I have just been forced (by the wife) to sit through an episode of Vera. I already knew it was dire from the snippets I have been unlucky enough to witness in the past. Enduring a whole episode has helped me hone my dislike to a sharp point. Here are the reasons why I regard this as a pile of you know what:
The lead actress, Brenda Blethyn OBE is beyond terrible in the lead role. Her accent is an insult to all Geordies. In fact, it is so bad that even I, a Londoner, feel slighted. She warbles too. A ghastly, geriatric warble which lets us all in on the fact that she is acting. And acting very badly.
She clearly has no idea what's going on. The pathetic, unconvincing barking out of orders. The bad-tempered face when bellowing, "Ah don't believe yer pet" to any and all suspects.
And the outfit! Can you imagine the team behind this turkey of a show coming up with, Let's dress her like a bag lady with a battered hat? Yeah, like a sort of female Columbo. Great! Only problem is Peter Falk was a very good actor and he did it to perfection 40 years ago.
One last thing, they play music behind almost the whole grisly 100 minutes. Even when people are talking. The idea, presumably, is to help us poor, stupid views understand the mood they are trying to create. Now feel scared, now feel happy, now feel tense etc, etc...
This is meat and drink for the undiscerning. The Aw, isn't she great, that Vera brigade? I place it two steps behind Midsomer Murders, which I rate at a zero.
The lead actress, Brenda Blethyn OBE is beyond terrible in the lead role. Her accent is an insult to all Geordies. In fact, it is so bad that even I, a Londoner, feel slighted. She warbles too. A ghastly, geriatric warble which lets us all in on the fact that she is acting. And acting very badly.
She clearly has no idea what's going on. The pathetic, unconvincing barking out of orders. The bad-tempered face when bellowing, "Ah don't believe yer pet" to any and all suspects.
And the outfit! Can you imagine the team behind this turkey of a show coming up with, Let's dress her like a bag lady with a battered hat? Yeah, like a sort of female Columbo. Great! Only problem is Peter Falk was a very good actor and he did it to perfection 40 years ago.
One last thing, they play music behind almost the whole grisly 100 minutes. Even when people are talking. The idea, presumably, is to help us poor, stupid views understand the mood they are trying to create. Now feel scared, now feel happy, now feel tense etc, etc...
This is meat and drink for the undiscerning. The Aw, isn't she great, that Vera brigade? I place it two steps behind Midsomer Murders, which I rate at a zero.