The two hundred and seventh TV show: #938 Broadchurch

There's a great throughline in Broadchurch, with the case of the first season echoing through the second and third, first overtly as the court case places out, then in the third season through the background of several other characters. The first season sets up the characters well, with a personal connection that plays through the story. It's incredibly well done, with the perfect twists at several places in the story. It doesn't give you the closure or resolution you want in places, but in the end some of the less satisfying endings as a viewer are the ones that make sense and are the more interesting to watch for that reason. The resolution of season 2 in particular seems like that, but it makes too much sense and works out that well.

And the performances really shine. Olivia Colman and David Tennant are, of course, excellent, and Jody Whitaker is obviously singled out fo how well she does as well. The third season brings in a larger new cast to support the new case, but they're compelling from the start - Julie Hesmondhalgh in particular feels believable through all the stages of what must have been a very difficult role. It took us a long time to finish it - we only now got to the last season - but that's because it takes enough focus to finish it and get through it.