Vera: The Final Season #TVReview #BriFri
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Last week, I reviewed a new detective mini-series, The Jetty. Tina reviewed a classic book, The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico.
Vera, a police procedural series featuring an aging female detective, ran for 14 seasons. The final season aired in 2025 with just two episodes to wrap up the long arcs of the story, while setting up a future for younger characters.
Over the years, Vera has been shown in the US on Hulu, Prime, and BritBox. The TV show was based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by Ann Cleeves. The success of Vera resulted in the TV adaptation of another series by the same author, Shetland.
The title character was played by Brenda Blethyn who is currently age 79. She started the role at retirement age! And then, just kept going for 14 years. She’s a role model, for me, of staying engaged.
By TwentiethApril1986 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Kevin Whately (Morse, Inspector Lewis) made an appearance in the final season. It was fun to see two actors from long-running detective series work together.
The final two episodes contained excellent mysteries with terrific scenes. I particularly enjoyed the last episode that was mostly set in the countryside of northeast England and included an annual village event called a “witch hunt.”
Northumberland and Newcastle upon Tyne are settings that shine in Vera. BritBox is streaming a documentary about the final season called Vera: Farewell, Pet. I learned from that series that filming of the whole show happened in a studio in Newcastle and in the surrounding areas. That means that Vera has been a big employer of local talent — everything from the technical crew to local actors.
Are you a fan of Vera?
I haven’t seen the final shows yet but I have enjoyed past episodes. The countryside is terrific and the plots are interesting.
I was a fan of the Vera books, love a good mystery. That’s so interesting about where they filmed and how they employed so much local talent.
I enjoyed the last two episodes of Vera earlier this year, and I just read the first of the Shetland mysteries this weekend. Definitely a fan!
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I so enjoyed Vera! Thnak you for linking your review.
I binged the entire run of Vera during the winter and loved every moment! Brenda Blethyn is a role model for me, as well. The question now is–what next? I have Britbox and am working my way through their entire selection but if you have a suggestion for a binge-worthy series–I am all ears. What better escape from troubled times that British murder mysteries?
When we finished Vera, we started watching the most recent season of Shetland. That’s Season 9, so there’s a lot to catch up on.
Silent Witness has been going for 27 seasons!
Death in Paradise is a bit parody, but the mysteries are pretty good. I also like the spinoff, Beyond Paradise.
BritBox also has some classics that I enjoyed in the past: The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Inspector Morse, New Tricks, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Miss Marple, Cadfael. My husband is watching Father Brown.
I am actually read a Vera book right now–The Darkest Evening–and I am recommitting myself to finally watching Vera…all 14 seasons. Yes, both Vera and Brenda are role model material!