Vera: Set 2

Northumberland Masterpiece
Filmed as if Vermeer's paintings darkly came to life, in clouded northern light with nuanced shades of human emotion, "Vera: Set 2" is a tremendous visual and imaginative treat. Always superb, Brenda Blethyn is the driving, elemental force that is Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope: salt of the earth. Blethyn's face is as expressive and interesting as the blustery northern English landscape, weathering storms of conflict within and without. DCI Vera Stanhope's unresolved pathos over her lonely life, the loss of her father, and a mother she barely knew, underline the narrative. Slugging down whisky under sullen clouds, Vera once declared that solitude is not for the faint-hearted. In the U.K., theater, movie, and television productions value actors who are robustly, deeply human, and provide venues like this series that share this wealth of talent. Northumberland is another character, its rolling hills and rough coastline, the heavy line of the sea, castle ruins, and towns hit...

Character Study Extraordinaire
Detective Vera Stanhope has...issues. You pick up on them quietly, because Vera is as likely to use them to her advantage as not. She's a cuddly-looking motherly type who calls you "Dearie" and "love". But don't you be taken in. If you're a crook, she'll obsess over your infractions so intensely that you haven't got a prayer. If you're her colleague, well....you're in for a rough ride.

You'll recognize plump middle-aged Brenda Blethyn from films such as the Knightly Pride and Prejudice, where her scatterbrained, pale fluffy boule de suif of a Mrs. Bennett almost redirected the entire picture. Here, she's like your concerned, chipper landlady, pouring you tea before she gets the razor out and redoes your face. She's magic. It's absolutely unexpected.

But all is not well in either her heart or a shivery Northumberland. Daddy did some of the damage. So did the force. Her dishy sidekick colleague, who wants to avoid the almost clichéd failed cop...

Good gritty VERA suspense gets even better in set 2
DCI Vera is rough, untidy, obsessed, but softens a bit in Set 2. She's a female Columbo. Her health is showing her age. But she's a determined sleuth. This new series has four episodes [WITH SUBTITLES] each a bit longer than the previous season. Teens and older recommended due to violent disturbing scenes. The characterss are adapted after mystery novels by Ann Cleeves. The Northumberland filming locale, also the story settings, (the same place as Catherine Cookson stories) is delightful. Cases are as violent as the country is beautiful. Vera's tough enough for the job, most days.

Brenda Blethyn (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) as Vera, convincingly leads the team. DS Joe (David Leon) is the young family man and Vera's assistant. His wife joins this series in 3 episodes and is played by Sonya Cassidy. Forensics and some very funny dialogue is covered by Cartwright (Paul Ritter). DC Kenny (Jon Morrison) also returns as an older team member. DC Holly returns but lasts only...

Click to Editorial Reviews