In a move that’s probably not all that much of a surprise to most, all things considered: Fox has decided to not give a second season to its event series, Gracepoint. You know, that show that was a remake of the very, very good BBC series, Broadchurch?
Entertainment Weekly is reporting the news, saying that the David Tennant and Anna Gunn detective drama will not be given another go — even though its predecessor has a new season (and it’s coming soon!) coming up next year. It was never a given, considering its billing as a “limited series” but, as Under the Dome has shown us, that distinction pretty much means nothing, so long as people are watching. But watch Gracepoint they did not — last week’s finale brought in relatively low ratings for the network on a Thursday. Womp womp!
So instead all we’ll have to do is, really, what we should’ve done all along: stick with the original. Listen: Anna Gunn is fantastic and even I came around to David Tennant’s at-times slightly off American accent, but ultimately what made Broadchurch particularly great was its whole package: more than the top notch acting and writing, Broadchurch had a very distinctive and hauntingly beautiful look to it — at once serene and menacing. In its Gracepoint iteration, most of that magic was gone and replaced with a look that was far less cinematic and atmospheric. (Oh also the ending of Gracepoint was changed but, eh.)
Season two of Broadchurch hits BBC America on February 4, 2015. Are you sad to see Gracepoint go? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
THANK GOD. This portrayal was terrible. Even David’s depiction of his own character was hard to believe. Plus Broadchurch is back next month. Just bring it to America and we’re set. Now on Netflix since the 15th.
Not sure why this was even produced, to be honest! ‘Broadchurch’ was amazing and is accessible to all. It’s not like they were remaking a foreign language series here. Watch ‘Broadchurch’ series 1 and prepare yourself for series 2!!!
Broadchurch was better. But I love Tenent any way I can get him. I agree that some of the magic was missing from Gracepoint, but the whole “destroying the computer” thing was better explained in this version.
this show was made by ITV not the bbc they just distributed it.
Not surprised. Really weak effort from all of the cast and terribly dull. Not the very worst show on this Fall but certainly scraping the bottom of the drama barrel.
Until I hear it from Shine America and FOX it’s still an unconfirmed story. And then there’s the twitter campaign @ShineAmerca #Gracepoint2 and @ FOXtv #Gracepoint2 and then there’s this: https://www.change.org/p/netflix-and-shine-america-produce-and-show-gracepoint-season-2?just_created=true
I’m sad to see it go just because it was filmed in my city (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) which was a very thrilling time this past spring when it was filmed. However I do love the original series and will gladly watch the second season in January.
Liked Gracepoint but loved Broadchurch. Can’t wait for season two!
This is no crime on FOX’s part. While Gracepoint wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t nearly as good as Broadchurch. The bad decision here was to remake the show in the first place. Foreign TV networks air American shows, so why don’t American networks (besides BBC America) air theirs here? Can’t wait for the second series of Broadchurch.
If the show is remade as an American versiothe he american production companies make more money
No!!! I watched it but every week it was just a weak version of the original. Some of the same camera shots and slow motion shots. And the “change” at the end….. come on. And they could have had David use his English accent. I mean they had an English Inn Keeper!!!
Yea Fox keeps churning out crap but get rid of God programs
I’m neither sad nor surprised by the cancellation of ” Gracepoint “. Except for Jacki Weaver and David Tennant, it was miscast and badly acted. Even Anna Gunn, whom I loved in ” Breaking Bad “, was bullied by Tennant till the very end when they suddenly made nice.
Meh. No big loss.
And this, America, is why we can’t have nice things.
I generally support David Tennant, but I still have Broadchurch to support him on. Gracepoint was simply not as good. For example, there was that scene with the men standing in the crashing surf silently screaming. Gracepoint lacked that artistry and haunting aspect. Also, the cast as a whole in the British version are people I admire. I don’t want to bring the cast into it too much because the American version had a good one too. America has been copying tv as long as there has been tv, mostly because they can’t listen to the accents. It would be wierd if the rest of us started doing that (ie. Canadian Swamp People).
Generally I support David Tennant, but I still have Broadchurch to support him on. I loved Broadchurch but Gracepoint was simply not as good. Example: There was that marvellous scene with the men standing in the surf silent shouting or screaming and the waves crashing around them, but Gracepoint lacked that haunting artistry. I really think Americans stop co-opting stuff just because they don’t like to listen to an accent. We don’t try to make a Canadian version of Swamp People, though it would be amusing to watch them try.
They made a newfoundlander version of Deadliest Catch. Soooooo many subtitles.
The question for me is will BBC America edit the crap out of it in order to add commercial breaks, like they did the first season of Broadchurch? It wasn’t until I got the DVDs that I saw why Olivia Colman’s performance won every award in sight that year. BBC America knows that their audience knows and likes David Tennant, and Colman’s performance got shredded.
“Changed” – ish. Also, if they wanted it to last, they should have had Tennant keep the accent (maybe slightly softened for Americans unused to it) and have a mysterious past back in the UK or something.
I’m sad because I know so few Americans get exposed to the brilliance of things like the original. I’ll be watching every episode of Broadchurch, but my husband discovered the love of the show on Gracepoint and I feel bad for those who missed out.