"RIP" Vera?

I only realised how long its been on when i remembered my late mum saying she couldnt come over as "Vera's on" (was probably quite new back then?) But my mum passed away 24 yrs ago.

I think Brenda Blethyn's great though and hope she may continue on tv no matter what show she's in.

icanhandthemback

I think that the book didn't translate as well to tv. It was a good book with characters who were well explained. It gave a lot of background to Vera's character and the series just didn't give the opportunity to develop all the other characters.

I totally agree. The book was excellent and had a depth the TV adaptation just couldn't replicate. I still love Vera, happy to ignore the inaccuracies

I think the reason Call the Midwives is still current (not a crime series i know but still enjoyable drama) is because its basically one main group (nuns & midwives- & same dr & fred- others have been woven in (their family/friends) but without overshadowing the same main characters- and adding some only as a one- off storyline appearance- so every week we know we will still see that basic group of the main players.And build on those.Its so sucessful its been commisioned for another 2 series i believe. Which just shows that if the writers can be bothered to create new stories the stuff we enjoy can be continued a lot longer.

Yes same with towards the end of New tricks- it was at least the last four or five episodes where it was "oh it was an accident" and yet then the investigators dont even seem to try and prove if it definitely was one way or another- they just accept it!- shame that show went downhill a bit when they started to change the main characters to new ones- all good, but somehow it just did not work as well.Its the same with Vera- when it was just her and her main 'sidekick' plus maybe the older guy who she ordered off to do menial jobs it was much better i thought..Once a show starts to introduce a miriad of other lesser characters it changes the dynamic.That spoils it for me.

We are fans, however despite all the likely suspects in an episode the culprit is exposed in the last few minutes without any other previous hints.
Not just Vera others too.

Greyduster

I didn’t realise there was a series 12 of Vera. Where can I watch it? It’s not on ITV hub.

It’s on ITVX, formerly the itv hub.

Yes i love Vera- i did'nt realise last weeks was very last one? If it was it was not obvious and that seems to leave it all a bit 'open- ended' if you ask me.(same as the loose-ends finish on Happy valley) I dont remember Jackie ever dying either so i hope i havent missed one? But yes the stories were getting a bit predictable..As for Endeavour i've never taken to it so don't watch but the couple of episodes i watched at very beginning were not a patch on morse- which i presumed it was of his 'early days'?Most of the crime stuff follow a typical pattern though i think- the one most helpful is usually the killer as they try in vain to steer the police away from themselves- amusing in that respect.It used to be just an ITV thing to leave series or endings 'unfinished' to some extent- BBC usually seems to end things neatly (just rewatched all series of New Tricks) so you know its done and what's the outcome and where they're all moving on to.(But not so Happy Valley?) I prefer that though so you're not left thinking "so what happened with such&such?"🤔

I love it. No criticism from me.

I was quoting argymargy

"ooh I got a bit cross and I never meant to kill him but oops it happened and of course I tried to cover it up"
I think it catches the feeling that someone would have if they found themselves in this position. The feeling of despairing hopelessness if you didn't mean to do it, but feeling you would have to do it again to avoid getting caught.

i have watched several on the I player. 2 hours of relaxing and knitting. great stories i dont struggle to concentrate on. ther are not usually too many characters for me to need to keep track off . I like Vera being a little bit fiesty

I think that the book didn't translate as well to tv. It was a good book with characters who were well explained. It gave a lot of background to Vera's character and the series just didn't give the opportunity to develop all the other characters.

annodomini

As the title implies, this could well be the last series of Vera, but she will hardly be able to RIP as long as there are repeats of repeats on ITV3.

They are already filming the next series.

I caught B.B. recently in an old Maigret series, as a french nightclub owner. She was excellent. I have also seen her on stage in a Restoration Comedy, where she stood out.
She has a few more years if they don't run her around too much.

I watched the last episode last night. It was good. I thought my mum would have loved Vera but she didn't get any of it.

As the title implies, this could well be the last series of Vera, but she will hardly be able to RIP as long as there are repeats of repeats on ITV3.

Yes I always think that about how quick she can get from holy island to Newcastle georgesgran hilarious. But as we all say in Geordie land ‘ she’s a canny lass’ it’s a programme we all like long may she reign!

I didn’t realise there was a series 12 of Vera. Where can I watch it? It’s not on ITV hub.

But Vera always had a very predictable pattern. Someone is killed, we go through all the obvious people it might be and then at the end decide on a very minor character as the killer. It was very comforting, I havent seen the most recent one, have they messed with the pattern

Floradora9

argymargy

I just think the last couple have had the killer turn out to be a bit unbelievable in terms of motive. I think I read the entire Agatha Christie works when I was younger and although you knew it would be the person you least suspected, there was always a genuine motive. Not just "ooh I got a bit cross and I never meant to kill him but oops it happened and of course I tried to cover it up"

The last episode was straight from the book by Ann Cleaves not written for TV but adapted from her book.

That's interesting about the last one. Tho I had thought, "its him" earlier, he ws so nasty...

Well I haven’t seen the final episode yet so I’m very glad to hear it’s a proper Anne Cleeves one. I’m excited about Endeavour but like others I did think it had come to its natural end last series. Apart from being sniffy about the plots, I love everything else about Vera and these programmes that showcase the different regions of our wonderful country and our fantastic actors!

I have enjoyed the first two, two-part episodes. However, the most recent one, involving Vera's long lost ultra rich, ultra posh family, and the murder of a young woman, was absolutely ridiculous.

Vera is brilliant and I think it is better to end a series before it becomes silly.

I agree about Brenda Blethyn as an actor. She was brilliant in Secrets and Lies. I even liked her recent sitcom, set in a seaside cafe, that was slated by the critics and has since been de-commissioned. I thought it was good old-fashioned fun.

Retirement age in the police, unless Superintendent or above, is 60. Poor old Vera must be at least 70 and BB is even older. Give the poor woman a rest 🤣

For those fans of Brenda Blethyn - have you watched the 1996 Mike Leigh film "Secrets and Lies"?

I think her performance was absolutely outstanding. British cinema at its very best.

argymargy

I just think the last couple have had the killer turn out to be a bit unbelievable in terms of motive. I think I read the entire Agatha Christie works when I was younger and although you knew it would be the person you least suspected, there was always a genuine motive. Not just "ooh I got a bit cross and I never meant to kill him but oops it happened and of course I tried to cover it up"

The last episode was straight from the book by Ann Cleaves not written for TV but adapted from her book.