Vera (TV Series) Against the Tide (2023) User Reviews

A sign of the times, strong episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 8 February 2023]

Vera investigates the murder of Council worker Frank, who's body is found in a boat near a Lighthouse.

The biggest mystery, is Kenny going to get out of that chair in the corner of the room .... I jest of course, the question, who killed Frank?

Very good, a very strong storyline, a particularly sad one, quite relevant for the current time. Blethyn was excellent here of course, but when isn't she. The conclusion didn't perhaps fine as the biggest surprise, but it was well played out.

A real shame that this was Malcolm's final episode, I mistakenly thought the previous episode was his swansong, that was here, he'll be missed, he was very good, he came through strongly.

I loved seeing Samantha Spiro here, definitely one of my favourite actresses, so glad to see her here, and she was excellent, I enjoyed the scenes of her and Vera sparring.

8/10.

Against the Tide

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 20 February 2023]

Paul Kaye's final episode as Dr Malcolm Donahue. Can't really blame him for scarpering. Always being asked stupid questions by someone who joined the force when Dixon of Dock Green was still pounding the beat.

The body of council licensing inspector Frank Channing is found with a blunt force trauma.

Vera hears conflicting views about Frank. He was a loving husband and father. Only Frank has separated from his wife.

He was popular with colleagues but someone had initiated a complaint against him. This might have been linked with an off the books investigation Frank was doing. About a bus company that was overworking its employees and covering it up. Especially in light of a bus driver who fell asleep in the wheel which led to a fatality.

As par for the course. Everyone Vera and her colleagues interview are not completely truthful. So they need to be re interviewed and this time they are more forthcoming.

It was obvious that the shifty department head would be involved with the bus company contracts.

The motive for the murder was weak and I really did not buy the relationship. Even after the murderer's wife seemed to have strongly intimated that her husband must be bisexual.

Boring motive

[SunnyDaise · 5/10 · 5 February 2023]

I was enjoying this episode ... until the really boring motive was revealed. However, at least Vera and I both had the same reaction of no sympathy - often the show is written to be sympathetic to even the killer, which I do usually like, but obviously glad it wasn't here. Thankfully, the final scenes were beautiful and rounded the show off nicely, so it didn't feel quite such a dud. I wouldn't bother watching it again though. I love the regulars, but the mysteries go over the same issues too many times, that they get a bit tedious / predictable. There is quite a bit of humour in this edition, so that helped.