pauline Quirke, David Bradley’s papershop owner, Jack, and now Will Mellor as a reluctant psychic.

If last week’s was a character focused episode, then, this week was the turn of themes- themes which we can tell will shape the drama of the rest of the series. Top of the list, and all the more noticeable since the days of Leveson, is the theme of Press interference and ethics. Young reporter Oliver Stevens (Jonathan Bailey) caused outrage in last week’s episode by breaking the news of the story via twitter. This week, he’s gone a step further, befriending visiting Daily Herald journo Karen White (Vicky McClure).  Local Press old guard Maggie Radcliffe (Carolyn Pickles), editor of the local paper, is less than thrilled with this development. We can only speculate as to whether this is a result of the fictional Daily Herald’s striking resemblance to the Daily Mail. Regardless of her reasons, though, it is clear from DI Hardy’s reaction to her alone that Ms White is trouble with a capital phone hacking.

Next on the list of popular tropes is suspicion. An obvious one in a TV series about murder, I’ll grant you, but what with Daniel’s mother Beth (Jodie Whittaker) handing the police a list of suspects which turns out to be a list of all their friends, coupled with Pauline Quirke’s Susan lonely, watchful life on the cliff, not to mention the fact that Daniel’s own father is a suspect- suspicion is here to stay. So too is religion, and the idea of life after death. Most obviously, we see this through Reverend Coates (Darvill), and his TV appeals and attempts to help the family. We also now have Steve Connolly (Mellor), a phone engineer who claims to have received a message from Daniel about his death. He in turn receives a frosty reception at best from Tennant’s DI Hardy, a man in serious danger of turning into a living snowman if he doesn’t crack a smile by the next episode.

For fan as I am of David Tennant, or DT, as I prefer to call him, I’m not convinced as yet that this will turn into one of his better performances. At the moment, his performance is  outshone in most scenes by the warm simplicity of Olivia Colman's. I know her character is far more likeable character to begin with, so she does have something of a headstart, but with Tennant’s role it feels as if the writers are trying a little too hard to make him into some sort of rude, moody iceman. Particularly as there are clear signs of emotional torment and a dark past just (about) under the surface. So far, so cliché. Arthur Darvill is giving a strong enough performance as the local vicar, as is Susan Brown as Liz Roper, Danny’s grandmother. Although they are all, in turn overshadowed by Jodie Whittaker’s heart-breaking performance as the grieving mother. 

Again, as Becky mentioned, Broadchurch is currently running the risk of becoming just another detective drama, simply going through the motions rather than trying anything particularly new. I love a detective show as much as the next person, more, I'll wager, but it's always far more exciting to watch something that is not only done well, but is doing something exciting.

Next week’s episode seems set to focus on the latest suspects, and will, I would imagine, delve a little deeper into the mind of DI Hardy. Not too much, though, there’s another six episodes to go yet. 

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/broadchurch

Broadchurch is next on tomorrow night,9pm, ITV1. 

Jen

You can read more of my stuff here or follow me on twitter here .

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TV REVIEW: Broadchurch - Episode One

There's a certain kind of drama that ITV lead the field in, a specialism of earnest, British character actors emoting in picturesque locations amid assorted scandals of sex, death and any other emotional minefield you can think of. Now in case you think I'm being disparaging, I'm really not. I've always enjoyed these dramas in all their slightly absurd glory, whether they're tackling weird mother/daughter relationships, cyber-crime or David Tennant as an evil husband (yes, that was an odd one). Broadchurch is very much in the same vein, right down to the beautiful seaside town, suspicious locals and Tennant himself.

Broadchurch follows the events after the death of an eleven year old boy, Danny Latimer, and its effects and a small community of people. His parents, played by Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker, are naturally devastated by his sudden death and handle much of the episode's emotional lifting, Buchan's speech to his dead son particularly affecting. Investigating the suspicious death are DS Ellie Miller (the ever-wonderful Olivia  Colman) and DI Alec Hardy (the afore-mentioned David Tennant), a man with his own mysterious past. Amongst the locals who may know something about Danny's death are Arthur Darvill's Reverend Paul Coates, Pauline Quirke's Susan Wright and David Bradley as Jack Marshall. 

The first episode was naturally one of establishing everything about Broadchurch, a seaside town in Dorset; it's very much an everyone-knows-everyone town, as made clear by Mark Latimer's walkthrough of the town in the early morning, catching snippets of conversations with people who will no doubt be suspects in a couple of episodes' time. There are also several tensions already coming in to play, between the local press and the police, Hardy's own past that he appears to be running away from and the sudden onset of shifty glances and deleting of unseen files. So far, so standard ITV drama and if it continues down this path, we could be in for something a little cliched and ever-so-slightly predictable.

Storyline aside, Broadchurch's real strength is the impressive cast list that has been assembled. From ITV stalwarts like Buchan and Whittaker to the star power of Colman and Tennant, it may be going through the motions, but those motions are so well-acted that you'll soon forget to care. The extensive cast also means I am quite happy to continue watching to see the others stretch their legs. 

In particular, Arthur Darvill's reverend has clearly got something to hide and it's a good chance for him to prove that his time as Rory wasn't just an excellent flash in the pan (you all know my feelings for Rory). Likewise, it's the first time I've seen Pauline Quirke in anything for absolutely ages, and that was probably an old re-run of Birds of a Feather. She's doing a fine line in sinister lurking here and I'm already dying to know why.

With this ensemble, many of whom I haven't mentioned yet, I'm hoping for a rich tapestry of characters, all of whom probably have a skeleton just waiting to come crashing out of the closet. I've already got my main suspects ready to go, but, this being an ITV drama after all, I'm fully expecting a few twists and turns before we find out who really is behind Danny's death.

Tune in next week to find out what Jen thinks of Broadchurch's second episode.

- Becky

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