Broadchurch Part 5: An Episode You Won't Want Spoiled



Episode five of Broadchurch, which airs at 9pm tonight, is said to be one that is absolutely pivotal to the plot and has been described as previewers as superb and amazing.

The ITV crime drama following the investigation into the murder of a young boy in a small seaside community reached its halfway point last week and now tensions are growing as the town's secrets start to unravel and neighbours and former friends start to turn their suspicions upon one another. David Tennant and Olivia Colman play Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller who are desperately trying to piece together the mystery     and keep the investigation on track in spite of press interference.

Spoilers below:


---------------------------------------------------



The Guardian preview the episode as a TV Highlight for today

For all the strong performances, a couple of the earlier episodes of Broadchurch arguably didn't have enough plot to sustain them. That's not the case tonight. As the marriage between bereaved Mark and Beth threatens to unravel, the townsfolk, whipped up by tabloid coverage of newsagent Jack's (David Bradley) past, begin to turn on him. Meanwhile, Susan Wright (Pauline Quirke) emerges as a genuinely threatening figure. After its aforementioned slump, this Scandi noir-styled drama is getting better by the week.



The Mirror say Broadchurch is today's Must See TV

WITHOUT wishing ill on the fictional residents of Broadchurch, I’m crossing my fingers that it will become the new TV murder capital of Britain so that we can enjoy more crimes thrashed out by the detective dream team of David Tennant and Olivia Colman.

Actually, it doesn’t have to be murder. Burglary, joyriding, putting your recycling bins out on the wrong day – anything will do, so long as Ellie’s barely concealed loathing of her boss Alec Hardy can continue.

This week Ellie’s sister Lucy appears. Played by Tanya Franks, she’s very similar to, the bad-sheep sister Franks played in EastEnders. More importantly, her son, Olly the journalist, gets his first taste of the power of the press when Karen White (Vicky McClure) lets him write a piece about Jack the newsagent’s old conviction for underage sex.

“You write it and we can run it under my byline,” Karen tells him, making it sound like she’s doing him a massive favour. As Jack becomes front page news, Broadchurch’s community is about to show its ugly side.




Alison Graham reviews the episode for the Radio Times

The murder of 11-year-old Danny Latimer has a very long reach. His rudderless parents Beth and Mark (Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan) are picking at the scabs of their relationship, while his sister Chloe has so much unfocused anger and the community of Broadchurch is turning in on itself.

The beach where Danny’s body was found may be open again, but the town, which in many ways is the main “character” in Chris Chibnall’s haunting, masterly story, bubbles with the need for revenge on someone, on anyone.

Broadchurch wants answers but the investigating officers — DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller (David Tennant and Olivia Colman) — can’t tell the townsfolk what they need to hear. It’s a superb episode in simply the best television drama to come our way in a long, long time, and it echoes with profound sadness. 



Chris Chibnall

Finally, a last word from series creator Chris Chibnall who urges viewers to watch the episode as it goes out tonight, in spite of strong competition from the BBC in the form of the returning Jonathan Creek. He took to Twitter to say:

"Broadchurch against Jonathan Creek on Monday. I’m clearly biased, but try & watch Broadchurch live. It’s an episode you won’t want spoiled"


Watch Broadchurch tonight at 9pm on ITV






Comments