I’m
enjoying season 1 of this show less the second time through. To be fair, a good chunk of that is just
knowing who the murderer is, both for having the answer to the mystery and for
the creep factor of watching them interact with other characters who are none
the wiser. However, while the acting is
excellent across the board, I can see the cracks in the writing more, and with
Chris Chibnall taking over showrunning duties on Who, that has me a bit worried (I’m hoping Who is a different enough beast that it’ll work out, and that
Chibnall will take full advantage of other fine writers associated with the
show.)
The
Latimer family is hit on multiple fronts in this episode. Mark is brought in for questioning when his
alibi doesn’t check out, with Ellie insisting it must be a misunderstanding and
Hardy urging her not to discount the facts.
As Beth struggles to figure out how her life moves forward, she’s
approached by someone who claims to have important information about the case.
One issue
I’m having here is how ill-prepared Ellie seems for the requirements of her
job. I get that Broadchurch has never
had a murder like this before and she’s understandably shaken (even more so
since Danny was her son’s friend,) but for someone who gives Hardy attitude in
episode 1 for having “taken” her promotion, she hasn’t done much to prove why
she would’ve been a good person to have in charge for this investigation. Again, I understand the extenuating
circumstances, and Hardy certainly doesn’t make things easier with the rather
condescending way he goes about urging cynicism, but whenever she’s given the
reins, she doesn’t really run with it.
And honestly, it does make me worry a little about how Chibnall might
write the Doctor. On the plus side,
though, even as she struggles to meet the demands of the investigation, Ellie
is starting to learn, gradually, from Hardy’s brusque tutelage, and in such a
way that it’s clear his dismissiveness isn’t okay.
It’s
another good episode for Beth, I think.
The part of the plot I mentioned in the episode description isn’t as
much to write home about, but the more general exploration of her state of mind
is well-done. The show continues to seed
these small moments of her trying to press ahead and getting derailed by reminders
of Danny; it’s like she’s been untethered and she doesn’t quite know how to be
anymore. Meanwhile, the investigation
has started taking its toll on her. She
doesn’t know who to trust, and that extends to the members of her own family.
The first
two episodes show more visceral grief from Beth, but it’s quieter here. The impression I get is that Beth is both
lost and worn down, and Jodie Whittaker plays that ragged-around-the-edges air
very well.
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