David Tennant
Olivia Colman
Jodie Whitaker
Andrew Buchan
Matthew Gravelle
Carolyn Pickles
Jonathan Bailey
Arthur Darvill
Simone McAullay
Eve Myles
James D’Arcy
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Charlotte Rampling

Created by:
Chris Chibnall

2015 (series started in 2014)
Crime, Drama, Mystery
BBC America
TV-14

“Broadchurch,” airing on BBC America in the U.S., enters its second season with a faster pulse. The story has even more moving parts now, as a result of the addition of a few new players. The casting choices are spot-on for those new roles. We know who killed Danny; at least, we’re pretty sure of it. But this season starts by throwing some doubt into the mix. We also get more information about the Sandbrook case, which is a case from Detective Hardy’s past and which will be explored throughout the season. So, there are two cases going on, and everyone’s involved.

The first episode of the second season leaves much of the deliberate pacing and atmospherics of the first season behind. Fans of the first season may be disappointed by this, but I’m not one of them. I appreciated the first season more than I liked it; it was definitely good, though. This season looks like it will be closer to my style. There’s warm blood coursing through its veins. The writing, acting, and camerawork have always been expert. But now they have a pace that makes more of an immediate impact. This is no slow burn. This is a tougher, sharper take. The rhythms are nice, and the stakes are high. What it loses in depth and mystery, it more than makes up for in heat.

Plus, I never really cared about who did what. Many people were drawn to the series in the first season for that reason, though. They probably won’t like what “Broadchurch” has become. I’m much more interested in the aftermath of what happened in the first season. Hopefully, they will toe the line between dealing with that and with resolving the aforementioned Sandbrook case. We’ll see. I have no problem with a courtroom thriller – bring it. …

After the first episode of the second season of “Broadchurch,” things, unfortunately, slow down a bit and lose the narrative power of that episode. The Sandbrook case becomes a distraction; that’s the true problem. But Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Charlotte Rampling do wonders as rival barristers and former colleagues. The rest of the cast is equally strong. I just wish that this show could be compelling on a consistent basis. It’s so close to reaching its full potential. Maybe next time.

Verdict: Good to Very Good Overall

About: (Source: broadchurch2)

The new season of Broadchurch follows two seemingly unconnected events: the trial of Joe Miller (the man charged for Danny’s murder) and the Sandbrook case – Alec Hardy’s previously failed investigation, which has dogged his existence ever since.