Don’t miss it. And not just becasue of David Tennant.
If you don’t believe me, this American has seen the preview:
Without spoilering: What he misses in his review is key; the role of tabloid media, which is referenced in discrete ways that many don’t notice (not least becasue they aren’t famliar with what is being referenced).
Otherwise, enjoy; the acting is wonderfully moving
The first episode was released by the BBC to YouTube. Its very good. It looks like its going to be pretty rough though - the first thing that happens is an eleven year old boy is found dead. So I’m not expecting happy jolly lots of laughs. Nor the wit of Sherlock or Downton Abbey. Its more somber than that.
I accidentally found out who the killer is - and I’m still going to watch the series.
I have my DVR set up to record the series as I have a club bicycle ride every Wednesday evening.
It is somber, yes, but not violent or gory. There was a bit too much emoting for my taste, but overall very worth watching. I won’t say more. It will certainly be best unspoilered.
Here’s a review from the NYTiimes. Lookin’ good.
Hell yeah. Very involving for yer female audience especially (but far from only!).
Watched the first episode on youtube. We liked it.
I liked it too. So far (early) it doesn’t seem very original or affecting, but Sepinwall (review in the OP) says by the end of the eight episodes, it’s devastating.
Seems odd to be psyched for “devastating”, but I am.
I liked it. Are we going to spend all eight episodes investigating this one death?
I appreciated that the magnitude of the death was played up and strongly felt by all concerned, as death, even the death of a child, is frequently glossed over as “ho-hum” in standard police shows.
For us non-Brits, it really helps to have the captioning on.
When the two cops were eating ice cream, the DI said to his boss, “Thanks for the 99.” I presume that referred to the ice cream cone, which appeared to have something sticking out of it like a pirouette cookie? Is that a British treat? I want one. No, I want two. Now, please.
“Commonly known as the 99 Cone around Europe, this treat dates back to the 1930s, when a Cadbury Flake chocolatebar was stuck into a cone of vanilla soft serve. The origin of the name “99” is one of the biggest culinary mysteries across the pond. Some say it is named after the address of the shop that first combined the creamy ice cream with crumbly chocolate. Others say it refers to an elite guard of 99 soldiers in the service of the King of Italy, who owned most of the soft-serve machines during that time. But one thing is for sure: it is a magical combination rarely seen in the States.”
Now what’s a Cadbury Flake chocolate bar?
I could have used captions too, especially at the beginning, when Ollie was making his way through town. That was a nice beginning. I’m thinking either he’s really popular, or that town is really friendly.
Okay, now I REALLY want one. Two. Now.
A 99 is a cone with soft vanilla ice cream, and a milk chocolate flake (also something you don’t really have in America) stuck in it. Yes, they are excellent. (I have no idea where the name comes from.)
I am beginning to worry a bit about this thread, though. People seem to be building their expectations rather too high, and may be setting themselves up for disappointment. Broadchurch is good, but it isn’t Shakespeare. It is a better than average police-procedural murder mystery cum drama (with a bit more time than is usual spent on the emotional effects of the crime on the family and community of the victim). I watched it on first broadcast with no special expectations and was impressed. If you come to it expecting King Lear you will probably end up feeling let down.
Not expecting King Lear. But I’ve seen every episode of all the Law & Orders at least three times and I’d like to get into another crime show. (Tried *CSI *and Criminal Minds and didn’t like them.) I also like the English setting. If it’s better than The Mentalist, I’ll be fine with it.
BTW, I see *Luther *is coming back. Geez, that guy makes Eliot Stabler look mellow.
The notoriously suggestive flake commercials might tell you all you need to know.
Broadchurch is slow-burn, but high in emotional impact. I had to think long and hard about watching the last few episodes. It was great watching though. Well worth it.
no spoilers
Yep, I agree with the emotional journey.
For me it was mostly about the journey - an emotional insight into people drawn to a seaside community and how they do and don’t fit with the locals who grew up together; the complex intricacies and layers of community/society.
But there is also the range of relationships and their development, the investigation, the treatise on tabloid intrusion and manipulation … the strands bind together to create a strong show.
Fwiw, I don’t think the reviewer in the OP link actually watched the show, at least not all of it.
I just read the review and to me there is nothing to suggest he did not see the whole series. Maybe the review was different when it was first posted?
I just finished the series. Wow. Very well done. I thought it was well written, well acted, and well filmed. The twists and turns were unexpected.
The story of how the death affected people was different from what I’ve seen in other crime dramas. Devastating is a good way to put it, indeed.
I can’t see how they can do a second series, though. It ended, not so much neatly, but in a way that I can’t imagine the two detectives being in another run.
Anyway, I don’t want to type more in fear of letting loose spoilers–but I found it to be very, very good.
After watching the first two episodes on BBC America, it occurs to me that this is very similar to The Killing, a Danish programme that was adapted for American television. (Note that I’ve only ever seen the American version of The Killing.) Both programmes focus on the investigation into the murder of a child and how the murder affects everyone in the community. And even just two episodes in, it appears that everyone has some deep dark secret that may or may not implicate them.
