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Season 1 – Broken

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Broken May 2017 Drama Faith & Spirituality Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Father Michael Kerrigan, a modern, but maverick, Catholic priest, juggles parochial problems with personal challenges as he presides over his tight-knit Northern urban parish.
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Broken — Season 1

Broken — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Beautiful and bittersweet, Broken breaks little new dramatic ground, but its tense, tragic ruminations on the meaning of faith more than make up for any familiar ground it treads.

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Critics Reviews

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Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald Jul 19, 2018
Bleak but driven by righteous rage, and bloody well done. Go to Full Review
Rachel Cooke New Statesman Dec 29, 2017
For one thing, Broken is hugely involving, its Dickensian plot (no spoilers here) as plausible as it is macabre. For another, in the present circumstances, its script seems to be rather daring. Go to Full Review
Graeme Blundell The Australian Dec 29, 2017
[Jimmy] McGovern delivers not only a scathing exploration of working class life in contemporary Britain but an artful, beautifully constructed exploration of faith. Go to Full Review
Karl du Fresne The Post NZ Mar 3, 2020
It's an uncompromisingly dark and gritty series that more than once left me feeling like a wrung-out rag. Go to Full Review
Alison Rowat The Herald (Scotland) Jul 6, 2018
In the hands of anyone other than Jimmy McGovern, this could be a dispiriting watch, but because it is McGovern one knows humanity will find a way through the gloom. Go to Full Review
Christopher Stevens Daily Mail (UK) Dec 29, 2017
1/5
Writer Jimmy McGovern, who must be a real laugh-a-minute at parties, makes sure we understand this isn't a comedy by packing the soundtrack with jazz laments by crooners such as Nina Simone and Dinah Washington. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alain E @AlainE Jan 7, 2026 This is an excellent done series with multidimensional characters in lifelike situations. The writers deftly avoided a linear progression to success. The hero has serious doubts, but with the support of his congregation he is able to move forward. In essence, this could function as a commercial for faith, specifically Catholicism and I am saying this as a confirmed atheist. First rate acting and photography. See more
M G @justm Jan 29, 2024 It had some interesting story elements, but ultimately too depressing for me -- I gave up after the first episode. See more
andrew t @RT56858835 Nov 19, 2020 Outstanding. Sean Ben's character, and the depiction of his inner turmoil, was utterly compelling, and deeply moving. See more
Sep 14, 2017 This is an excellent series and a must-see for all Sean Bean fans. See more
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Broken — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ashley Pearce

Director

Sean Bean

Father Michael Kerrigan

Anna Friel

Christina Fitzsimmons

Naomi Radcliffe

Pauline Pickering

Aoife McMahon

Young Michael's Mother

Eileen Nicholas

Rosie Lunt

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 30, 2017 Father Michael reaches out to a troubled parishioner, a single mother-of-three, who is badly struggling for money after a series of unfortunate events but she rejects his attempts to help. The woman's mother then dies suddenly. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 6, 2017 Father Michael counsels an enigmatic woman, while a devoted mother is desperate for Father Michael's help when her mentally-ill son experiences a psychotic episode. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 13, 2017 With the community in shock, Father Michael comforts PC Powell, who is being pressured to back up his colleagues' questionable version of events. Details Episode 3 Airs undefined Episode 3 Father Michael Kerrigan, a modern, but maverick, Catholic priest, juggles parochial problems with personal challenges as he presides over his tight-knit Northern urban parish. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 20, 2017 Father Michael risks breaking the seal of confession as he tries to help Roz Demichelis, while his childhood flashbacks intensify as his mother's condition deteriorates. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 27, 2017 Father Michael has to mediate when Helen's devout brother, Daniel, clashes violently with her gay neighbor, Carl, as all try to come to terms with Vernon's death. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 4, 2017 Father Michael confesses to a shocked Helen, Chloe wreaks a devastating revenge and, on her deathbed, Father Michael's mother finally makes peace with her son and herself. Details

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Broken — Season 1

Broken Broken Broken Broken View more photos

Season Info

Director
Ashley Pearce
Executive Producer
Sean Bean
Screenwriter
Jimmy McGovern, Nick Leather
Network
BBC
Genre
Drama, Faith & Spirituality
Original Language
British English
Release Date
May 30, 2017
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