"Broadchurch" Recap: "Series 2 - Episode 6"

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Last time on Broadchurch, the show managed to completely underwhelm the audience for the first time in the entire series, leaving me worried that perhaps the show was hitting a slump.  But I'm pleased to say that this week that was not the case as the show delivered some incredible scenes, performances and revelations in "Episode 6". 

If anything the courtroom continues to be the show's greatest strength as it truly has become the source of the show's conflicts now that every character's darkest secrets are being revealed from the witness stand. This week Joe's son Tom took the stand and well...flat out lied to the jury, claiming that Mark confessed to him that he killed Danny and that his Father was innocent. Despite the fact that Jocelyn picked his testimony to pieces, Mark took the stand to clear his name and revealed that in that hour he was missing on the night Danny died he was sitting by the side of the road writing a letter to let Beth know he was planning to leave her.  

This revelation of course appears to have shattered Mark and Beth's relationship to its absolute core and as the Latimers begin to deal with the fallout of all of this, things got real interesting on the Sandbrook side of the story. Both desperate to get the case moving before Hardy finally goes in to have his heart repaired with a pacemaker, a plan is set in motion and Hardy surprises Claire by playing bad cop and letting her know she is no longer under his protection and to leave the Cottage ASAP because of her inability to tell the truth. 

This allows Ellie to play good cop and give Claire a chance to come clean...but that opportunity leads to one tense moment. For Claire offers to do Ellie's hair, something she hasn't done in forever and as they sit and chat over Claire's hairdressing abilities, Claire offers to let Ellie see her portfolio.  Ellie is happy to do so, but as she does she finds a picture of Claire wearing the pendant that was found on Pippa's body. The same one that went missing from Tess' car which cost Hardy the case.  Ellie of course lets Tess know, who is hoping Miller can get her hands on the photo, but alas Claire has set it ablaze and as it burns she reminisces on the fact she was the one who broke into Tess' car that night, long ago, to take it back.

Now this is what I was waiting for when it came to last week. There was not a scene wasted this week as everything moved forward in incredible fashion. We already knew Claire was a scumbag, but now we know just how big of a scumbag she truly is and it's clear now her involvement in the Sandbrook case goes far deeper than we ever expected. I absolutely loved this fascinating twist in the story, and quite frankly this was the strongest episode of the season to date. There's a sense of dread on this show that I haven't felt since season one and I'm sure it will only get worse as Miller and Hardy close in on figuring out the Sandbrook case and the Joe Miller trial comes to a close. Until next time. 

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