During his 2013-2017 journey, Broadchurch a reinvigorated interest in that particular brand of crime dramas that get chaotic and cozy, which the UK does so well. Led by legendary duo David Tennant and Olivia Colman, Broadchurch managed to break cultural barriers and become an international success. For anyone looking for a show like Broadchurchfew others have so perfectly captured its atmosphere of intimate devastation.
A key element of BroadchurchThe appeal of is, like many successful British thrillers, its small-town setting. In season 1, the town of Broadchurch is thrown into upheaval following the death of an 11-year-old child, and things only descend 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 in their quest for the truth.
However, even though the setting of a small British town Broadchurch is an integral part of the series’ winning formula, it’s not unique. For fans looking for another similar watch, Shetland could be the answer. Not only does it offer everything that makes Broadchurch loved so much, but this underrated UK crime show arguably does it better.
Shetland has a lot in common with Broadchurch, including its small-town environment
Both shows masterfully use their close-knit communities to heighten the tension
For anyone looking for a show like Broadchurch, Shetland immediately stands out as a natural sequel. The BBC crime drama, based on the bestselling novels by Ann Cleeves, follows Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) as he investigates murders and disappearances in the remote Scottish archipelago. Each case reveals dark secrets buried within the island’s close-knit communities, making each revelation deeply personal.
A bit like Broadchurch, Shetland thrives on the difficult balance between intimacy and suspicion. Both series are set in picturesque and seemingly tranquil locations – Broadchurchthe cliffs of Dorset and Shetlandin Australia’s rugged northern islands – but beneath this postcard setting lies a tangle of guilt, grief and buried resentment. Each community feels lived in and familiar, which makes each betrayal even more painful.
It’s in the small-town dynamic that both shows really shine. In Broadchurchthe impact of the investigation reverberates through every home, every store and every friendship, creating a suffocating sense of collective mourning. Shetland exploits this same emotional claustrophobia but amplifies it through its island geography. When a crime happens, everyone knows everyone and there is nowhere to run.
Both shows also understand that geography is not just a backdrop; it’s a storytelling tool. In Broadchurchthe cliffs and crashing waves symbolize the emotional turmoil beneath the surface. In Shetlandthe vast hills, gray skies, and rough seas reflect the haunting isolation of its characters. Both landscapes are breathtaking, yet foreboding – visual reminders that beauty and danger can coexist.
Eventually, Shetland And Broadchurch share the same DNA: atmospheric storytelling, grounded performances, and the sense that evil can lurk even in paradise. But while Broadchurch After transforming his coastal village into a crucible of grief, Shetland takes the formula and pushes it into larger, more haunting terrain.
The Remote Island of Shetland takes the best part of the other series and improves it
Geographic isolation heightens emotional and physical challenges
The best part of Broadchurch has always been her sense of place – the way her small town feels both comforting and confining. Shetland takes that fundamental strength and amplifies it. Instead of a seaside village, it’s set on a series of remote Scottish islands, where the landscape itself feels like another character. The distance is palpable; ferries, fog and rough seas separate Shetland from the rest of the world.
This is why it stands out among shows like Broadchurchas ShetlandThe increased isolation of makes its mysteries even more intense. The island setting creates a real feeling of imprisonment: when a crime occurs, the culprit is almost certainly among the locals, and leaving is not an easy option. Every character has secrets, but in Shetland, those secrets can’t be hidden for long.
The geography also amplifies the mood of the show. The towering cliffs and cold winds of the North Atlantic imbue each episode with atmospheric terror. Unlike the warm-toned nostalgia of Dorset which carried Broadchurch for three seasons, Shetland’s environment seems raw and elemental. Shetland often uses weather—storms, fog, and endless gray daylight—to reflect Perez’s inner turmoil and the community’s collective grief.
The persistent isolation of Shetland doesn’t just affect travel or communication: it shapes the way people think, react, and interact with each other.
There is also a sociological dimension to Shetland this makes it distinct. The persistent isolation of Shetland doesn’t just affect travel or communication: it shapes the way people think, react, and interact with each other. Gossip spreads faster, suspicion lingers longer, and forgiveness seems harder to achieve. It’s the perfect setting for a slow-burn crime drama that thrives on emotional realism.
In short, Shetland takes on the atmospheric small-town claustrophobia that defined Broadchurch and transforms it into something even more immersive. The result is a world that is both painfully beautiful and quietly terrifying.
Shetland has something else to offer that Broadchurch doesn’t
Shetland offers more stories, more depth and more time to get lost
While the three seasons of Broadchurch allow captivating and autonomous visualization, Shetland offers much more for fans to explore. Started in 2013, the same year Broadchurch created, Shetland has become one of the BBC’s most acclaimed long-running dramas, with nine seasons and counting. For anyone looking for a show like Broadchurch it lasts longer, Shetland book in abundance.
Prolonged running gives Shetland room to breathe. While Broadchurch focuses on a few narrowly circumscribed cases, Shetland builds an entire world across multiple storylines, allowing audiences to see Perez evolve both as a detective and as a person. The continuity between seasons deepens the emotional impact, making each loss and revelation hit harder.
What really defines Shetland apart, however, from its ability to evolve without losing its heart. New detectives, new mysteries, and new moral dilemmas keep the series fresh, even after nearly a decade. Yet at the same time it still retains that same mix of melancholy, empathy and moral grayness that made Broadchurch unforgettable.
For fans wanting 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 genius.
