To think that Vera is the worst crime drama of our age?

[MorrisZapp]

I love a cosy ITV procedural, and happily go along with the expositional dialogue and hoary old stereotyped characters but fuck my old boots this is unwatchable stuff.

Tinkly 'suspense' music, mugging to camera, and her grating voice drove me over to Grand Designs by the second ad break. I believe it's on season 11, so clearly it's a much loved show in some quarters.

YABU - how dare you, I love watching detectives two decades past retirement age turn up and call a corpse 'pet'

YANBU - it used to be finely nuanced, edgy stuff but I feel it's lost it's way somewhat

Great crime drama. I think brenda blethyn is brilliant as Vera.
I've watched them all currently watching the new season.
Thanks for this thread you've inspired me to start binge watching from season one.

I love rosemary and thyme too perhaps a little more for the scenery it's so beautiful wished they'd made more seasons but sadly it was not to be.

Looking forward to British crime drama manhunt with Martin clunes another brilliant actor I love watching.

I completely agree with you. Her voice is so annoying too.

And I don't know why there has to be 25 TV and film versions of every Agatha Christie book out there. There are Campions and Wimseys crying out to be made/remade.

YANBU. My DM loves it, but I just think it’s a bit crap, and Brenda Blethyn overdoes it.

It’s no Inspector Morse, that’s for sure...

I can't stand Morse, it's so dated now and Morse himself is actually quite horrible to women all the time. Endeavour is ok, before he turned into a nasty sexist old git

Even Lewis is better than Morse and that has total numpty Laurence Fox in it.

Father Brown and Grantchester are the same thing except one is CofE and one RC. That's it. It's exactly the same otherwise. Scenery ✅ housekeeper ✅ sidekick ✅ useless policeman ✅

I wondered about that, but Vera has such natural authority that she can probably control the tides. grin

I only noticed last week she crossed the causeway I thought get Vera on tidal shifts

@HarebrightCedarmoon

I can't stand Morse, it's so dated now and Morse himself is actually quite horrible to women all the time. Endeavour is ok, before he turned into a nasty sexist old git

Yep I like Endeavour better than Morse. Can't watch Lewis any more as it brings on a round of shouting at the TV because of Lawrence Fox.

Mcdonald and Dobbs was good it has Jason Watkins in it set in Bath it was 2 2 hour programmes should be on ITV hub, its not challenging and is cosy.

Actually might be Dodds

I love Vera. The filming locations are mostly stunning and add to tjr atmosphere. DH can't stand her. Says 'aww ave yer bin stabbed pet?' In the most awful ne accent

I only watch it for Paul Kaye, I know, weird taste in men but there you go :)

"Ave you been stabbed pet" 😂

@HarebrightCedarmoon

And I don't know why there has to be 25 TV and film versions of every Agatha Christie book out there. There are Campions and Wimseys crying out to be made/remade.

Yes there was a Campion series featuring Peter Davison many years ago, I remember it being pretty good. Lord Peter, YES PLEASE, bring it on.

Also, never mind Miss Marple, Miss Silver wielded a mean pair of knitting needles.

Grantchester started well but couldn't keep up the quality. Not even "so bad it was good", just so bad it was bad.The books are awful too.

I bloody love Vera.

@NapoleonOzmolysis

Father Brown and Grantchester are the same thing except one is CofE and one RC. That's it. It's exactly the same otherwise. Scenery ✅ housekeeper ✅ sidekick ✅ useless policeman ✅

James Norton (and Robson thingy for us old birds)

Um... Father Brown?

YABU, definitely.

Talking of Peter Wimsey, they did a good version a few years ago with Edward Petherbridge. They could do with being re-shown.

@HarebrightCedarmoon

I can't stand Morse, it's so dated now and Morse himself is actually quite horrible to women all the time. Endeavour is ok, before he turned into a nasty sexist old git

The books are worse. I read half of one once, Morse visited a strip club on his lunch hour. All the posh bits were put in for the telly. So fond of the late John Thaw though, he reminds me of my dad.

Talking of cosy detective stuff, my secret pleasure is Shakespeare and Hathaway. Totally non-challenging, but entertaining, and I love Sebastian.

I've been watching the latest offerings of Vera but tbh if you've watched one you've watched them all.

It all feels a bit old and tired and frankly a bit depressing. It's not a programme that I'll rewatch episodes of.

Midsomer murders though, I'll happily sit through every episode several times.

It's light and silly and not to be taken at all seriously. It always feels like the cast act it with their tongues firmly in their cheeks.

Perfect for a lazing evening's viewing.

Somebody upthread mentioned McDonald & Dobbs; brilliant stuff, loved it.

Likewise Professor T. Really quirky, with a very dark edge.

Newsflash but she's just within retirement age, but who doesn't love a bit of ageism before lunch. Or because she's female and old, should she not be on television or in work?

As usual, someone manages to enjoy all the indignation without grasping any of the point.

The OP didn’t say she had any issues with watching an older actress. Neither did anyone else. There are brilliant older actresses out there. It’s about realism. Police officers typically retire in their early fifties. Do you really think there is a hidden swarm of 75 year-old serving DCIs out there? Newsflash - there isn’t.

@Chikapu

Brenda Blethyn is awful in it but it's not the worst crime drama ever, surely Rosemary and Thyme takes that honour!

Have you seen the French and Saunders spoof, ‘Sausages and Mash’? It’s genius

@hippychick10

The dreadful accent she puts on is utterly horrendous and it's for this reason alone I cannot watch it!

Exactly this. I can't bear it.