I just started watching this British series from 2013, on Netflix. There's an American remake Gracepoint (2014). Both have the same male lead actor, although he has different names in each.

Broadchurch is a murder mystery that instead of being solved in an hour an half or two hours, takes 8 48 minute episodes. Although the murder is apparently solved in episode 8, a second season (or series) is going to air next year.

David Tennant (former star of Doctor Who) plays DI Alec Hardy, who moved to Broadchurch because of its low crime rate, after being involved in some high profile case, which presumably we learn more about over the course of the series, only to find himself lead investigator of the murder of an 11 year old boy. Though he did not want the case, he refuses to step down as he doesn't think any of the locals are up to it. He's probably right about that.

Olivia Colman plays DS Ellie Miller who comes back from a three week leave (vacation), expecting to receive a promised promotion only to discover that one week ago her promised job was given to Alex Hardy. The murder investigation is hard on her because its in her home town, he son was the victims closest friend, she's known his mother for years. Hardy prefers to address his subordinates by their last name, she rather be called Ellie, than Miller.

Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams, companion to Tennant's Doctor) plays the local vicar and without any real reason to suspect him is my chief suspect, just because these shows like to make clergy out to be psychopaths.

According to wiki, none of the actors were told in advance who the killer was, not even the one playing the murderer. The idea being that if they didn't know it they couldn't accidentally give it away.

Other characters:
Victims father, mother and older sister. Sister's older, black boyfriend who's worried about the police because she's under age (term jail bait ring a bell?) and victim's grandmother.

Miller's nephew a reporter on the local paper with delusions of grandeur who's causing his aunt trouble. His boss, who assures the police he wont cause any more trouble but she doesn't know about the big city news paper woman, who has it in for Hardy for some reason and who has just arrived in town to give everybody headaches.

Miller has a husband and two sons, the older one who I suspect knows something but isn't telling, was the victim's friend. The other one is just an infant.


David Tennent also starred in the American version as Detective Emmett Carver, rest of the cast is different and apparently it has a different ending, as well as running for two extra episodes. Seems the British series was planned for 10 but they would only pay for 8, where as Fox paid for 10.

GuybrushThreepwood I watched Gracepoint. I never expected the ending! It was really good. I would love to see the British version someday and compare the differences.

Your Avatar picture looks like my Avatar picture of my cat Stretch.

Sounds like a great show to watch once the season is over in one sitting.

I can certainly recommend the UK original. It was excellent. And I'm very much hoping the new one next year will be as good

Two other excellent punchy police serials from GB which I can recommend are the Fall (second season just ended) and Happy Valley.

Watched the UK version first. Outstanding. US version was OK and would have been better had I not seen the UK first. Both are good but I really preferred the UK. Seemed more 'depth' to it. Maybe just the actors and David Tennant with an American accent was a bit weird.

Same as what Sorta Blonde said. For the same reasons I enjoyed Broadchurch more than Gracepoint but it was probably because I saw Broadchurch first

Now I have last(?) season/series of George Gently, 1st of Broadchurch, The Fall and Happy Valley in Netflix My List, for online viewing. Waiting for Midsommer Murders 16 to become available. Couldn't get into Ripper Street for some reason.

Had been watching a Canadian series, Murdoch Mysteries, but I got sick of Murphy and Dr. Ogden. They're romance is apparently not in the books, for good reason, they don't belong together despite the producers, writers and cast trying to force them to be a couple. I just couldn't stand another 5 years of it.

Yes, the George Gently series is also good !!
[Started a long time before Broadchurch though.]

I watched Broadchurch first and liked it more than Gracepoint. Apparently the Gracepoint ratings were poor, but Broadchurch will be getting a second season in the UK.
BTW, Gracepoint had an Easter Egg nod to Doctor Who. Read about it here:
http://toybox.io9.com/david-tennant-slipped-a-brilliant-doctor-who-easter-egg-1673529956/+rtgonzalez

I just finished the last episode of Inspector George Gently 6 so done with that show for awhile. Apparently going to be 4 episodes in 2015.

I saw that article about the Gracepoint easter egg.

I don't know whether you are able to access the "Dalziel and Pascoe" detective series ??
[Might be from just before George Gently.]

There was more than one series - in fact probably a dozen I would think.
And excellent, in my opinion

I enjoyed the Inspector Morse and Lewis and Endeavor series. Same actor in all (older but goodies). Also Luther if you like a darker detective show. Now watching Frost. Really good stuff (again older but good).

British Mysteries like Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Lewis, keep me sane during the long winter months. I can watch the series over and over again.

I have Gracepoint saved on my DVDR player and now that the series is over I can watch all the episodes in order maybe 2 or 3 at a time.

Marie

Halfway through Broadchurch. That towns going to be a mess by the time the killer is caught. For a few seconds I thought there was going to be a second murder.

In addition to all the detective mysteries mentioned, I'll also recommend:
DCI Banks
Thomas Lynley
P.D. James Dalgliesh series (oldie but goodie)
Scott and Bailey
I also really liked the legal dramas Judge Deed and Silk.

Wow what an ending. I didn't know until just before they revealed the killer who it was. And one point which I cant mention, it became obvious. What is Broadchurch 2 going to do? That town barely get healed from one murder and another one happens?

I wonder about the next storyline, too !! As exciting as the first, hopefully !!

I enjoyed Gracepoint....and wouldn't mind if someone put n spoilers the killer and why they did it in the UK version.....

The first time I watched the murder flashback I thought the victim's voice sounded two deep for an 11 year old. Watched part of it again, still sounds odd to me, but maybe its an online thing.

Everybody in that little town had secrets, even the 11 year old murder victim wasn't entirely Innocent.

I can get most of those other shows in disc through Netflix but they're not available for online viewing.

Most of those shows I watch on my BBC iPlayer. It's about $9 a month.

Thanks Guybrush :-)

I loved Broadchurch. I hear it got much better reviews than Gracepoint. The British know how to do dramas. I think Happy Valley was even better. The main female character was very impressive. I saw her in Last Tango in Halifax, which I can also recommend.

I loved Broadchurch. I hear it got much better reviews than Gracepoint. The British know how to do dramas. I think Happy Valley was even better. The main female character was very impressive. I saw her in Last Tango in Halifax, which I can also recommend.