Vera goes forensic to track a used-car killer
VERA (ITV, Sunday) is back for a new series, its 10th, and it’s well deserved. It’s one of ITV’S best. In the close season, the broadcaster has realised what the show is actually about.as we waited in expectation for a sight of that battered Land Rover, a solemn continuity announcer warned, “Coming up next Vera, where you will see a crime scene from the start”. Forensics in the crime drama? It will never catch on.
The plot, alas, was far from searching in nature. a used-car salesman was found shot. But Vera (Brenda Blethyn) was off the pace. She didn’t interview anyone who’d bought a car from him. She also failed to round up local “tyre-kickers”.
The episode had more red herrings than a Cornish fishing port before the last man awake was pinned with the murder.and not before Vera, right up with the times, allowed her tenacious team to use “digital forensics”. this involved looking at a victim’s search history on the internet. I know what you’re thinking – clear yours now. anything might happen.
And if you need a distraction in the next episode, watch the “lawyers” in the interview room. they’re all writing a shopping list.
Popes are proliferating. Heaven sent? After The Young Pope, The Two Popes (in the cinema), and the little known Pope On The Ropes, we now have The New Pope (Sky Atlantic, Sunday).
Jude Law, who has specialised in romantic leads, has appeared in two of these shows. That seems as improbable as most of this weird drama. Indeed, if you’re a devout Catholic you will be shocked if you don’t already have “shock” fatigue.
If it has a virtue – the drama not the religion – it’s John Malkovich, who is one of those “I could read the phone directory for a fee” actors. He took an episode to arrive, but it was worth the wait. Playing an English knight, Sir John Brannox, he receives word from the vatican that since Jude Law’s Pope XIII is now in a coma, could he become the new Pontiff?
Suave and aloof, he seems overqualified. He’s also fancied by one of only two women in a drama whose sole official role is to provide professional services to the assembled cardinals. they’re much obliged. So they’re going from young radical pope (Jude Law) to an English boss moving away from a cast of cardinals who would double as walk-ons in a renewed Godfather. Common sense at last.
Speaking of leadership, I see the country is now being run by loveable Begbie from Trainspotting. Finally some clear thinking at the top – after a pint or 12. Robert Carlisle is playing the prime minister in the eco catastrophe Cobra (Sky One, Friday), in which scores of people stare at flashing screens with multi-coloured graphs and bark four-letter words.
Hats off for the opening scene, however, when a big plane crashes on the A1. Can’t wait to see how BBC One’s A1: Britain’s Longest Road will handle that. “Ah, there’s a rather large passenger jet blocking the slip road, guv’nor. Bring me hard hat.” Eco catastrophes appear to be a part of our life now, so a drama about this needs to be apocalyptic. I’m not sure Cobra got there. A “plasma escape” from the “eastern side of the sun” is not going to frighten anyone except weather forecasters.
Old favourite Cold Feet (ITV, Monday) made a pedestrian return. I think the producer might have left most of the plot in the wine bar where much was set. Maybe this is what passes for subtlety in an ITV comedy drama but even the most devoted fan wants something more than the revelation that Pete (John Thomson) has started watching Sky Arts. It’s not that we don’t believe he has a hidden side but we didn’t have him down as a lover of Japanese artwork. Of course he was mortally embarrassed by the admission: “I was waiting for the sport to start on the other side!” No, you weren’t. you’re secretly trying to better yourself to escape the nursing home. I thought you were rather rude to that woman who had filled in her bingo card incorrectly. Harsh, Pete.
Perhaps Pete wants to help David run the café. Gosh, the men are so ambitious in this show. Meanwhile Adam was embroiled in a #Metoo scandal at work but it was sorted out in an instant. For goodness sake, it’s taken until now for Weinstein just to make it to court.
The closing scenes saw Adam and David have the world’s shortest street fight over the former moving in with Karen. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant have nothing to worry about after seeing this lame effort. After last year’s compelling series, this comedy drama has sailed into the doldrums.