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In defence of Broadchurch series 2

Photo credit: Kudos / ITV
Photo credit: Kudos / ITV

From Digital Spy

With the third series of ITV whodunnit Broadchurch, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, just around the corner, the greatest mystery surrounding the drama remains unanswered. Why are people so down on series two?

General consensus on Chris Chibnall's crime thriller (shared by many at Digital Spy, to be fair) is that the debut series was a classic, while the second was a disappointing follow-up.

But how did this come to be accepted wisdom? Because, as we'll see, the viewing figures and reviews don't quite back it up.

Only once – in week five – did the final viewing figures for Broadchurch series two dip below 9 million. The series started with over 11 million tuning in and finished with over 10 million – no sign of audience interest tailing off, here.

The series average was a stonking 9.7 million, a figure any show, in any genre, would absolutely kill for. (NB: these figures do not include the online ITV Player stats.)

By comparison, Broadchurch series one ended with an average of 9.4 million viewers – that's right, less than its successor. As a further comparison, other drama "hits" haven't fared as well: the most recent series of BBC One's The Missing averaged 8.06 million; Line of Duty series three's average was 5.4 million; Happy Valley series two averaged 9.37 million.

Photo credit: Kudos / ITV
Photo credit: Kudos / ITV

All right, but plenty of blockbusters make millions despite bad reviews. So maybe it was the critical reception that has soured the public opinion of Broadchurch series two?

Well, that doesn't seem to be the case either. The opening instalment in particular was universally praised – Mark Lawson was optimistic for The Guardian, Den of Geek called it a "serious treat", and The Telegraph awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.

So did the appreciation tail off? Not much. The Guardian called the finale "breathtaking", Metro Online branded it "brilliant", and series two is rated fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with an overall score of 86% (critics' consensus: "Season two of Broadchurch builds on its predecessor's intrigue, with the added bonus of new characters who mesh well with the existing cast.").

So: fake news?

Photo credit: Kudos / ITV
Photo credit: Kudos / ITV

A rewatch highlights just how brave, and powerful, Chibnall's vision was for the middle segment of his proposed Broadchurch trilogy. Examining the aftermath of the events of series one – through the trial of Ellie Miller's killer husband Joe – while also delving into DI Alec Hardy's past was an unexpected and brilliant move, establishing a different tone to the first series.

Having Joe plead Not Guilty was a masterstroke from Chibnall, pulling the rug from under the audience. While trawling over the detritus of this nasty case, we were also treated to the involving backstories of, and relationship between, retired QC Jocelyn Knight and her protégé Sharon Bishop (played, by the way, by Oscar-nominated actresses Charlotte Rampling and Marianne Jean-Baptiste respectively).

Chuck in an early role for Fleabag herself, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as the morally questionable barrister Abby, and you have a terrific triumvirate of talent carrying an engrossing and revealing sub-plot.

Photo credit: Kudos / ITV
Photo credit: Kudos / ITV

And if the events of series one weren't creepy or unsettling enough, more light was shone on the murky and disturbing Sandbrook case. Often alluded to, we discovered the events which made DI Alec Hardy the rather grumpy Scot we first met in series one.

The murder of two cousins and the resulting investigation introduced us to the loathsome duo Lee Ashworth and Ricky Gillespie, played with skin-crawling menace by the brilliant James D'Arcy and Shaun Dooley. With a plethora of twists, Chibnall kept us guessing about Sandbrook till the very end – something he arguably didn't manage first time round.

And how could we not mention television's golden couple, Olivia Colman and David Tennant? As Hardy and Miller's testy relationship continued to entertain and enthral, Colman and Tennant again displayed just why they are among the finest acting talent we have in this country. Their performances were certainly no less impressive than in the show's debut.

With the third and final series of Broadchurch but days away, why not give the unloved middle child another look? For all the crimes it's accused of, like Joe Miller, we're pleading Not Guilty.

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