Broadchurch: Season 1 (DVD)

Broadchurch is a British TV series trilogy that stars David Tennant (of Dr. Who fame) and Olivia Coleman (you may also know her from The Night Manager) as well as Jodie Whittaker (the new Dr. Who) and Andrew Buchan.  If you watch a lot of British TV, you may recognize these actors's names as well as a lot of the supporting cast.  I watched the first season of Broadchurch a few years ago when it aired in the U.S. on BBC America, which is how I also watched the second season.  The long wait for the third and final season is over, so I decided to re-watch the first two seasons before I watch the third season.  I'm reviewing them as I watch them again.  Also there are spoilers, so a word of caution before you keep reading.

In Broadchurch season one when twelve year old Daniel Latimer's body is found dumped on the shoreline of Broadchurch, the ensuing police investigation uncovers the town residents' secrets and threatens to rip both the Latimer family and the town itself apart.  A lot of people are hiding things for various reasons.  There's the local vicar who attends AA in the next town over; the local news agent with an illicit past; and a strange woman, a newcomer to Broadchurch, who is hiding from the disturbing tragedy in her own past that ripped her family apart.  Even the Latimers have secrets that family members have kept from both each other and the town.  And while the Latimers' secrets will be revealed within their family, they remain largely hidden from the public until season two barrels through town.

As the investigation drags on for weeks and then months tensions, rumors, and gossip in town start to spiral out of control as townsfolk grapple with the fear that one of their own is a child murderer. Then the national press descend upon this once sleepy, idyllic beach-side town and the Latimer family, sensationalizing Danny's death, and prying into the residents' secrets.  And everyone has secrets in this town.  From the lead investigator, D.I. Alec Hardy (played by Tennant) who comes to town seeking redemption after his last case went sideways to D.S. Ellie Miller (played by Coleman), who doesn't even realize that her own family hides the darkest secrets of all.

There are also quite a few shady people in the series.  And I have a list.  The strange newcomer is mega shady.  So is Tom Miller, Ellie's twelve year old son.  When chico deletes texts from his phone and files from his computer minutes after his mama tells him that his best friend has died, chico is shady and hiding something.  And Nige, papa Latimer's business partner or apprentice or whatever he is, is shady too.  However, one can have secrets and be shady without actually having anything to do with Daniel Latimer's murder.  But you'll have to watch the series to find out who killed Daniel Latimer and whose secrets are connected to his murder.


--Reviewed by Ms. Angie