Spoiler alert: this blog is for people watching Broadchurch 2. Don’t read on if you haven’t seen series two episode four.
Read Vicky Frost’s recap of episode four here
I wouldn’t say that the response to last week’s query – as to whether we should continue with these recaps – was overwhelmingly positive, but with half the series already done, we shall soldier on with our discussions of legal jousting, policing gone mad, and the poor family caught in the middle.
In fact, this week’s episode was better than the one that preceded it; everything felt a little less crammed in. We even had a return to some of the lovely photography that marked the first series, as a succession of men stood in moody silhouette on ridges; the sky marked by dusk and dawn. Hardy’s house pretty much looked like it had come straight off Instagram: all weathered paintwork lit by old-fashioned funfair lights.
Sandbrook
There were still a few good doses of clunky exposition, mind you. “So who are our suspects?” pondered Ellie helpfully as light began to fade. “Ashworth, Ricky, Claire and the stalker on the estate.” “Don’t get pulled into it,” implored Alec, looking wan. “This case has done enough damage.”
Certainly it continues to take its toll on Hardy, with his mystery heart condition and regular collapses. Miller, however, seems determined to solve this case in order to take her mind off the Latimer trial and her destroyed family. Sifting through all the paperwork she finds a clue scribbled on the back of an old vehicle form – Thorp Agri Services, along with “Gary Thorpe – Lee Ashworth?” Thorp Agri Services, now locked up, turns out to house an incinerator.
Also new this week in Sandbrook: Ricky wasn’t sleeping with a bridesmaid at the time of the disappearance despite his alluring hip flask; he didn’t fancy his niece (honest); Kate and Lee had a bit of a thing; Ricky once provided Lee with Rohypnol (presumably for recreational use though it wasn’t entirely clear); Claire’s final story is that she went out with her friend, came home and was drugged, then woke up to find Lee cleaning.
Ellie was wondering why Lisa’s phone was in Portsmouth 18 hours after she disappeared. Why would she go there if not to get the ferry to Cherbourg and join Lee in France, she concluded. Which seemed a bit of a leap to me, to be honest.
The Latimer trial
If there’s one thing the trial doesn’t need, it’s the injection of an unrelated strand of drama, as Jocelyn and Sharon duke it out and reopen old wounds. It’s enough that they’re rivals facing each other across court: that Jocelyn once refused to represent Sharon’s son at a trial, where he was presumably found guilty, seems an unnecessary distraction from everything else that’s going on.
The latest twist concerns Tom, Ellie and Joe’s son, who is still furious at his mum, and concerned about who is speaking on his dad’s behalf. I do understand how this would work as a child; if his dad is saying he didn’t do it, then his son – already traumatised by events – will gladly believe that is the case. But it does seems odd to me that a 12-year-old boy can volunteer to give evidence without anyone consulting his family.
Also heading for the witness box is Mark, motivated by a desire to speak for Danny in the same way Tom is determined to speak for Joe.
Thoughts and observations
• I was entirely unsurprised to see Beth running from the church after meeting the reformed sex offenders, who had been arranged to look as shifty and awful as possible. I do wonder what is going on with Paul and Maggie asking her to commit to something as difficult as this when she is still so angry about Danny’s death.
• Having questioned baby Fred’s whereabouts last week, this episode he was very much in evidence. I quite like the addition of a buggy to the police double-act – it makes them different from other TV cops, in any case.
• Given his propensity for collapsing, I wonder if Alec should be spending so much time standing on the water’s edge.
• The mystery over Thorp Agri Services was eventually cleared up by … Google. I’m not entirely sure why there was a delay on that.
• “Could you do my will for me?” “Anyone would think I was a high street solicitor.” Well quite, Jocelyn. It did seem entirely unlikely.
• Less surprising was that Ricky would track down Lee, given that the latter has been advertising his services in the paper.
• Equally unsurprising: that a vicar should visit a parishioner who had admitted to murder and was awaiting trial. In fact I’d say it was totally proper, for all the reasons Paul suggested. The idea of the defence threatening him into speaking for Joe seemed ridiculous.
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