Gracepoint

I get why they wanted to make an American remake of the fantastic Broadchurch. I really do. But they were so concerned with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

Inferior in every possible way, Gracepoint lacks all the charm, character and brooding of the original. On paper, the cast is fantastic - Michael Peña, Anna Gunn, Nick Nolte, and a returning David Tennant. But the performances are so flat compared to the stirring emotional turns from Broadchurch. I think Anna Gunn has it worst of all. She's a great actor and I've loved her in Breaking Bad and Deadwood. But she's no Olivia Colman, and her Ellie Miller falls so flat and feels so two-dimensional. Maybe if I hadn't seen Broadchurch first, I'd have thought differently. But Olivia Colman's Miller was so raw and biting and wonderfully flawed that Gunn's performance seems a mere shadow in comparison.

David Tennant returning in the same role (albeit, with a different name) was surprising. It was jarring to hear much-loved lines from Broadchurch delivered with a (not always great) American accent. He is still amazing in the role, but it just didn't ring as true in Gracepoint as it did in Broadchurch.

If you haven't seen Broadchurch, give this one a go. If you have, maybe skip this as it pales significantly in comparison.

Firstly, if I had not watched Broad Church (the BBC Original of this screenplay), I would have given this series a 10 out of 10. The casting of Grace Point is great, the cast is strong, the site selection is excellent (usually I can recognize locations across the US and Canada - I actually did not with this series - Yeah!). However, I did watch Broad Church. I loved Broad Church. Unfortunately, the screen play was altered between the two productions. I can not decide if Grace Point was changed to simplify or dumb down the complex issues the characters are forced to face on this journey or if it is to not address some issues in favour of other issues or maybe to please the puritanical sensibilities of the censors. Sadly, regardless of why huge aspects have been minimized or excluded, it greatly lessens the viewers experience. My advice is watch Grace Point, than watch Broad Church and prepare to explore more and larger concepts in a far greater depth. Possibly, a great parenting tool to start conversations with others ( but be very prepared first). If you are only going to watch one - Watch Broad Church. The second time I watched Broad Church I did it on the treadmill and it made the workout awesome. Tons of things to think about! Yeah for a cerebral but personal journey through tragedy.

As a standalone show it was pretty good but here's the problem - it was pretty much lifted from the original Broadchurch - shot for shot and identical dialogue so writing the screenplay would have been a virtual copy and paste. So obviously you have to rate this a little lower. Tennant was excellent as always but the accent did slip a few times. The female lead is not a patch on Olivia Colman (but who is?). The big advantages were the lovely Alisen Down (I just want to give her a hug every time I see her) and obviously the absence of Lenny Henry is a massive plus. It was a shame that everyone who has seen Broadchurch would be dismissing all the red herrings straight away and - maybe if they changed the killer from the original would have got it a 9 rating.

But watchable and entertaining if not a top-rate thriller with the acclaimed character range, complexity, atmosphere and acting chops Broadchurch brought to this genre. Then most shows touted as Broadchurch quality aren't.

David Tenant's detective is intentionally charmless and interpersonally challenged. His partner would be fired in real life for her sappy lack of professionalism as, though repeatedly warned, she keeps advocating for the family. And none of the lesser roles are very interesting.

Love the beachy town. Plot fairly involving. Nick Nolte does an entirely credible job playing an old geezer while the young journalists could be played by anybody nice looking.

I find it irritating, in reality too, that the family vs police theme revolves around their resentment at not being let inside all the investigative operations, thinking, discoveries. Police don't help because they refuse to explain exactly why total transparency is out of the question, their liason is equally ill-equipped to field family's frustration, and at times, detectives promise to keep them abreast when to do so risks undermining attempts to find the culprit and could jeopordize a future court case.

More than half way through I can't yet predict who done it though I can spot some red herrings.

If you are a Tennant fan and can suspend the obvious comparison to Broadchurch, by which this version is a hands-down impoverished relative, give Gracepoint a chance. Undemanding, rather bland fare, but not as awful as some critics claim.

All I have to say is that David Tennant with an American accent is the least intimidating thing I've ever heard. I was way more scared when he would yell on Broadchurch. But him saying "WHO CALLED THE REPORTER" in Gracepoint? just makes me laugh. Like ok David you tried. Lol. You sound like Michael Scott