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VERA heads up

64 replies

species5618 · 15/01/2023 15:10

New Vera episode tonight on ITV (actually the unaired final episode of series 11 from last year)
Series 12 starts at the end of January.

OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 13/02/2023 20:19

This series the stories seem to have the same themes / structue.

And am getting very bored, and not in tune with her character, that at the end of each episodes Vera does some kind act for a young person.

I wonder why her character isn't being given more development. So maybe she has changed from her early anti social days, but at least we got tit bits about her past that explained things a bit. Now its just the same sort of scenes / ecounters repeated each episode.

AutisticLegoLover · 13/02/2023 20:46

It is a bit dull isn't it. There's no danger or intrigue and Aiden serves no purpose. He's gone very scruffy too with someone having stolen his razor. There's no jokes at Kenny's dodgy dating history. Jac is boring, Mark is boring. In fact they are all pretty boring. Where's the one from the records office who was sweet on Vera? The new ME is rubbish too. No chemistry with Vera.
Is the service medal thing a sign things are coming to an end?
Plus why is her house in the hills now on the coast?
I've enjoyed 2 of the books now. Much better.

IwantToRetire · 13/02/2023 21:17

Yes you are right, everyone is now just a vague shadow of who they once were. It's like they've given up on any sort of back stories. And this wouldn't matter if the detectiving bit was better, not always first the red herrings, then the real catch.

duc748 · 13/02/2023 21:40

Have to agree, it's all gone very two-dimensional.

UsingChangeofName · 14/02/2023 22:17

Apart from anything else, the change of ITV Catch up to ITVX means each programme is full of adverts that I never used to have to watch on Virgin media catch up.
With the series being less engaging than previous ones, this might be the end for me. I've just watched S12 Ep1 and don't feel like bothering with the others.

duc748 · 20/02/2023 11:19

I didn't bother with last night's, and there's no pile of posts here telling me I was wrong... 😋

TheAdmiralAndFishermanFavorEntirelyDifferentPies · 20/02/2023 11:59

It's like they've got new writers who've never watched the earlier series and were never given the cast's back stories.

IwantToRetire · 20/02/2023 15:28

Last night's episode was much better that the previous ones since it re-started.

So without giving any spoilers for those who haven't watched it, not sure I remember all the Vera family members who cropped up in this episode, but I am really bad at remembering details. (I wish they would do this consistently across episodes and develop it more.)

I think the balance was better between the actual investigation, the usual office "jokes", the fleshing out of the personality of the new pathologist, and Vera being a lit more like her old self.

I have only just realised that episodes are written by different people "based" on the books. So in future will check who has written each episode, as I think those who wrote 1-3 of series 12 just didn't bother to understand and though a few cliched asides would pass as being in character.

So still not Happy Valley but IMO much better this episode.

UsingChangeofName · 20/02/2023 16:07

Oh, that's good to know.

One thing I do like about Vera is the range of people they cast, and that they often include people with disabilities without their disability being the focus of the storyline.

I don't like the repetitive "Get your coat Aiden" line, and the fact he is reduced to someone who just follows her about, putting the shoe covers on, having her take his food or drinks, and never actually doing any detective work. He must be the best paid personal assistant but must be very frustrated at never actually being able to ever do any detective work.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 20/02/2023 17:58

I thought this week's was the best of the series so far. I like the ones that show the Northumberland countryside, villages, big houses etc. A moderately credible outcome too, and tied back to Vera's early life. I do agree poor Aidan does very little for his money.

Bsmirched · 20/02/2023 18:15

Last night's episode was the first for a long time that was based on one of the books.

AutisticLegoLover · 20/02/2023 18:44

I'm going to watch tonight or tomorrow on catch up. I hope it's better than the previous boring one. And I hope Aiden has had s shave. Scruffy get.

daffodilandtulip · 20/02/2023 19:09

I actually thought she'd been shot! I've read she wants to stop doing Vera and I thought that was it 🤣

IwantToRetire · 20/02/2023 21:15

Last night's episode was the first for a long time that was based on one of the books.

Well that explains why it had a bit more depth.

Am now beginning to think a spin off series called the Stanhope Family saga could be really interesting. Set in 50s or whatever, period clothes, nice scenary, family dramas, or are was Vera's childhood so shitty it would just be depressing.

AutisticLegoLover · 21/02/2023 21:37

Just watching now and I'm about 25 mins it. So far it's much better than previously this series.

AutisticLegoLover · 22/02/2023 16:20

I really enjoyed the latest episode. So much better than the others. Vera had plenty of sass, Aiden still looked scruffy but actually did something although Jac, Marc and Kenny do more than Aiden it seems. They are the ones who do the actual detecting.

PerilousErection · 24/03/2023 11:23

Aidan is leaving! Who is going to put her footsies on now?

Ambertonix · 24/03/2023 11:35

@PerilousErection Lol, that was my very first thought when i saw that!!

AutisticLegoLover · 24/03/2023 11:50

Mine too 🤣

PerilousErection · 30/03/2023 11:36

Now Jac's jumped ship. Does this mean Kenny gets an automatic bump up to bootie guy?

AutisticLegoLover · 30/03/2023 11:36

At least Kenny has personality.

PerilousErection · 30/03/2023 11:50

AutisticLegoLover · 30/03/2023 11:36

At least Kenny has personality.

I get the impression Vera would be feeding him to the pigs if she had to work more closely with him than she usually does though.

PerilousErection · 30/03/2023 11:54

And Joe is coming back

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 30/03/2023 12:04

PerilousErection · 30/03/2023 11:54

And Joe is coming back

Excellent news. I missed David Leon when he left.

AutisticLegoLover · 30/03/2023 12:13

@PerilousErection very true. He's annoying but at least he knows how to detect. Jac was annoying in her way. No personality there either. In fact not many innit have a personality. The pathologist was great. Not keen on the new one. Maybe everyone else is crap to highlight Vera's cranky personality?

The books are much better.