Broadchurch's return is filled with suspense, excitement and nostalgia.
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Broadchurch is back, but with a brand new case. Any worries that a new direction for the show might affect its gripping nature were quickly disproved in an episode filled with suspense, excitement and nostalgia.
The ‘whodunnit’ question that made Broadchurch so popular when it first hit our screens back in 2013 refreshes itself by examining a new kind of crime. Local woman Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh) is the victim of a severe sexual assault, but with her attacker’s identity unknown, even to her, and no DNA evidence, the audience is left to guess just who the offender is. And show creator Chris Chibnall has given viewers many suspects to consider.
As always, Olivia Colman and David Tennant are superb in returning to their roles as Detectives Ellie Miller and Alec Hardy respectively. New cast member Julie Hesmondhalgh acts her role as a rape victim with incredible respect and grace, though there are some edges to her character that leave you feeling suspicious. There are always great twists and turns in Broadchurch, so all will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Nostalgia for previous series comes largely from returning to the Latimers, who we don’t see until the second half of the episode. The family were at the centre of both Season 1 and 2, both of which largely revolved around the murder of Danny Latimer. Their scarred family continues to go through turmoil. While Mark (Andrew Buchan) has written a controversial book on Danny’s death, Chloe (Charlotte Beaumont) is going through her GCSEs, and, most shockingly, Mark and Beth (Jodie Whittaker) are separated. With this new series is starting three years after the last finished, I’m sure there will be lots more to learn, not only the Latimers, but the whole cast.
The last scene of the episode features a gloved hand finding fisherman’s rope in a bag from the Farm Shop where Trish works. Hardy revealed moments before that this was used to bind Trish’s wrists during the attack, providing the perfect set-up for more suspicion in the next episode… With more evidence coming through and suspicious figures looming, it is sure to be one hell of a series. You are not going to want to miss a minute.
Broadchurch continues next Monday at 9pm. Read The Edge‘s hopes for the third season here.
