Broadchurch, UK Killing-style TV drama 04 March 2013

[Mr Pee]

As regards Channel 4 drama - did anyone watch Southcliffe? I thought it was very good but let down by the last episode. (edit: but I thought The Mill was rubbish, I gave up on it)

I agree, I really struggled with the last episode, and very nearly gave up on it before the end. I'm afraid I found the actress who played the shot girl's mother- Eddie Marsan's wife- irritating in the extreme, and I thought terribly over-acted, although her plot-line involving the search for the mystery woman, didn't give her much to go on.

Overall, it felt as though the writers had created a great one or two episode drama, but ran out of ideas as they tried to spin it out over four.

[Ariosto]

I'm sorry but I really did think this was a load of rubbish. It was so badly acted too. Probably a poor director. I'm afraid it was the usual formulaic plot and the overall result was worse than amateurish.

[Richard Tarleton]

Anyone tried Broadchurch 2? No spoilers, but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it. I can't remember all the little sub-plots we're supposed to recall from last time, and can't summon up much interest in Hardy's old case because we just have too little information about it. Several scenarios so far have seemed manifestly unlikely (Hardy's witness protection scenario, his use of Miller's house.....). Why is Latimer playing computer games with Miller's (estranged) son in a (Pauline Quirke's old) caravan? (Why was he estranged?) Charlotte Rampling has been parachuted in, plus Meera Sayal as a cycling judge.....

[Barbirollians]

Anyone tried Broadchurch 2? No spoilers, but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it. I can't remember all the little sub-plots we're supposed to recall from last time, and can't summon up much interest in Hardy's old case because we just have too little information about it. Several scenarios so far have seemed manifestly unlikely (Hardy's witness protection scenario, his use of Miller's house.....). Why is Latimer playing computer games with Miller's (estranged) son in a (Pauline Quirke's old) caravan? (Why was he estranged?) Charlotte Rampling has been parachuted in, plus Meera Sayal as a cycling judge.....

I gave up halfway through episode 2 . It is absurdly far fetched and the legal scenes are simply nonsense . Evidently , solicitors have been abolished in that part of Dorset . The barristers acting entirely on their own and both defence and prosecuting counsel are utter cliches . As for the Sandbrook sub-plot equally nonsensical the idea that David Tennant;s character has been running his own witness protection programme .

Twoddle I am afraid .

[Nick Armstrong]

I gave up halfway through episode 2 . It is absurdly far fetched and the legal scenes are simply nonsense . Evidently , solicitors have been abolished in that part of Dorset . The barristers acting entirely on their own and both defence and prosecuting counsel are utter cliches . As for the Sandbrook sub-plot equally nonsensical the idea that David Tennant;s character has been running his own witness protection programme .

Twoddle I am afraid .

Interesting - completely failed to connect with the fact that this had restarted (although have enjoyed other 'resurrections' this New Year, like Silent Witness and the magnificent Michael Kitchen in Foyle's War - both of which series seem to have had a new lease of life). I was contemplating trying to catch up but I wonder if it's worth it now. Life's too short and it will be repeated.... I wonder if anyone's enjoying it?

[Anna]

The first episode I had to dig deep in my memory as to who was who, etc. The second episode - once it got to the courtroom I wondered whether I was going to stick with it as it seemed to be lurching into the realms of soap....
So, overall, a disappointment so far.

[Ferretfancy]

I've only watched the first episode so far, with the sound fed through my surround system. The music is deafening with its thunderous bass, you have to upset the neighbours if you want to hear the dialogue. Why do directors persuade dubbing mixers to do this? Are they so unsure of the quality of the drama that they think they can improve it by deafening the audience?

[Nick Armstrong]

Due to French visitors, the English subtitle facility has been very much discovered in this house over the past few years - and it's remarkable how often even without French in the house, it's useful to be able to rewind, add subtitles, and at last discover what the hell this or that actor said...

[DracoM]

Too little DT and OC, and far too much director's fads. Trust the story. Less is more.

[Nick Armstrong]

Too little DT and OC

[DracoM]

Tenant and Coleman respectively.

[Nick Armstrong]

Tenant and Coleman respectively.

Ah!

[vinteuil]

I was contemplating trying to catch up but I wonder if it's worth it now. Life's too short and it will be repeated.... I wonder if anyone's enjoying it?

... I wonder if - assuming he is now watching this series - m' learnèd friend is as concerned as other legal chums at the cavalier attitude the writers are taking as regards the English criminal law systems? The idea that those closely concerned with the events can 'choose' their barristers - can even 'choose' the Crown's prosecuting QC???

[Nick Armstrong]

... I wonder if - assuming he is now watching this series - m' learnèd friend is as concerned as other legal chums at the cavalier attitude the writers are taking as regards the English criminal law systems? The idea that those closely concerned with the events can 'choose' their barristers - can even 'choose' the Crown's prosecuting QC???

I haven't been watching; and I'm afraid I'm hazy on what 'goes' now on the criminal side of the legal process.... As I am and shall remain

Civilly

Your wery 'umble servant.

However the idea that the parties generally get to choose the prosecuting counsel does sound fatuous!

As regards their own counsel, privately-funded defendants can choose I suppose; but the legally-aided probably have to hop in the next cab in the rank, don't they?

[Richard Tarleton]

However the idea that the parties generally get to choose the prosecuting counsel does sound fatuous!

In the first episode she was being urged to take the case by a woman who I think was editor of the local rag. Unless I've got that completely wrong. She expressed reluctance, saying she wasn't interested. As AA Gill cried from his sofa, Oh yes you are, you're Charlotte Rampling and they didn't get you in not to be interested. She met her former pupil now QC who is defending on the beach/murder scene (just down from where she lives) and that decided it for her. Then she called at the Latimers' home and met all the friends and potential witnesses. Bonkers. The defence barristers are staying at the hotel run by the Aussie slapper who had an affair with the victim's father - not sure why as West Bay/Broadchurch is some way from the nearest Crown Court (Dorchester? Poole? Am I taking this all too literally?). It's descended into soap opera.