Broadchurch's season 1 finale revealed who killed Danny, and guaranteed nothing would ever be the same again in the picturesque town. When it comes to murder mysteries set in small towns, Twin Peaks is still the one to beat. The first season of the show was groundbreaking when it debuted and used the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer as the jumping-off point to explore the dark underbelly of a seemingly peaceful little community. The question that drew viewers to the show also helped destroy it during the second season, as pressure from audiences and the network forced creator David Lynch to reveal Laura's killer - which is something he never planned on doing.
Without this central mystery driving the narrative, much of Twin Peaks season 2 felt aimless. Lynch would later revive the series in 2017, which was greeted with equal parts acclaim and bafflement. Small town mysteries have become their own subgenre, with notable examples including Pretty Little Liars, Sharp Objects and even Stranger Things. Broadchurch is a particularly acclaimed example, with the British drama debuting in 2013 and running for three seasons. It also received an American remake in the form of Gracepoint.
Broadchurch is set in the titular coastal town and focuses on the investigation into the murder of young Danny Latimer. This case is headed by DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman, The Favorite), and they soon find just about everyone in town has a secret they're trying to hide. The show was acclaimed for its performances and superb writing, with the series being equal parts absorbing thriller and tragic drama.
By the time Broadchurch's season 1 finale came around just about everyone in town had come under suspicion, including Danny's father Mark, newsagent Jack and the local Reverend. Alec eventually discovers the man who killed Danny; Joe Miller, Ellie's husband. Joe had a disturbing attachment to Danny, giving him gifts and meeting him at night so the two could cuddle together. Danny eventually became uncomfortable with Joe's behavior and threatened to reveal their meetings to everyone. This led a furious Joe to kill Danny to hide his secret.
It's a devastating reveal, especially when Alec tells Ellie the truth about her husband. This also lead Danny's mother Beth (Jodie Whittaker, Doctor Who) to confront Ellie, feeling she must have helped Joe hide the truth, stating "How could you not know?" The impact of Broadchurch's season 1 finale would ripple throughout the next two seasons, with series two focusing on Joe's trial.