It’s been two years since David Tennant’s DI Alec Hardy hopped into the back of a taxi and left Broadchurch after Joe Miller walked free from his trial for the murder of Danny Latimer.
In Broadchurch time, that’s THREE years, apparently, as Chris Chibnall brings his acclaimed mystery drama to a conclusion in the third and final series.
There’s a brand new mystery for Hardy and Olivia Colman’s DS Ellie Miller to solve, but before we dive straight back in for our last helping, there’s time for a quick look back at what the townsfolk were up to when last we saw them by those cliffs on Broadchurch beach…
DI Alec Hardy – David Tennant
Hard-nosed Hardy couldn’t resist trying to secretly solve the Sandbrook case that haunted him throughout series one, and solve it he did, despite being signed off on sick leave and teaching at the police college. The former Broadchurch Police Inspector managed to get justice for Pippa and Lisa by locking up Claire, Lee and Ricky, but he couldn’t do the same for Danny Latimer unfortunately as Joe Miller walked free.
He did manage to finally sort out his health issues, though, and made up some ground with ex-wife Tess and daughter Daisy.
The series finale saw him sloping off in a taxi as the driver asked “where to?” and we assume we’ll get an answer as he returns to the seaside town (and that ridiculously nice beach hut house of his) to join forces with crime-solving partner and former chauffeur Miller (he wasn’t allowed to drive last time around, remember?) and catch the sexual predator who’s attacked a local woman.
DS Ellie Miller – Olivia Colman
Local policewoman Ellie went through the mill in series two, having been demoted to traffic duty while her husband stood trial for the murder of her best friend’s son. Her series one beating of her beloved Joe ruled his confession inadmissible, throwing the trial into chaos and obliterating her friendship with Beth Latimer. And to add insult to injury, she was accused of having it off with Hardy in front of the whole town.
While helping her superior solve the Sandbrook case, the now-single mum struggled to deal with her tempestuous son Tom, who moved himself out of the house when he felt nobody was speaking up for his murderer father in court, and journalist nephew Olly’s need to live-blog every mortifying minute of the proceedings. Miller was on flying form as she finally ordered her son home.
And despite suffering a blow when Joe walked free, she ended the series on a high, reconciling with pal Beth and threatening to kill her husband and face the consequences for it should he ever try and contact the family again. That’s the Miller we’re hoping to meet when she reunites with Hardy to solve yet another Broadchurch crime.
Beth Latimer – Jodie Whittaker
Series two was filled with just as much heartbreak and torment for Danny Latimer’s mum Beth. She suffered on the witness stand, discovered her husband’s plans to leave her in front of the whole town, and fell out with her best friend Ellie, believing she’d deliberately sabotaged Joe’s confession.
Meanwhile, vicar Paul and newspaper editor Maggie convinced her to meet reformed sex offenders, and she had the final stages of a pregnancy to deal with. The birth of her baby daughter was a ray of light in the darkness, and seemed to bring Mark and Beth back together at last – but for how long? The new mum was at her finest when her son’s killer walked free. “I will not be broken by this. We all get to live”, she spat as he was rushed out of town.
Mark Latimer – Andrew Buchan
If there was one person who struggled to deal with Danny Latimer’s death more than anyone else it was his father, and that was never more apparent than in series two. Mark struck up a rather odd friendship with Joe Miller’s son, Tom, that for a while seemed a little too retaliatory for comfort.
Mark’s series one antics with Becca Fisher came back to haunt him on the witness stand, though, and he was forced to confess that he’d been set to leave Beth, bringing more heartbreak to Chez Latimer just when things seemed to be going the family’s way.
The collapse of Joe Miller’s trial was more than he could handle, but Mark seemed to find some comfort in teaming up with pal Nige and threatening to throw Joe over a cliff. The pair ultimately set him free, albeit reluctantly, and when last we saw Mark he was promising baby Lizzy that the family would keep their love as strong as steel. “That’s how we win,” he said as the Latimers and Millers reunited on the beach. But will they still be winning three years on?
Joe Miller – Matthew Gravelle
Despite having confessed to strangling Danny Latimer to death after the boy threatened to tell someone about their ‘cuddling’ sessions, series two saw Joe Miller drive the knife in by deciding to plead not guilty in court.
Prison didn’t sit too well with the Broadchurch native, who desperately wanted to be reunited with his sons. Ellie’s decision to beat him following his confession served as the first of his get out of jail cards, and when he eventually walked free she was furious.
Joe turned to vicar Paul in a bid to escape the angry locals and he helped send him on his way to a half way house in Sheffield, but not before Ellie could promise she’d kill him if he ever set foot in town or tried to contact their boys again.
Paul Coates – Arthur Darvill
Local vicar Paul fell under suspicion when he couldn’t produce an alibi for the night of Danny’s murder in series one and in series two he found himself on the receiving end of his fair share of flack when it was revealed he was visiting Joe Miller in prison.
Paul spent much of series two in a complicated relationship with Becca Fisher, and it was to her he turned for help when Joe Miller showed up at the church following his not guilty verdict.
The vicar, who’d been shocked by Joe’s decision to plead not guilty, organised his safe passage out of town, though not before allowing Mark, Beth and Joe’s wife Ellie to get their final words in.
Maggie Radcliffe – Carolyn Pickles
The Broadchurch Echo’s editor Maggie has always prided herself on being at the heart of the story but even she wasn’t sure star reporter Olly should be live-blogging the trial during series two.
Radcliffe had bigger fish to fry, though, with old flame Jocelyn popping up to help the Latimers try and put Joe Miller in prison. While the trial didn’t exactly go to plan, things between the editor and the barrister certainly seemed to flourish when the pair shared a kiss and seemed to rekindle their romance.
Nigel Carter – Joe Sims
Mark’s workmate Nige had a tough old time in series one and two, as Pauline Quirke’s Susan Wright threw her on-screen son under the bus on more than one occasion. She named him in court as the man seen on the night of Danny’s death, throwing suspicion the plumber’s way when all eyes should have been on Joe.
Nige has the support of his pal Mark, though, and the pair joined forces to frighten the life out of Joe before he was allowed to leave town.
Tom Miller – Adam Wilson
For much of series one, Ellie’s eldest son seemed as likely to have thrown Danny Latimer off a cliff as the next person in town, but with his father on trial he decided he’d push his mother over the edge (metaphorically) in series two instead.
The young lad couldn’t get his head around what had happened and when he wasn’t meeting up with Mark Latimer to play video games he spent much of his time arguing with his mum about why nobody was defending his dad.
Tom moved in with his aunt and cousin Olly before taking the witness stand to defend his father, leaving Ellie utterly aghast. Eventually, though, she regained her fiery spirit, ordering him home in serious style. It remains to be seen if the pair have truly reconciled, but chances are we’ll find out quite soon.
Chloe Latimer – Charlotte Beaumont
Danny Latimer’s sister spent much of series one hiding a secret boyfriend and watching her family fall apart and series two wasn’t much different for Beth and Mark’s eldest daughter.
Her brother’s death and Joe’s trial threw her life into disarray, to the point where she struggled to return to school to complete her education. With her family’s secrets laid bare in court and her mother’s friendship with Ellie on the rocks, Chloe barely had time to breathe before the birth of her baby sister, Lizzy.
Three years on, will the teenager finally have her life back on track?
from Radio Times https://ift.tt/2x8XcHw
