What Made Broadchurch So Popular?

Hey all! This is my second blog post! It's not super long or in-depth but I thought it might be interesting. I'm sure you thought I was going to post something about Lord of the Rings, but there will be plenty of that later. I thought I would do a short post about the British crime show Broadchurch. Seeing as this is all pretty new to me, I would appreciate all the feedback you give me! Even if you hate it, I want to know why. Anyway, here we go!
_________________________________________________________________________________


Over the last week, I watched all of the British Crime Drama that is Broadchurch. I flew through the first season in two days, and completed the second season over the following two with my mom. Within the first ten minutes of the first episode, I immediately started having strong feelings about all the characters involved in the series, and it only increased as the episodes continued. This intense emotional reaction got me wondering why I was so invested.

Just kidding! They all were their own people which was super awesome. 

I had recently watched Gotham and was enthralled by the villainous murderers. Cobblepot, Falcone, and Mooney are among some of my favorites from the show. They treated life as something that one has to earn. Even though I didn't support their murderous plots I still liked their characters.

Yet when the murderer from Broadchurch is discovered, I was devastated. I completely empathized with the townspeople and had to watch a few happy Buzzfeed video before I went to bed. So why then was I so upset towards the murderer, when the psychotic Penguin gets a free pass? Was it due to the fact that a child was murdered? Possibly, but I think the cause runs a little bit deeper.

When comparing a multitude of other crime shows you start to see a patter emerge. Even though a show may be serialized, there are rarely cases that span further than one or two episodes. We may get a bit involved in the story of the weekly case, but in my experience that usually only happens when the crime or nature of the people involved happens to be something with which we identify. One could argue that we are more sympathetic in many cases with the crime solvers themselves. We get desensitized to the fact that someone is murdered, kidnpapped (etc.) every week and may sometimes become more worried over the fact that our favorite main character may not make it out alive to tell their work buddy that they love them. Sad, but I'd say oftentimes true!

I'd say this is probably due to the fact that we only really see snippets of the impact that the loss of life had. Since each episode is usually under and hour, you rarely have enough time for really meaningful character development if you only see a character for one or two episodes. I don't watch Perry Mason to discover the ins and outs of his client's personal life. I'm more interested in how he'll wipe the floor with Hamilton Burger as he makes his witnesses sweat in the court room. Not all shows need such precise focus on the feelings and motivations of every character. It
isn't always needed, but when shows like Broadchurch bring us a variety of people with dynamic characters (and they do it well) then it adds a different type of intrigue that isn't present in the average TV show.

It is also quite refreshing to see a crime show with such a dramatic focus. Since dramadies are very popular, it would have been easy to add a comedic edge to appeal to a bigger group. Doc Martin, while not a crime show, is also set in a small English town but plays more to the fun quirks of the townspeople, but is not without it's intense moments. Broadchurch has some amusing scenes, especially between the two main characters, but is always for character development and was more due to the dynamic between characters rather than a comedy quota.

Since the show is able to explore the different dynamics between characters, you are given the chance to see each side of every story. I understand that the reporters need to come up with good news, but I also see the lasting impact it has on the townspeople which is less than ideal. I saw a character being a complete jerk and then I later learned about their history. Though I empathize, it still doesn't make me agree.

In an age of fast-paced crime dramas, shows like Broadchurch really stand out. The whole show is a character study into the impact a murder of a beloved boy has on a small town. Though there are flaws, this is a show well worth watching for a different type of crime drama.

Thank you for reading this post! If you have anything to say, please comment. Disagree? Let me know. Need more info? Type below.