Who do you think is the BEST adapted character from Broadchurch to Malaterra. The worst?
So each character in Malaterra has a slightly different backstory than their Broadchurch counterpart. And each change makes sense in context, because almost every change is made to further the theme of familial relationships due to the change in murderer for the series. So each character is only slightly different, but I still have three answers to this question somehow aslfsldfkj
So first off, the best adapted character to me is Ellie (Karine). The actress, Constance Dolle, does an exceptional job and looks remarkably like Olivia Colman. A thing I find extremely interesting is that this version really highlights Ellie's character. I personally feel like she's the "main" character of the series in the same way that I feel like Alec is the "main" character of Broadchurch, though you might feel differently, that's just an opinion. What I mean by this is that everything revolves around her, and that's painfully obvious in this adaptation, especially with Alec's story a bit downplayed and with the lack of the two following seasons. Also, she's kind of having a terrible time the whole show. As in Broadchurch, she gets passed up for a promotion on the same day as she finds her best friend's child murdered. She's questioning everything she ever knew about the people in her town. And then additionally, her dad's in a coma for a good half the series, so she's worried about him because they were very close. And then (and MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR spoilers here) it turns out her mom is not actually her mom and the woman she thought was her estranged sister is her mom (and is, in fact, also her sister, because her dad had a child with his own daughter) and she finds this out and basically she's got A LOT going on. And yet she still remains very Ellie. She's kind, even when it's tough. She's resilient. She's doing her very best to help her community. You can tell that character is Ellie, and I think that's what makes her the best adapted.
For the worst adapted, I have to say Reverend Paul Coates (Father Clement Costil) and okay. It's not even that the changes were bad, really. It's just that we did NOT explore the implications enough!!!! So yknow how in Broadchurch, Paul's backstory is that he's an alcoholic? Well. That's not it at all in Malaterra. So he's been going to this other town for extensive periods of time on the reg. And when Karine asks him about it he says he's visiting friends, doing priestly things, etc etc. But that's not what he's actually doing! It's worth noting that he is actually a Catholic priest in this one. Keep that in mind for what I'm about to say. So Thomas (Alec) is getting suspicious of him based on something Karine said. So he follows him for a bit. And he follows him to this other town, and Clement walks right up to this house and goes inside. And Thomas watches for a minute, and then he goes up and rings the doorbell. And this kid answers. And the kid's like "hey" and Thomas is like "uhhhh hey kid is your dad home?" and the kid's like "yeah" and calls for his dad and Clement shows up. So Catholic priest Clement has a secret family!!!!! He's a priest he's supposed to be married to the church and he secretly has a family!!! The implications of this are so interesting and we barely talk about it! And given the murderer change and the overall family themes in the show I think if that had been fleshed out, if he'd talked about why he was with this family and how much he loved them, I think it could've really said something and been a credit to the show overall. Like it's a great idea I just needed more!
Okay secret third answer is. Thomas. Is absolutely not the best or worst adapted. Honestly he's got very many very good Alec qualities. I mean, things are slightly more his fault, but there are so so so many scenes I love him in and I wish I could see David Tennant doing. HOWEVER. He also does the least Alec thing he could have possibly done in the whole show in my opinion. So I've always been of the headcanon, or really canon, that Alec is a picky eater. We always see him refuse food, he barely eats, it's a whole through line plot for him and Ellie in general. But I think it's pretty obvious that he doesn't ever really eat much of his own accord. But. In Malaterra. While Thomas is talking to Clement about his secret family, he points to an apple and is like "can I have that?" and Clement was like "yeah?" and he just EATS IT. HE EATS THE APPLE HE ASKED FOR. MY JAW WAS ON THE FLOOR YALL. And I think it was supposed to be because he was. Taking drugs at the time (his whole backstory/health journey is wild in this one!) but the drugs he's taking should actually suppress his appetite and not make him hungry!! This was just so wild I had to mention it here.
And I have to say. Even despite all of that? Better than Gracepoint!