Vera (TV Series) Fast Love (2024) User Reviews

Quality episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 11 January 2024]

Danny, a young market trader is hit by a car, after a night out with his fellow traders, and left for dead. Vera investigates, but Aiden has gone for a life down under, and a well known face from the past returns, but will he help, or hinder?

One of the best episodes of Vera for a little while, I really did rate this one. A dramatic opening sequence, the return of a familiar face, and a bit of a change up in proceedings.

So well written, tightly plotted, clever, and fresh, I hope the rest of the series continues on this form.

I liked the nod to both Aiden and Jac, both deservedly had a couple of mentions, Aiden will be very much missed.

This was always going to be about the return of Joe Ashworth, and if you were expecting hugs, flowers and sweet memories, think again, unexpectedly frosty, so interesting. The friction between Vera and Joe, I liked that.

The shakeup allowed the likes of Mark, Steph and Kenny to have a bit more to do, seeing Kenny out from behind his desk was almost a shock.

Very nice performances all round, I always enjoy seeing Amit Shah, he's so good, one of those actors (no spoilers) who you see and shout, 'it's him!' Stephen Lord and Bryan Dick also stood out.

9/10.

A Welcome Cast Shake-up for Season 13

[Yekatman · 9/10 · 22 January 2024]

Vera had seemed a bit stale the past season or two. Aiden never seemed to develop as a character, and Vera's interactions with the other members of her team were predictable and uninspired.

As this first episode of Season 13 opened my wife and I had been commenting how Joe Ashworth's departure had left a bit of a hole in the show, when lo and behold, he shows up! Before long Joe has Kenny opening up about their boss, and he also manages to draw out other characters on their feelings about working in the office who had seemed one-dimensional in earlier episodes.

We look forward to seeing how the relationship between Joe and Vera evolves given Joe's higher stature now.

Mix of emotions

[hazangel-89910 · 8/10 · 28 February 2024]

Not sure where to start. I was really looking forward to seeing Joe come back. I honestly felt that he and Vera had a wonderful connection during the initial episodes/series 1-4.

I never could warm up to Aiden. He felt...stiff. I cant really describe it any better. Joe felt like family. That is why it was so disappointing seeing him come back with a bit of an attitude. Until he explained further.

As hard butt as Vera is it is hard not to feel bad for her. I think her heart was broken when Joe seemed to be gunning for her. It will make for great future episodes for sure.

I'm looking forward to seeing more from Steph. So far I think I like her more than any prior detectives. I saw a little look between her and Mark. Perhaps there will be a workplace romance? And hopefully they will all get more screen time. Old faithful Kenny is still hanging around. He is a solid fixture and that is comforting.

I am still catching up on prior seasons (currently on season 8) but I had to jump ahead to see the return of Joe.

I still think the episodes are too long but that is just a minor gripe.

A Fresh Welcome

[applebuttered · 9/10 · 2 March 2024]

I believe it goes unsaid. When a certain integral character gets written out the show it never feels the same and it was no different for David Leon after his S4 leave. But in the case of Vera, it wasn't only the show but the character that was affected as well, as the little we were given in a slow drip about the detective that was only given out through her relationship with Joe (she's not the transparent nor open talkative type of person, and certainly not about herself). The interest in the dynamic between the two was helped by the intense connection shared with the actors behind Vera and her OG partner. Or, depending how you look at it, that very connection is what made continuing the show without David that little less appealing. Because I watched the show for Vera and Brenda's excellent performance as her I kept my stand, but even for her stellar work as the older detective it couldn't make up for what was a very felt gap in her character that no longer had her first partner. By contrast, the effortless chemistry between Brenda and David was instead replaced with a dynamic that wasn't terribly boring to watch, but it was written in a way that I can't find a way to describe other than arms length. Vera and Adian were respectable enough, even friendly but not much more than that and whether it was different behind the scenes we don't know but it felt the same through the character's respective actors on screen. In addition to this, whether it be by the writers' intentions or not Vera's character suffered and the little we given about her through Joe was halted with Aidan. Indeed, it would feel inappropriate for her *to* open up to him in such a way giving the way they interacted.

With Joe's return, the chemistry is the same but the dynamic is a bit different as it has been some time since he departed and David plays Joe's clear but subtle maturity perfectly. And Vera is not only the same old Vera - but the Old Vera: the Vera we know to always have an exclusive soft spot for Joe whether she realizes and wants to or not. But even for that, because of Joe's new (and higher ranking) position she clearly needs some time to adjust to his matured personality. Joe could always "step out of line" in their previous dynamic; pushing Vera's buttons to get her out of her comfort zone and even bluntly tell her the truth at times, things that only he would be allowed to do. But mostly, he would be sure to stay in line and acquiesce to her demanding character like the rest of the team. This time, while he is still of lower rank of her, his position and age make him press a bit harder against her demands with a gentle rivalry she isn't familiar with. Her immediate animosity towards this attitude is obvious and in typical Vera manner she dismisses his presence, which in turn makes Joe want to keep a fine distance between their previous emotional relationship and maintain their professional relationship (if not a bit more coldly), but they both have too much history to maintain such a relationship and you quickly see it it become the truth. And naturally, Brenda and David play this through subtle excellency the entire episode long. In just one episode the writers have kicked off one of the main appeals of the show to a strong start and I have no means to think that the cusp of what was shown won't be explored more in the next two episodes of the season, as well as the upcoming confirmed S14.

Fast Love

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 11 January 2024]

The title might be a riff of a George Michael song. Danny Meddon works in a Newcastle market stall. One evening after drinking in a pub he walks home. Danny is run over by a car while walking across a bridge in a quiet country lane. It seems he was deliberately run over.

The thirteenth series of Vera starts with a major cast departure. DS Aiden Healy has hopped it to Australia. He might have a better chance of promotion down under instead of waiting for his DCI to retire.

The moment has been prepared for. It marks the return of Joe Ashworth now a Detective Inspector who has come into observe Vera. It seems she might be holding back junior colleagues (which she is by not retiring) and not up to date with modern policing methods. Even her computers are old which to be frank, is nothing to do with her. Her bosses are responsible for IT procurement.

As for Danny he was popular in the market stall but he and his father might have been involved in counterfeit goods. It also turns out that Danny was adopted and the market inspector clearly has something to hide.

The formula for Vera is beginning to creak. As usual all the suspects have something to hide, a good amount of red herrings. I did wonder why Ashworth was so antagonistic with Vera at the beginning. Also why he was upset at a cold case of a woman getting raped being reopened. I don't think it is too much of a reach to go through the DNA database some years later to look for new matches.

Hello, Joe; imagination lacking

[frieda-92366 · 6/10 · 29 February 2024]

Enjoyed seeing Joe Ashworth butt heads with Vera. That was unexpected. But other than that the story itself was a tired one. They would have done better to have more character development and mystery, rather than lay it out so predictably. It's never a good sign for the series when they start linking suspects by rape, adoption, and sexual preference and using that to suddenly come up with the killer. It is too easy a "fix." Kenny was looking a bit rough. He looked 10 yrs older than the elderly Vera in this one. They depended too much on the usual cast of characters for it to be interesting. Plus they have the annoying habit of switching out female characters who have disabilities. I think putting a strong female in there with Vera would be better than bringing Joe back. The worst part was the cheer at the end as Vera smiles to herself, like all is well because she is doing a favor for Joe. He's a prat. I look forward to more episodes, since it beats the other shows by a mile. But PLEASE get some writers with imagination.

Same old same old

[grahamford05 · 3/10 · 18 January 2024]

Not sure why I'm watching it still.. you'd think with Brenda not wanting to commit to further series. They'd try and bring the other characters out more.. but it's a "no ma'am" to that. With series regulars still barely extras. No wonder some left the show.

Writing and storylines are formulaic (in a bad way) and incredibly stupid.

The key evidence at the end is a glass headlight piece from a headlight that wasn't made of glass... The car itself not suffering anything more than a damaged light after running someone over? What??

Then it's onto the awful acting if some of the weekly characters which was dreadful and the horrible use of extras. Meandering through scenes. Or the solicitors which never say anything.

Someone put the show out of its misery.

Still a huge fan, but struggles with the "new" Joe

[dakjets · 7/10 · 24 March 2024]

Impressively, Brenda Blethyn is back as Vera Stanhope, season 13. This series has a lot of fans, myself included. Although the episodes and cases have varied in tension, the series is always worth watching, quality crime.

Since last DC Kenny is out. Ahead of this series being released, it was announced that David Leon will return in the series as Joe Ashworth. I was really looking forward to it, the character Joe was deeply missed after he disappeared after season 5.

To start with the best first; the series is back with a new, exciting crime mystery for Vera. Good characters, classic investigation and both I and many others keep us entertained. Vera is as sharp and persistent as we know her. But, there is a big BUT.

I can't appreciate the way Joe is written into the series. He is not on the team with Vera, but comes in as an ex-investigator of Vera and her staff. That's not the only thing that's new. During the period he has been absent, according to the episode, he has become arrogant, condescending and a person who is in the way of the investigation. During the episode, he suddenly assumes the role of an investigator. In the end of the episode the "Old" Joe si back, sort of. So that's also weird.

Sorry, I don't buy this. I think the way this character has both changed and the purpose he is used in this episode is too implausible. I don't like it, and in sum it becomes unlikely that this would have happened in reality. Such an audit would have been carried out by someone external, not a former employee. I can't get this to work.

I hope we get rid of more of this in the subsequent new episodes.

Couldn't they just take him back like good old Joe?

Diversity is makes plots too samey ... again!

[SunnyDaise · 5/10 · 9 January 2024]

There are some big issues well handled in this episode but the motive is too similar to other episodes' plots. What I love about this ending is the change of pace from a usual Vera conclusion because it emphasises the killer's understandable reason, and in many ways they are one of the biggest victims in the story. One of this show's regular strengths is empathy for most of the characters, and this is definitely the case here. However, I think it could do with some inspiring people too - I feel sorry for them, rather than admiration, so you can totally see why Ms Stanhope stays single - the area doesn't seem to have many nice even potential dates! On the upside, this episode isn't gruesome and there's always been a little humour in this series, but I think there's more since the pandemic, which I prefer.