The Underrated Crime Drama That Surpasses Broadchurch

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During its 2013-2017 run, Broadchurch reinvigorated interest in the peculiar brand of cozy-becomes-chaos crime drama that the UK does so well. Helmed by the legendary duo of David Tennant and Olivia Colman, Broadchurch managed to break cultural barriers and become an international success. For anyone seeking a show like Broadchurch, few others captured its atmosphere of intimate devastation so perfectly.

A key part of Broadchurch’s appeal is, like many hit British thrillers, its small-town setting. In season 1, the town of Broadchurch is thrust into upheaval following the death of an 11-year-old child, and things only spiral further into chaos from there. For detectives Hardy (Tennant) and Miller (Colman), the paranoid community of this once-peaceful coastal town becomes a significant obstacle on their journey to uncover the truth.

However, while the British small-town setting of Broadchurch is integral to the show’s winning formula, it’s not unique. For fans itching for another similar watch, Shetland could be the answer. Not only does it deliver everything that makes Broadchurch so beloved, but this underrated UK crime show arguably does it better.

Shetland Has A Lot In Common With Broadchurch, Including Its Small-Town Setting

Both Shows Masterfully Use Their Close-Knit Communities To Heighten Tension

Douglas Henshall, Alison O'Donnell, and Steven Robertson in Shetland

For anyone looking for a show like Broadchurch, Shetland immediately stands out as a natural follow-up. The BBC crime drama, based on Ann Cleeves’ bestselling novels, follows Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) as he investigates murders and disappearances across the remote Scottish archipelago. Each case exposes dark secrets buried within the island’s close-knit communities, making every revelation feel deeply personal.

Much like Broadchurch, Shetland thrives on the uneasy balance between intimacy and suspicion. Both series are set in picturesque, seemingly tranquil locales – Broadchurch’s Dorset cliffs and Shetland’s rugged northern isles – but underneath the postcard scenery lies a tangle of guilt, grief, and buried resentment. Each community feels lived-in and familiar, which makes every betrayal sting all the more.

The small-town dynamic is where both shows truly shine. In Broadchurch, the investigation’s impact ripples through every home, every shop, and every friendship, creating a suffocating sense of collective mourning. Shetland taps into that same emotional claustrophobia but amplifies it through its island geography. When a crime happens, everyone knows everyone, and there’s nowhere to run.

Both shows also understand that geography isn’t just backdrop; it’s a storytelling tool. In Broadchurch, the cliffs and crashing waves symbolize the emotional turmoil beneath the surface. In Shetland, the sweeping hills, gray skies, and stormy seas reflect the haunting isolation of its characters. Both landscapes are breathtaking, yet foreboding – visual reminders that beauty and danger can coexist.

Ultimately, Shetland and Broadchurch share the same DNA: atmospheric storytelling, grounded performances, and the sense that evil can lurk even in paradise. But while Broadchurch turned its coastal village into a crucible of grief, Shetland takes the formula and pushes it to more expansive, haunting terrain.

Shetland’s Remote Island Takes The Best Part Of The Other Series And Improves It

Geographic Isolation Intensifies The Emotional And Physical Stakes

Jimmy Perez standing by a cliff in Shetland

The best part of Broadchurch has always been its sense of place – the way its small town feels both comforting and confining. Shetland takes that core strength and magnifies it. Instead of a seaside village, it unfolds across a series of remote Scottish islands, where the landscape itself feels like another character. The remoteness is palpable; ferries, fog, and rough seas separate Shetland from the rest of the world.

This is why it stands out among shows like Broadchurch, as Shetland’s heightened isolation makes its mysteries even more intense. The island setting creates a genuine sense of entrapment: when a crime occurs, the culprit is almost certainly among the locals, and leaving isn’t an easy option. Every character has secrets, but on Shetland, those secrets can’t hide for long.

The geography also amplifies the show’s mood. The sweeping cliffs and cold North Atlantic winds infuse each episode with an atmospheric dread. Unlike the warm-toned nostalgia of Dorset that carried Broadchurch for three seasons, Shetland’s environment feels raw and elemental. Shetland often uses the weather – storms, fog, and endless gray daylight – to reflect Perez’s inner turmoil and the community’s collective grief.

The unrelenting isolation of Shetland doesn’t just affect travel or communication – it shapes how its people think, react, and relate to one another.

There’s also a sociological dimension to Shetland that makes it feel distinct. The unrelenting isolation of Shetland doesn’t just affect travel or communication – it shapes how its people think, react, and relate to one another. Gossip spreads faster, suspicions linger longer, and forgiveness feels harder to come by. It’s the perfect setting for a slow-burn detective drama that thrives on emotional realism.

In short, Shetland takes the atmospheric small-town claustrophobia that defined Broadchurch and transforms it into something even more immersive. The result is a world that feels both achingly beautiful and quietly terrifying.

Shetland Has Another Thing Going For It That Broadchurch Doesn’t

Shetland Offers More Stories, More Depth, And More Time To Get Lost In

Alec Hardy (David Tennant on the phone looking stressed outside the police station in Broadchurch

While the three seasons of Broadchurch make for gripping, self-contained viewing, Shetland offers far more for fans to explore. Debuting in 2013, the same year Broadchurch premiered, Shetland has grown into one of the BBC’s most acclaimed long-running dramas, boasting nine seasons and counting. For anyone searching for a show like Broadchurch that lasts longer, Shetland delivers in abundance.

The extended run gives Shetland room to breathe. While Broadchurch focuses on a few tightly contained cases, Shetland builds an entire world across multiple storylines, allowing audiences to see Perez evolve as both a detective and a person. The continuity between seasons deepens the emotional impact, making each loss and revelation hit harder.

What truly sets Shetland apart, though, is its ability to evolve without losing its heart. New detectives, new mysteries, and new moral dilemmas keep the series feeling fresh, even after nearly a decade. Yet, at the same time, it always maintains that same mix of melancholy, empathy, and moral grayness that made Broadchurch unforgettable.

For fans craving a show like Broadchurch but with even more atmosphere, emotional weight, and longevity, Shetland is a worthy successor – and, in many ways, a quiet improvement. It’s proof that sometimes, isolation can lead to brilliance.