What a privilege to have an actress of Brenda Blethyn's quality on television. Her performance as Vera has developed through the years, no doubt inspired by her amazing work.
Vera is eccentric but sharp, with her floppy hat and formless coat. She's a bit like Columbo, but Columbo always acted simple to throw off the criminal; Vera may dress like hin, but she acts sharp.
This case revolves around the discovery by a girl of a woman, Anne-Marie Richards, shoeless on the moors. Vera realizes that she wasn't killed there, just dumped.
Richards has two daughters, who claim their mother had no boyfriend, though the pathologist notes sexual activity. Vera learns that the victim spent a lot of time at a guest house, working part-time as a bartender and entertaining gentleman callers. It seems she was also dealing drugs for one of her daughters.
Vera soon learns the inner workings of this family -- but will it be too late to save another person from being murdered?
This is a sad episode, with Blethyn teasing her new partner (Kenny Doughty) about his impending fatherhood and explaining to DC Bethany that she isn't ready for a promotion, thus upsetting her. Later Vera's frantic behavior and outpouring of emotion is staggering as we watch her heart break. It is a masterful performance, particularly the interview scene at the end.
Filmed in the stunning North England locations, this is perhaps the best episode of Vera thus far. Blethyn's performance will stay with you long afterward.