Broadchurch season 3 of the British crime drama television series Broadchurch, which is available to watch online on the streaming service Peacock TV. Broadchurch aired for three seasons from 2013 to 2017 on ITV in the UK. The show stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman as police detectives investigating crimes in a small coastal town.
About Peacock TV
Peacock is a streaming service from NBCUniversal that launched in 2020. It offers a mix of original programming, current and classic TV shows, movies, news, and sports. Peacock has both free and paid subscription tiers. The free tier has a more limited selection of content and includes ads. Upgrading to Peacock Premium provides access to the full library with fewer ads.
There is also an ad-free tier called Peacock Premium Plus. Peacock is the exclusive streaming home for many popular shows from the NBCUniversal family of networks, including The Office, Parks and Recreation, Yellowstone, and the full Law & Order franchise. It also offers next-day streaming of current NBC and Bravo shows. Peacock originals include series like Bel-Air, Girls5eva, and the Saved by the Bell revival.
Broadchurch Synopsis
Broadchurch is a crime drama that takes place in the fictional small town of Broadchurch in Dorset, England. Each season follows detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) as they investigate a serious crime that rocks the close-knit community. The first season focuses on the murder of an 11-year-old boy and its impact on his family and the town. Season two deals with the trial of the murder suspect and the reopening of an old case from Hardy’s past. The third and final season centers on the investigation of a serious sexual assault.
While each season has a different central crime, the show is just as much about the lives of the townspeople and how the cases affect them personally. It explores grief, family dynamics, small town life, and the far-reaching impact of violence. Critics praised Broadchurch for its gripping mysteries, complex characters, and strong performances, especially from Tennant and Colman.
Season 3 Plot Summary
Note: This section contains spoilers for Broadchurch season 3. The final season of Broadchurch opens with Hardy and Miller being called to the scene of a violent sexual assault. The victim is Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh), a middle-aged woman who was attacked at a friend’s 50th birthday party. Trish has little memory of what happened but knows she was raped by an unknown assailant.
As Hardy and Miller dig into the case, they discover there was a similar unsolved assault in the area a few years prior. They must determine if the attacks are linked and identify the perpetrator among a growing list of suspects, including Trish’s ex-husband, her best friend’s husband, the cab driver who took her home from the party, and a local convicted sex offender.
The investigation uncovers secrets and lies among the residents of Broadchurch. Trish’s adult daughter struggles to support her in the aftermath of the attack. Hardy faces pressure to solve the case quickly, while also dealing with family troubles of his own. Miller tries to protect her son from the darkness of her work.
In the end, the detectives untangle a web of deceit to unmask the culprit in a disturbing conclusion that provides justice for Trish but leaves an unsettling feeling that the true scope of the problem is much larger. The season explores issues of sexual violence, toxic masculinity, trauma, and the challenges victims face in coming forward.
Cast and Characters
Broadchurch features a large ensemble cast, with the two leads surrounded by the residents of the town. Here are some of the main characters:
- DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) – An experienced detective with a haunted past. Hardy is a dedicated investigator but often clashes with his colleagues due to his brusque manner. Beneath his gruff exterior, he cares deeply about getting justice for victims.
- DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) – A local detective who works with Hardy. Miller is more empathetic and has close ties to many of the townspeople, which sometimes complicates her role in investigations. She is a working mother struggling to balance her family responsibilities with the demands of her job.
- Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh) – The victim at the center of season three. Trish is a farm shop worker trying to rebuild her life after a divorce when she is assaulted. Her journey to heal and find justice drives much of the story.
- Beth Latimer (Jodie Whittaker) – The mother of the murdered boy in season one. Beth is still grieving her son in season three while becoming an advocate for other victims of violence. She serves as a support to Trish.
- Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan) – Beth’s husband and the father of the murdered child. Mark has never fully recovered from his son’s death and the revelations about his life. His inability to move forward strains his marriage.
- Rev. Paul Coates (Arthur Darvill) – The local vicar who tries to provide moral guidance to the community. Paul often insertsinserts himself into investigations as he ministers to those affected by the crimes.
- Maggie Radcliffe (Carolyn Pickles) – The editor of the Broadchurch Echo newspaper. Maggie has been a fixture in the town for years and knows everyone’s histories. She sometimes clashes with Hardy and Miller over their handling of investigations.
Other key characters include Trish’s daughter Leah (Hannah Millward), Trish’s ex-husband Ian (Charlie Higson), cab driver Clive (Sebastian Armesto), Ellie’s son Tom (Adam Wilson), and Ellie’s father David (Roy Hudd).
Themes and Reception
Broadchurch was praised throughout its run for its nuanced exploration of difficult themes, including grief, trauma, and the lasting impact of violence on individuals and communities. The show never shied away from depicting the messy realities of these issues.In season three, the focus on sexual assault allowed the writers to delve into toxic masculinity, rape culture, and the challenges victims face in reporting crimes and being believed.
The season was lauded for its sensitive handling of the subject matter, anchored by a powerhouse performance from Julie Hesmondhalgh.Critics also consistently highlighted the acting on Broadchurch as one of its greatest strengths, especially the lead duo of Olivia Colman and David Tennant. Colman in particular garnered acclaim for her heartbreaking work as a woman struggling to maintain her faith in humanity in the face of so much darkness.Broadchurch’s first season was a massive hit in the UK, becoming a national obsession and sparking intense media coverage and speculation about the identity of the killer.
Ratings remained strong in subsequent seasons even as the show expanded its scope. The series has also been praised for its cinematography and moody depiction of the Dorset coast.While some critics felt that the show lost a bit of momentum in its second season, the third and final outing was widely regarded as a return to form and a satisfying conclusion to the story. Broadchurch cemented its place as a landmark of British crime drama, paving the way for other shows in the genre.
Conclusion
In summary, the British series Broadchurch season 3, which is available to stream on Peacock TV in the United States. The show follows two detectives played by David Tennant and Olivia Colman as they investigate serious crimes in a small coastal town. Broadchurch was known for its gripping mysteries, complex characters, and thoughtful examination of heavy themes like grief and trauma.
The third season, which focused on the investigation of a sexual assault, was praised for its sensitive handling of the subject and powerful performances.For anyone interested in well-crafted, emotionally resonant crime drama, Broadchurch is well worth checking out. The availability of the full series on Peacock makes it easy for American audiences to discover or revisit this gem of British television season 3 of the British crime drama television series Broadchurch, which is available to watch online on the streaming service Peacock TV.
Broadchurch aired for three seasons from 2013 to 2017 on ITV in the UK. The show stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman as police detectives investigating crimes in a small coastal town.