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Broadchurch review: Terrific drama, middling whodunnit

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

From Digital Spy

Up till now, this series of Broadchurch has been all about Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh) and her particular response to being targeted by a rapist. But now, the reveal of a previous victim offers a different perspective, and raises a whole host of new and unsettling questions.

We open with Laura Benson (a terrific Kelly Gough) revisiting the scene of her attack two years on, with guilt over what happened to Trish having finally convinced her to come forward.

Even moreso than with Trish, Laura's story tackles the abhorrent assumption that some women are "asking for it" - "I know what happens - I read the papers," she asserts, recalling how she'd had "a lot to drink" and was wearing make-up and a short skirt. "I know how women like me get treated."

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

The topic comes up again later, when Cath (Sarah Parish) tells Trish that "nobody's judging" her after learning what happened, which provokes the very reasonable response, "Why would they be?"

It's not just similar attitudes that Trish and Laura have been subjected to. There are also striking similarities between the two attacks - the methodology is nearly identical and both took place after a big, boozy party that went on long into the early hours.

Soon, the number of women who've been assaulted rises. But if was the same attacker who committed all three crimes - and it'd be a mighty large coincidence if it wasn't - and Trish was targeted by a serial rapist, does that mean it could've been a stranger?

It's clear that, in the telling of this tragic tale, Broadchurch creator and writer Chris Chibnall is seeking not just to deliver a thriller, but to explore the impact of sexual assault on survivors in a thorough and sensitive manner.

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

That's part of what has made these five episodes so special, but it does mean that the whodunnit element of the series is clearly less of a priority. By their own admission, Hardy (David Tennant) and Miller (Olivia Colman) are "grasping at straws", running into dead end after dead end.

"Each time we feel like we've got a grip on this, it slips out of our 'ands!" Miller laments - and we're beginning to share her frustration.

The reveal of a third attack does, at least, rule out Aaron Mayford (Jim Howick) - no big surprise there. Aaron calls the cops "lazy" for bringing him in, and he's right - Mayford's skin-crawlingly horrid, he's the bogeyman, and so far too obvious a suspect.

One more particularly nasty theory - that Cath (Sarah Parish) knew of her husband's infidelity and attacked Trish - also appears to have been ruled out. Certainly, her shock, disappointment and venom upon learning the truth doesn't appear in the least bit artificial.

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

Hurt, Cath asks the worst question. a question that's insulting and awful misguided in every conceivable way. "Of all the women at that party, why would somebody rape you?"

Horrid, but this extended sequence is a wonderful showcase for the superb Parish, who - as part of a large ensemble cast - has been a little underused so far. (Incidentally, she's one of the few members of the Broadchurch cast to nail a subtle Westcountry accent and not go full Wurzel. Never go full Wurzel.)

Elsewhere though, the net is widening, not closing in. Ian (Charlie Higson) is sneaking into his ex-wife's house in the middle of the night, while Jim (Mark Bazeley) displays a hair-trigger temper after it's revealed he and Trish engaged in an "intense" confrontation at Axehampton.

We're clearly supposed to suspect Ed (Lenny Henry) too - after showing an unhealthy interest in Trish, he flies into a jealous rage after learning of her and Jim's tryst, dealing out a trashing to the wannabe hardman.

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

And with themes of parental responsibility rearing their head again - courtesy of Hardy's daughter and her leaked private shot, and Mark Lattimer (Andrew Buchan) finally tracking down Joe Miller (Matthew Gravelle) - it's probable that there's still something going on with Miller's son Tom (Alan Wilson), even if he's not the attacker.

Just for good measure, one final clue suggests the attacker could be smug teen Leo Humphries (Chris Mason) - or indeed any of his teammates on the local football team. It's the opposite problem to the first series, where fans had fingered Joe Miller as Danny's killer weeks ahead of time.

Perhaps though, we should forgive a slightly clumsy handling of the whole mystery angle. Where Broadchurch is directing most of its attention, and where it soars, is in the exploring the aftermath of rape - and, in the Lattimers, the grief of losing a child. It works far better as a slow-burn examination of human cruelty and suffering than it does as a whodunnit.


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