Broken Promise

A much better episode than we have seen in a while with characters you can care about, a strong storyline and Vera's humour and detriment for influential solicitors and the like shining through. The usual twists and turns are there right to the end. The only downside for me us this seems to be the episode where weird camera angles are introduced, detracting the viewer from the storyline.

The cinematography in this 7th season has definitely gotten more artistic, especially with the segues between scenes. Many shots of plastic sheets and fragments thereof, seemed to be making an underlying statement about mood of the episode.

Vera seemed to be more determined than ever to get to the bottom of why the victim died. She wasn't going to be stopped by technicalities of the law or university instructions or rules. She wasn't going to let things fall through the cracks on this case, even if it took standing up to a high priced attorney or high-minded ex-police officer.

A Student makes a vlog about the poverty associated with being a student later, some hours later he falls through the window of a derelict part of the University to his death, but did he jump or was he pushed?

This is another quality mystery, it's a very deep and measured mystery. It's a very clever plot, with some excellent, well rounded characters, you are left wondering until the end.

I love the funny lines between Vera and Aiden, she definitely treats this one better than his predecessor.

As good for the eyes as well as the brain, the visuals of the surrounding area are stunning.

The writer definitely got the message about student debt and the spiralling cost of an education out. Vera has never been political, nor used as a vehicle for social opinions, this one did to some extent, in a good way.

Engrossing. 9/10

I really liked the lighting in this episode. The director and the cinematographer has spent a lot of time establishing some of the arty shots.

Northumberland University student, Jamie Marshall records a ranting Vlog and then supposedly throws himself of a disused faculty building.

Vera investigates the death and finds out that Jamie might not all he seems to be. As a university security guard and a building surveyor are reluctant for the police to go up the dilapidated building to investigate, sets off alarm bells in Vera.

Vera discovers that Jamie uncovered a scam regarding the refurbishment of the building which would cost the university millions.

However Jamie also knew that his father was involved in a hit and run death some years earlier, the victim's father was a bouncy castle owner who Jamie had contacted. Then there is a rugby player who seems to be unduly upset at Jamie's death whose father is a well known lawyer. The suspects mount up.

There was a lot of plot strands here which sets the mystery up nicely and one of the stronger episodes in the seventh series.

This episode was very well written, not just because of the plot but the emotions that all suspects carry in their minds especially the young man who's death is being investigated. Father-son relationships become leitmotif. Vera is powerful and faces the boys (not just her team, all of them) like thunder! The powerful lawyer-father last line is brilliant. Recommended for sure.