After cultivating as much interest as Twin Peaks, the British crime drama Broadchurch seems to have fallen off its pedestal in season 2.
WHEN a new show is declared a “hit”, it is both a blessing and curse. On the one hand, it is a feather in the creators cap and the perfect inducement to get the network to green light a second exploit. That said, though, the pressure is on to conquer new heights.
Therein lies the challenge and, sometimes, the failing of many TV series. The Millers – a case in point – was canned after the second season. The plug was also pulled on The Bridge. Despite a solid first run; interest dipped in the follow-on. Reed Between the Lines suffered a similar fate.
Then there are those shows that keep on surprising with each season like Suits, The Fixer, House of Cards and The Walking Dead.
This brings us to Broadchurch, which had TV critics raving about it last year.
MURDER HE WROTE
The crime drama – mirroring the spellbinding effect of the hedonistically suspenseful Twin Peaks – left viewers completely invested in the search for the killer of 11-year-old Danny Latimer. Chris Chibnall (Torchwood, Gracepoint, Camelot and Law & Order: UK) ingeniously penned plenty of red herrings to throw the whodunit armchair detectives off in every episode.
But he saved the best for last when he dropped the biggest bombshell by unmasking DS Ellie Miller’s husband, Joe, as the killer.
With the case so close to home for Ellie, it strained her relationship with DI Alec Hardy, who, throughout this investigation, was haunted by a previously bungled case.
Chibnall magnified the fallible nature of human beings in the wake of Danny’s murder, which rocked the close-knit fictional town of Dorset to its core. In allowing fear and suspicion to fester, he magnificently explored the danger of consuming rumours – where the innocent became collateral damage in the hunt.
Season two looks at what becomes of Joe as his court case gets under way.
The outcome, however, had fans and critics up in arms. Chibnall strikes again, this time drumming up serious controversy by not quite balancing those scales of justice.
Ironically enough, critics have slammed him for relying on the same writing modus operandi that made him… well, famous the last time.
THE PLOT THICKENS
ONE of the crucial factors – aside from the script – is a sprucing up of the cast for a sequel. And, hats go off to Chibnall, he has bagged some heavyweights. In the new instalment he has Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without A Trace), James D’Arcy (Jupiter Ascending), Eve Myles (Torchwood, Merlin), Charlotte Rampling (Dexter), Meera Syal (The Kumars at No 42) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (The Iron Lady).
This time, the focus is divided between the trial of Joe Miller and the Sandbrooke case being revisited.
CLUED-IN
David Tennant, who didn’t have to audition for the role of DI Alec Hardy, has been a huge drawcard in the series. His damaged character lent substantial context to the main story arc, as did his deteriorating health.
In one of his interviews, he shed light on the direction his story follows in season two.
He said: “I think we all found it hard to predict where Chris was going to go and how he was going to tell a story faithful to season one, without underselling the veracity of it. It would have been ludicrous and a bit disappointing to discover another body on the beach and begin another eight episodes of whodunit. He absolutely doesn’t do that.
“Tonally, it’s the same show. But structurally, it is completely different. This is a really clever and exiting bit of writing. Still a thriller – but not the same type.”
Newcomer Myles praised his storytelling skills in an interview with Digital Spy: “He writes brilliantly for women and men. But I think, more specifically, it’s how he structures each character. How he brings each character to life and how different everybody is.”
Elated about being cast as Claire, she revealed that the cast were as much in the dark as the audience. And that is the beauty of Chibnall’s creative minefield, it’s perfectly mapped out to trigger those nail biting thrills.
Irrespective of the critics barbed comments, the ratings proved sufficient to secure Broadchurch a third season. I guess that is the bottom line.
• Broadchurch, M-Net Edge (DStv channel 102) on Wednesday, March 4 at 7pm.