David Tennant's 2010s Detective Series Never Recovered From An Iconic First Season

David Tennant starred in one of the most iconic British detective series of the 2010s, Broadchurch, but it never managed to surpass its unforgettable first season. Though there are dozens of thrilling, tense, and memorable British crime and detective dramas, few have had as big an impact on the genre as Chris Chibnall’s Broadchurch, which won three BAFTA awards for its first season after its premiere in 2013.

Starring David Tennant as Detective Inspector Alec Hardy and Oscar-winner Olivia Colman as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller, Broadchurch‘s first season examines the effects of violence and police interference on a small, tight-knit coastal community after the body of a young boy, Danny Latimer (Oskar McNamara), is found beneath the cliffs on a public beach. Broadchurch season 1 is a masterclass in tension, character dynamics, and purposeful, methodical storytelling, as it soon becomes clear that Danny’s death wasn’t an accident.

Families are torn apart, friends are accused, and both Hardy and Ellie are forced to face their worst fears as the investigation unravels. The performances of all those involved, including Doctor Who‘s Jodie Whittaker and Harry Potter‘s David Bradley — the latter of whom won a BAFTA for his performance alongside Colman — are absolutely gut-wrenching. It was always going to be tough for the show to live up to that first case, and while Broadchurch‘s last two outings are worth a watch, they never came close to the original.

Broadchurch Was Never The Same After Its First Excellent Season

Broadchurch season 1’s ending was incredibly powerful. The show could have easily left Danny’s case in the past, either ending the story there or focusing on a completely different investigation in the second season. What Chibnall chose to do with Broadchurch season 2 instead was actually quite brave, though the risk never really paid off.

Rather than introducing a new mystery, Broadchurch season 2 covered the consequences of Danny Latimer’s death and the resulting arrest, picking up where season 1 left off. The accused rescinds his guilty plea in court and throws Danny’s family (and his own) into a harrowing cycle of grief, despair, and guilt. The performances from all the returning cast members are still undeniably superb, and Hardy’s obsession with taking responsibility and fixing one of his past transgressions offers a great contrast to what’s happening in court.

And yet, the story begins to drag by the midway point, as bureaucracy and court politics become a primary theme. The result of the court case was — and still is — a controversial slap in the face to Danny’s family, Ellie, Alec, and, dare I say it, the audience, even though it’s meant to feel painfully realistic. It certainly doesn’t ruin the series overall, but it does leave a foul taste in your mouth, one only somewhat fixed by Broadchurch season 3.

In season 3, Alec and Ellie are finally assigned a new case. This one deals with a wholly different but no less horrific crime, as Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh) reports that she’s been sexually assaulted while unconscious. Hesmondhalgh turns in a career-best performance, and Tennant and Colman are on top form, but it’s still not as memorable as the first season. The ending feels too rushed, the story is much less nuanced, and the continued focus on the Latimer family feels forced into the new investigative framework.

Given the incredible success of Broadchurch‘s first season, it’s no surprise that Chibnall wanted to try and replicate that same formula for a different audience. In 2014, a limited series American remake of Broadchurch season 1 called Gracepoint premiered on Fox, with David Tennant taking on the lead role of Detective Emmett Carver. If you haven’t heard of Gracepoint, don’t be shocked; Gracepoint‘s 65% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score compared to Broadchurch season 1’s 94% tells you all you need to know, really. It’s an empty imitation, at best.

Alec Hardy Is Still One Of David Tennant’s Best Roles

Ellie (Olivia Colman) and Alec (David Tennant) in Broadchurch

Despite Gracepoint‘s lackluster retelling, it’s not entirely surprising that Tennant decided to come back for more. DI Alec Hardy is genuinely still one of the Scottish actor’s best roles. Of course, we can’t ignore his energetic, infectious personality in Doctor Who, or his lovably gruff, angry demon in Good Omens. Alec Hardy showcases Tennant’s incredible emotional range as an actor, his capacity for empathy, and his uncanny ability to draw viewers in, however.

That, combined with his fascinating chemistry with his scene and detective partner, Colman’s DS Ellie Miller, makes Broadchurch one of David Tennant’s best projects to date. They are an unstoppable detective duo, the kind that others will forever be compared to. They never become true friends, not really — but they develop a healthy respect for one another, their banter is off the charts, and while they argue (almost all the time), they still have each other’s backs at every turn. In short, they make each other better, both as characters and as actors, and that’s a massive part of what makes Broadchurch‘s first season so enduringly special.

Broadchurch is available to stream in the US via Netflix, PBS, and Peacock.