Gracepoint, Season 1, Episode 1, “Episode One”
Written by Chris Chibnall
Directed by James Strong
Airs Thursdays at 9pm (ET) on Fox
“There will be no hiding place for Danny’s killer. We will catch whoever did this”
The unbearable, unimaginable loss of a child has been explored before in television and film. If done correctly, it can make for exceptionally compelling television. Based on the critically acclaimed British drama Broadchurch, this remake’s biggest issue moving forward will be staying true to roots while also forging its own path.
“Episode One” adheres closely to Broadchurch’s pilot, opening in what is described as America’s first hometown. Gracepoint is a quiet Oceanside hamlet with an idyllic main street where everyone knows everyone and there seem to be few secrets amongst the townspeople. It’s the type of place where you don’t find murdered boys on the beach and where reporters get types from waitresses at the crab shack. We see all of this in an expertly crafted tracking shot in the first minutes of the episode.
We’re introduced to nearly every character in the scene: there’s Beth and Mark Solano (Virginia Kull and Michael Pena), soon to have their worlds collapsed when their son Danny is found dead, and Detective Ellie Miller (Anna Gunn), a relatively inexperienced and emotional cop who has just returned from vacation to learn that she’s been passed over for a promotion by a new, male detective from the city.
Detective Emmett Carver (David Tennant, rocking a pretty nifty American accent, and reprising his role from Broadchurch) is somewhat cold, telling Ellie to “put it away” when she gets too emotional at the crime scene and snapping at local reporter, and nephew of Ellie, Owen (Kevin Zegers). But there is also a quiet sadness to him that implies there is much more going on. “Don’t do this to me”, he whispers as he moves towards Danny’s body for the first time. There is also a telling reference to a case he was never indicted for.
For viewers who are familiar with Broadchurch it’s going to be difficult to separate the two series and that’s fair. Broadchurch was brilliant and those coming to Gracepoint are probably suspicious that the feeling of the original can be recreated. And while it’s still too early to tell if Gracepoint will live up to expectations, it is incredibly effective and moving. Watch the quiet, deeply sad and powerful grieving scenes after Ellie and Carver tell the family about Danny, or Beth’s beachside discussion with Ellie. “I feel so far away from myself”, she says.
As in the original, Tennant’s performance is strong. He gives just a hint of a darker side, enough to keep viewers interested in the character. The sense of mystery surrounding Det. Carver fits in well with the curious behavior of pretty much every character in Gracepoint. Heck, even Ellie’s 12 year old son and Danny’s best friend, is deleting the hard drive of his computer and getting rid of text messages from the victim. We also catch a few glimpses of Jacki Weaver and a vaguely disturbing Nick Nolte among the townspeople.
Gunn, playing a role initially inhabited brilliantly by Olivia Colman, has big shoes to fill and she steps up admirably in the first episode. Ellie is a bit unsteady and when she makes early allusions to a vacation there is an implication that she may not be incredibly stable. Perhaps one of the best aspects of the episode is Ellie’s slow transformation. She’s smart. She’s really smart, and in a lesser show she would be left to trail behind Carver, asking dumb questions or acting as a stand in for the audience. Instead she is allowed to be a capable, emotional, and efficient detective. Pena is also typically good here. He’s a talented actor and his performance as Mark identifies Danny’s body is exceptional.
“Episode One” is a beautifully crafted introduction to a show full of rich characters and a dense, sad, yet compelling subject. With the next nine episodes to go, Gracepoint is primed to become a powerful companion to its predecessor.
Tressa Eckermann