Broadchurch Episode 1

So today was the premier of ITVs new drama Broadchurch. A six part murder mystery written by Chris Chibnall and starring David Tennant as the moody DI Hardy.

****SPOILERS****


The murder is that of a young boy called Danny. He is found on a beach in Dorset.

DI Hardy and DS Ellie Miller are the investigating, Ellie is part of the community whereas Hardy is cold and distant. Danny is also a friend of DS Millers son.

The first episode was mainly a set up episode, introducing the case, the characters, highlighting other important (possibly) characters and starting up some "mysteries". But other than that there isn't much more going on.

Does this make it bad?

Not really.

I loved how it didn't actually give us anything to go on other than a coroners report. You don't really know anything other than it wasn't a suicide, and it started asking lots of questions. Where was the dad? Why is the reporter stealing the bunny left at the beach by Danny's sister? What were the messages and computer files Ellie's son deleted after finding out Danny was dead?

If it carries on like this it won't be worth watching, but at the moment it really is a brilliant first episode. You don't want to make it obvious who the killer is first thing, so leaving it totally open is wonderful. Of course over the next few episodes you want some clues, even red herrings so that you can start to speculate who is the killer.

The only thing that I wasn't sure on was not having any clue to who Danny is himself. It follows most murder mysteries in not showing you anything of Danny, he dies in the pre-credits... Or at least you think he's jumped to his death during them. If like in some of the American police dramas they give you "flashbacks" of how it happened and don't just talk you through these things I think it could be a brilliant series. If it just talks you through it I don't think it will keep my attention.

The acting was spot on, the only character I found a bit weird was the dad but I think he is meant to be like that to make him a suspect as well.

I like how they've managed to "highlight" characters who are obviously going to be in the picture as suspects without actually really talking to any of them. Pauline Quirke didn't say a word but was seen a number of times looking moody and in a way suspicious.

I do love how everything seems to have started in the episode, but as I said if they don't start moving forward in the next episode it might start to drag. There is only so much you can care without any information at all.

I do look forward to seeing what happens next week.

Rating.... For this episode I'd say a strong 6/10.