Other Doctor Lives: Broadchurch: Series 1, Episode 3 (2013)

*Written in 2017*

I’m enjoying series 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.

*Written in 2024*

Even though, as I wrote in my original post, I can very much see the cracks in the writing here, I am enjoying David Tennant’s performance. We’ve seen several different modes from Hardy so far, and they’re all on display in this episode:

·        Depressed/Perpetually Irritated Hardy – He meets up here with someone from his past and ultimately goes on an entertaining rant about how much he hates Broadchurch, including the line, “I hate their bloody smiley bloody faces.”

·        Brusquely Cynical Hardy – He’s brusque and cynical all on his own, of course, but we continually see this side of him in part because Ellie keeps shying away from the implications of this murder investigation. Naturally, she flat-out refuses to believe Mark might have killed Danny, at which point Hardy demands, “What are you looking for here, Miller? An easy answer to this? The least pain?”

·        Quietly Infuriating Hardy – Even though he’s perfectly capable of yelling or griping, Hardy tends to be placid right at the moments when Ellie is most fed up with him. He’ll push her buttons the whole time, but then when she loses her temper, he’ll deny her a sparring partner, leaving the impression that it’s all coming from her side.

·        Downplaying His Own Issues Hardy – This side of Hardy isn’t quite as prominent as the others, but whenever it does come up, it’s very consistent. In this episode, Hardy and Ellie take a boat out onto the harbor as part of the investigation. Hardy admits that he doesn’t like “being on the water,” but when they reach their destination and Ellie offers him a hand up, he 100% chickens out without owning up to it, muttering, “Only needs one. Minimize the risk of contaminating the crime scene—go on.”