Gracepoint debuted on Fox this past Thursday - the 10-part remake of the 8-part British series Broadchurch, which was on BBC America last year, and, word has it, was originally supposed to have 10 episodes, too. Word also has it that the ending has been changed for Gracepoint - meaning, the killer in Broadchurch will not be the killer in Gracepoint - but otherwise the story will be the same.And it's a powerful, heart-wrenching story indeed, in which there are as many or more prime suspects in the killing of Danny as his age - 11. Further, these suspects come from everywhere, including Danny's family and the family of one of the two main investigating officers.
In a remarkable move, David Tennant plays the lead investigator in Gracepoint as well as Broadchurch, though with different names. Anna Gunn of Breaking Bad fame plays his second in command, with the same name, though with a ranking of Detective rather than DS, which was Ellie Miller's rank in Broadchurch for the character memorably played by Olivia Colman.
There's been lots of head-scratching and even complaint about why a series recently shown in America should be re-made with the same lead actor no less. But I've got to say: after feeling the same way, I'm now glad that the series has been remade. Why? Because the story is so compelling, complex in plot yet fundamentally raw in emotion, that I'm happy to see it again.
I reviewed Broadchurch here last year. You're welcome to read those reviews, though they will no doubt contain spoilers, if not about the ending then about how our story and characters get there. And to make matters even more interesting on the meta level, there will be a second season of Broadchurch over in the UK.
It's enough to make your head spin - deja vu with a vengeance - but you know what? - I think it's good for television to do crazy things like this.
#SFWApro
A different kind of police fiction
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