Hidden Depths

By chance, ITV3 in the UK began Vera from the start on 04JAN2021, showing the first episode of Vera just after the first-ever episode of "Wycliffe" so that we could compare 2010 coppering to 1994 coppering.

First episode; Vera is a bit cranky until we work out that her father has died (she will take over his ancient LandRover tomorrow night in S01Ep02!) and the distinctive Vera-mobile will emerge.

This show clearly had potential from the start - which has been expanded and exploited over the intervening near-decade. Watch the scenery, enjoy her witty one-liners and marvel at the characterisations. A good ensemble cast is assembled (which has changed and evolved over the years).

Well worth two hours of your time on a cold winter's evening.

DCI Vera Stanhope and her Sergeant, Joe Ashworth are called in to investigate a suspicious death, plenty of suspects, and plenty of people who are hiding something.

I think the series gets off to a flyer with this episode, it's gritty, intriguing and beautifully acted, anything Blethyn touches seems to turn to gold, it is little wonder that the show is set for an eighth series. A sensible move to have a strong, well known actress from the North East in the opener, and Gina McKee is brilliant, her scenes with Blethyn in particular are excellent.

A lot is done to mask the identity of the killer, so the viewer is given a clever mystery to solve. It also explores life and death, one life is welcomed in as Joe and Seline's newborn baby is welcomed in, while another, Vera's father is put to rest.

A quality start 8/10

I feel like there were a lot of scenes cut. Blunt cut-aways and plot points missing. Weird first episode, but will stick with it since they've continued with this series. Some harsh dynamics between the characters and find it hard to believe they can all work with each other. For first introductions, it was rough to watch.

How is it her subordinate, Joe Ashworth - and later DS Aden Healey, are able to cheek her? Everyone else in the office has to kowtow to her or fear her wrath!! But both of these young men are able to practically tell her off. I'm sure in a real room full of cops, if this kind of thing went on there would be complaints of discrimination!!!

This first episode introduces Brenda Blethyn's Vera as a curmudgeonly but determined detective inspector in the sparse north east landscape. She is muddling on after the recent death of her father whom she might not had always got on with.

Gina McKee plays a distraught mother whose son is found drowned just a few months after his friend was also found drowned. When a woman teacher is found dead, Vera thinks that the deaths are somehow linked especially by the way the bodies are laid out surrounded by flowers

Vera is assisted by her younger partner Sergeant Joe Ashworth (David Leon) both think a group of bird watching friends might hold a clue to the deaths.

An interesting starter with a few guest stars such as Murray Head playing a philandering professor. Maybe the episode tried too hard to disguise the actual culprit.