Broadchurch blew all our fan theories out of the water
Warning: The following article contains spoilers.
Broadchurchupturnedall of our theories tonight with a game-changing twist.
Last week's episode actually earned a good many complaints in the credibility department, for gathering all of the suspects, the detectives and even assault victim Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh) all at the same football game.
Tonight's episode took an even more controversial turn in terms of subject matter, when news of two previously-unknown assaults in the village forced DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) and DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) to question everything they thought they knew about the crime.
Come along with viewers as they try to piece together the latest clues, and try (and fail) to eliminate a few of the suspects:
On the heels of last week's bombshell, Miller and Hardy discover that another rape occurred in Broadchurch before Trish's attack. The details of Laura's attack were harrowing:
#Broadchurch very upsetting
To any women or men who've been through this Fictional account, don't suffer in silence. Speak up. Get help- Emma Adwoa Sawyerr (@Purple_Worship) March 27, 2017
"I had a lot to drink...short skirt, nice top, make up.." IT DOESN'T MATTER. Never your fault. #stopvictimblaming #broadchurch @madblack65
- Judith Staff (@jcstaff_) March 27, 2017
Rape psychology is fascinating. We all know it's wrong, yet victims still so often seem to blame themselves. #broadchurch
- Anna (@lufcrace) March 27, 2017
Oh no that lady on #broadchurch saying she thought her rape wouldn't be believed as she had short skirt on and had drank is heartbreaking..
- Claire Brown (@ClaireBrown5) March 27, 2017
Pleased to see @BroadchurchTV already tackling the victim blaming in most rape cases #broadchurch
- Angharad MacLellan (@angharadm) March 27, 2017
#Broadchurch is doing an amazing job with highlighting the issues of reporting rape. So important 👏🏻
- Millie (@millieoc_) March 27, 2017
"I know what she's going through and it's my fault." The guilt felt by Laura was tragic, but Miller and Hardy assured her they'd find her attacker:
"I know how women like me get treated."
"Not by us."
Tonight's #Broadchurch is already phenomenal. This is so, so important. Bravo. 👏👏👏- john (@eldervex) March 27, 2017
Trish wants to tell Cath about her fling with her husband Jim - but he warns that she has "no idea" the trouble she'll cause if she reveals the truth:
#broadchurch what does jim mean??
- Lynsey (@lynzlynz82) March 27, 2017
#Broadchurch. If Trish got raped and had sex with Jim in the same day, she'd have two DNA profiles in her biff. So if they've identified...
- Daniel Kilburn ⭐️ (@BurnfaceRovers) March 27, 2017
...Jim's DNA as one & there's another unknown profile, that surely exonerates Jim as she's admitted to having it off with him? #Broadchurch
- Daniel Kilburn ⭐️ (@BurnfaceRovers) March 27, 2017
Jim wasn't threatening Trish, he was warning her because he knows just how unhinged Cath is #Broadchurch
- Em (@emmyconcarne) March 27, 2017
Previously-convicted rapist Aaron Mayford is arrested in connection with Trish's attack - but is it just a big bluff?
What if it was Aaron and everyone just assumes it's too obvious to be him? #broadchurch
- Dave (@DavidMackayy) March 27, 2017
Aaron the IT guy is very creepy. But is he Trish's attacker? #Broadchurch
- Rael (@Rael571) March 27, 2017
The only reason I can think for Aaron not being a red herring, is that loads of other characters have done some awful things. #Broadchurch
- Richard Cardall (@Hum_Con) March 27, 2017
"Me and Jim, we had sex." With those six words, Trish stunned Cath by revealing that she'd slept with Jim when he "came around to look at the boiler".
ohh shitttt .... #broadchurch pic.twitter.com/2ebnq3xH1Y
- Jessica Eve Kearns (@JessEveKearns) March 27, 2017
"Of all the women at that party, why would someone rape you? Doesn't make sense!" With that disgusting insult, the tables have turned and Trish throws Cath out of her house.
It's not long before Cath threatens Jim: "I could set fire to your life whenever I choose. If I were you, I'd be shitting myself right now."
Hardy and Miller discover the timeline doesn't match for creepy Aaron to have committed serial rapes, which have now stretched to three. Is he out of the woods?
Oh no, Hardy's daughter has been the victim of revenge porn at her school.
"Pull over before I smack you hard!" The sketchy cab driver Clive has some theories on who committed the rape - and he shares them with fellow suspect Jim. A strangling commences...
Meanwhile, Mark Latimer has tracked down his son Danny's killer Joe Miller. It won't be a happy reunion...
Lenny Henry proves he's a badass by kicking the shit out of Jim - revenge for cheating on Cath, no doubt!
With Ian sneaking into ex-wife Trish's house in the night's final season, we now have no idea who committed the attack on Trish.
Just this past week, Broadchurch was praised for its handling of sexual violence by Tim McInnerny - who dealt with the sensitive topic himself in last year's Channel 4 drama National Treasure.
"If you start showing rape then you're complicit in making... [unpleasant] television programmes," McInnerny explained. "I've been watching Broadchurch and the way they've dealt with it right from the beginning is a revelation. Rather than showing something that can make you feel seedy…They did it extremely sensitively. I think it's extremely important. That's got to change on television.
"It's been pretending to criticise violence and violence against women but then using that to get viewing figures. And I don't think that's right."
Broadchurch will continue next Monday at 9pm on ITV.
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