By Gregory McLinden

logline: Following the lives of small town detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, each series focuses on a different crime which over the course of the eight episodes is investigated.

Set in an idyllic British seaside town, Broadchurch over its three series run investigates three crimes: a murder of a child staged to look like a suicide, a murder of two children and a r*pe. This is not a light hearted watch. The series however is incredible, each series focuses on a singular crime and then over the 8 episodes we watch the detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller find clues, interview suspects, and everything else you would expect a detective to be doing. Broadchurch in episode 1 will put you firmly on the edge of your seat and there is a very strong chance you will stay there for the remainder of the series, the series is beyond intense and gripping. Every step of the way you are wondering what happens next, this is a series I highly recommend watching with someone as you are then able to talk, share and compare theories. I made the mistake of watching this by myself and I *had* to find someone else who was watching it, I just needed to talk to someone about it - you cannot underestimate how much you will need to talk to someone about this series. Prior to this series we had seen David Tennant grace our screens as Doctor Who. This was his first major return to TV, and what a role change it was for him as a serious detective with a past case that looms over and threatens to tarnish his career. Olivia Colman however had had very few major film or television roles other than Hot Fuzz, she was however a regular appearance on stage, Broadchurch was her big break that established her as one of the UK's finest actors. Broadchurch really helped launched her career as it showed just how incredible of an actor she is and worth every second of praise. Broadchurch is well worth your time. I cannot recommend a series enough, never have I watched a TV series with good cliffhangers. After the end of every episode you are so hooked you *have* to watch the next one straight, yeah we live in the bingeing culture so you just keep watching anyway but let me assure you as someone who had to suffer through the one episode a week I can tell you these cliffhangers are next level. Overall there is a total of three series: the first series in my opinion is by far and away the best, the acting, the story, the setting, the characters, the twists - I genuinely am confident in saying that I think Broadchurch series 1 is the greatest series of all time, no question. Series 2 is good, not as good as series 1 but still an incredible watch. Series 3 is fantastic, the story is very routed in modern times as we follow the case of a woman who has been r*ped and not only do we watch the very sensitive investigative process but also the impact it has on the victim something that is increasingly important to represent on screen. I cannot recommend Broadchurch enough, you will be stunned by the story as well as the acting and the twists, you will laugh for a very heavy show there has to be some lighter moments and there are, but most importantly you will rave on about this show and want to recommend it to everybody you know - I mean, that's exactly what I'm doing!

My Favorite Characters:

• Olivia Colman as Ellie Miller. I love Olivia Colman. I think she truly is one of the best, most versatile actors of our generation. She can go from scene stealing comedy in the likes of Hot Fuzz, Fleabag and The Favourite to serious roles such as Broadchurch, The Crown, and The Night Manager. Whenever she comes on screen you know you are truly about to get a master class in acting, there is one particular scene in one episode (yes that's all I'm saying) that for that scene alone she would have deserved all the awards it was truly incredible. The series is worth watching for Olivia Colman.

• David Tennant as Alec Hardy. David Tennant for years had been known as Doctor Who, this was definitely a turn away from that. But Tennant gives one of the greatest performances of his career here. I honestly cannot express or put into words how fantastic he is. You will be gripped to the screen and be hooked on his every word. He is also a man who is trying to leave his past behind him, and he beautifully conveys this on to screen you can tell that he is not like any other detective there is more going on, more troubling him and as always Tennant beautifully brings this character to life.

• Jodie Whittaker as Beth Latimer. Before Broadchurch I think it is fair to say Jodie Whittaker was more-a-less an unknown. Now she is the first ever female Doctor Who, all thanks to Broadchurch. Whittaker plays Beth Latimer, the Mum of Danny Latimer the boy who dies in series 1 (don't worry that's not a spoiler). We see a mother whose son has been murdered and by God she plays it incredibly. As a relative unknown it was always a risky move if they had what it takes especially for what became one of TV's most popular and successful series with it recently being repeated again on TV during lockdown. But after seeing the first episode and the breakdown at the realisation of her son being missing and the later finding of his body, any worries and concerns about who this Jodie Whittaker was were instantly quashed. She is absolutely breathtaking and quite rightly they kept her and followed the Latimer's for all three series. I can only assume this was because the team behind Broadchurch realised it would in itself be a criminal offence to deprive the world of Jodie Whittaker's acting and therefore it was only right to make up a story for her for series two and three so we could see more of her on screen, and I'm so glad they did because she is truly a whole new level of incredible and is an absolute marvel to watch in action.

This series is rated 15 in the UK and TV-MA in the US. Here’s why:

• Distressing Scenes

• Strong Language

• Sexual Content

• References to Sexual Abuse/Violence

• Violence

Something I Liked: Being someone who is fascinated by Geography and the world around us, I loved the setting for Broadchurch, with the huge foreboding cliffs which have since become a huge tourist hotspot in the UK with a huge impact being found to the West Bay area as a result. I also love the stability of the camera. This isn't a show which relies on the camera moving and weaving around for the most part, in most scenes the camera is stationary with the same shots being used for most of each scene, unlike most series where the camera is darting around the camera will often be stable and fixed in the scene. This as a result transports you straight into the scene as you feel you are a part of this case, due to the camera being still just as you would be if you were sat in an office or with the detectives on the case.

Fun fact: The writer/creator of Broadchurch, Chris Chibnall took over the writing of Doctor Who when Jodie Whittaker took over as the Doctor. Before it became public knowledge of Whittaker's casting as the Doctor, Chibnall contacted David Tennant and told him the next Doctor was going to phone him, and due to them working together on Broadchurch Jodie Whittaker phoned Tennant. The series also has many Doctor Who connections: David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker have both played the Doctor, Olivia Colman has appeared in an episode and has long been rumoured to be cast as the Doctor, and Arthur Davill who plays Rev. Paul Coates in the series played Amy Pond's (Karen Gillian) boyfriend who also became the Doctor's companion for two years.

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