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Broadchurch returns for a third and, apparently final, series and… I have to say that I’ve never seen this show before. Heard good things about series 1. Bad things about series 2. And that there’s lots of staring at cliffs by both Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman).
Series 3 is centered around a vicious attack on Trish Winterman (Corrie’s Julie Hesmondhalgh), a middle-aged woman who we first see with tears streaming down her cheek, trying to get to grips with what’s happened, and that’s before we’re shown her bruises and other horrific injuries. I can’t go into too much detail about the episode and wouldn’t want to, so as to avoid spoilers, but it’s safe to say that as more characters are introduced, there’s one friend who feels like it’s her fault because they invited her to a party where the alleged rape may or may not have taken place. There’s also hints about the culprit as the episode goes on, but in any drama, that could mean anything until they’re revealed.
I can say that coming to this fresh, it tells the story in a slow and measured way, and looks interesting enough to see how it goes.
Of course, there’s occasional references to the previous two series which I don’t fully get, bar some elements I’ve learned along the way and I did some reading to fill in the gaps, but I knew that would come and it didn’t impinge on grasping this series’ drama at hand.
It’s a pretty strong opening, and there’s even brief humour such as an exchange between the two leads as they discuss Trish and how the community is small:
- Alec: “Do you know her?”
Ellie: “It’s not Trumpton. I don’t know everybody(!)”
The preview I saw was presented in an odd 2.00:1 widescreen ratio, so I don’t know if that’s always been the case or if it’s just for this series.
Watching the rest of the series, the drama did maintain the intrigue, but I wouldn’t be too fussed about a fourth series if one came about.
Broadchurch Series 3 begins tonight on ITV at 9pm, and then later on the ITV Hub. The series is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD ahead of its release on March 13th. At the same time, there’s the release of the Complete Series 1-3 Blu-ray and Complete Series 1-3 DVD.
Series 3 Score: 7/10
Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Producer: Dan Winch
Creator/Writer: Chris Chibnall
Music: Ólafur Arnalds
Cast:
Alec Hardy: David Tennant
Ellie Miller: Olivia Colman
Trish Winterman: Julie Hesmondhalgh
Beth Latimer: Jodie Whittaker
Rev. Paul Coates: Arthur Darvill
Cath Atwood: Sarah Parish
Mark Latimer: Andrew Buchan
Angela Dyer: Julie Cox
Chloe Latimer: Charlotte Beaumont
Clive Lucas: Sebastian Armesto
DC Katie Harford: Georgina Campbell
Ed Burnett: Lenny Henry
Maggie Radcliffe: Carolyn Pickles
Tom Miller: Adam Wilson
Jim Atwood: Mark Bazeley
Sahana Harrison: Sunetra Sarker
SOCO Brian Young: Peter De Jersey
Daisy Hardy: Hannah Rae
David Barrett: Roy Hudd
Ian Winterman: Charlie Higson
Journalist: Guillaume Rivaud
Fred Miller: Benji Yapp
Linda: Jane Whittenshaw
Daniel: Jasper Meehan
Uniform Bob: Steve Bennett
Anna Palmer: Andrea Hall
Lizzie Latimer: Emily Alison
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.