A sharp detective with a messy life, DCI Vera Stanhope patrols her “patch” of northeast England, pursuing the truth in cases of murder, kidnapping, and blackmail. Vera is obsessive about her work and faces the world with caustic wit, guile and courage.
Documentary examining the appeal of ITV's detective drama, Vera, as it comes to an end after 13 years. Brenda Blethyn reflects on her time as DCI Vera Stanhope, and talks about the camaraderie and joy of working on the show. Featuring…
Episode 2. The Rising Tide - Christmas Special 2023
2023-12-26 · 89 min
The apparent suicide of a disgraced television personality sees Vera heading to Holy Island to look into the case.
Series 1
4 episodes · 2011
Episode 1. Hidden Depths
2011-05-01 · 90 min
After two young people are killed in the same way - placed in water and surrounded by flowers - DCI Vera Stanhope knows that she must catch the murderer before they strike again. Aided by her team, especially her trusted right-hand man…
Episode 2. Telling Tales
2011-05-08 · 90 min
After Jeanie Long commits suicide, evidence comes to light exonerating her for the murder of teenager Abigail Mantel 11 years earlier. DCI Vera Stanhope and her team set out to retrospectively solve the killing, delving into the secrets…
Episode 3. The Crow Trap
2011-05-15 · 90 min
When a woman is murdered in the remote Northumbrian countryside, DCI Vera Stanhope is led back to a place from her past. As she and her team investigate, they uncover shadowy liaisons, conflicting sympathies and hidden injustices.
Episode 4. Little Lazarus
2011-05-22 · 90 min
Last in the series of the detective drama based on the novels by Ann Cleeves. DI Vera Stanhope rescues a young boy from a freezing pond after he escapes from a violent attack which left his mother dead. As Vera and her team investigate…
This series would have been a lot more likeable were it not for a thread of, at times, waspish, establishment political correctness.
Dear old working class bobby Vera isn't quite what she seems. In spite of her salt of the earth pretensions, she's a vehicle for some often pretty blatant establishment rhetoric.
In one instance she scolds two hard up young boys for illegally sub letting their flat. Vera opines about the the "poor tax man" not getting his cut. All of which, ignores the abject poverty in the UK and the incredible waste of public money, on things like military spending.
On the upside this series is competently produced and capably acted. Stories are your standard Brit crime fare. Nothing special but moderately watchable.
In summary, "Vera" would have worked a lot better without the establishment pandering but still has enough on offer to represent a reasonable watch.
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