Vera (TV Series) Tuesday's Child (2016) User Reviews

Another brilliant case for Vera and co.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 8 February 2016]

Vera is devastated by the shocking recent death of colleague Bethany Whelan, Two boys discover a body in a cave, wrapped in bin bags, battered twice over the head.

Vera continues in sheer brilliance, talk about a show that's gone from strength to strength, last week's series opener was incredible, this came very close to that standard. I wouldn't have said Vera was initially a character you could take to, but now we're seeing a softer, human side to her, expertly done by Brenda Blethyn.

A great storyline, a totally engaging mystery, with some cracking performances, I especially liked the Vicar's wife, Rakie Ayola, I could listen to that voice for hours, she's a glorious actress.

A truly excellent mystery, loved it, and counting down for next week's, 9/10.

That's very noble ... arrest her

[biorngm · 8/10 · 8 August 2019]

Vera chases clues with evidence to solve the killing of Jamie Thorne whose body is discovered in a cave near a lover's lane hangout by two partying youths. Hypothesis and good detective work lead her to an additional crime near the cave. The second victim was a similar-aged youth, buried with the same plastic bags and tape. The two males did not know each other yet they were connected to the local fair. The victims had the common denominator of being estranged from their birth parents. One youth worked at the fair and the other had a schoolmate working there.

Brendan was the youth dug up by Aiden. Vera deduces Jamie was digging Brendan up when he was struck twice by a shovel. Brendan died accidently from a fall off a carnival ride but rather than report the accidental death to the police, Jamie's perpetrator decided it was better to simply bury the youth. Over a year later Jamie learned of Brendan's accident from the person at the scene when the accident occurred; Brendan's schoolmate. Jamie went to the carnival operators to tell them he would report the incident; however, he was killed because the show must go on and that accident would not have helped the fair owners stay in business.

The story is dark from the get go when Vera is thinking about her fellow policewoman Bethany, shot dead in the line of duty. Bethany's death is considered as downed while transporting the presumed bereaving spouse. The nature of both deaths in the story of the young men reflects how dark plots of the series can be. Vera interviews the perpetrator, rather grills her and gets the admission of guilt. Roll up, roll up, the show must go on and then a year later she kills Jamie because he wanted to report Brendan's cover up.

Kenny announces to Vera when she returns to the squad room heading to her office, unlawful killing and the bravery award in honor of fallen Bethany is the ruling from the board of inquiry. Above average fair with the chasing of suspects with Vera and Aiden searching for the killer. Watch intently for the suspects, the evidence and for the plot's intrigue to take hold finally having the killer brought to justice.

Too Wordy and not Enough Action

[l_rawjalaurence · 5/10 · 28 February 2016]

After the series opener that came across as unusually direct in tone, "Tuesday's Child" was something of a disappointment.

Set against the backdrop of a traveling fairground, this episode had our trust DCI (Brenda Blethyn) investigating the death of a young boy found battered to death in a lonely spot colloquially named "Lovers' Lane." Her investigations uncover a complicated plot involving another dead young man, a suspect vicar (Joe Dixon) and his errant daughter (Nisa Cole), a cowardly young man (Ben-Ryan Davies), and an over-aggressive fairground owner (Sean Gilder).

The case itself - written by Glen Laker - involved the usual crop of red herrings and possible suspects, and kept audiences guessing until the end as to the real murderer's identity. Yet Vera did not actually do much investigating; it was left to the suspects to confess their guilt in a series of interrogation sequences right at the end, as they could not endure Vera's persistent questioning. This was not especially dramatic in tone: many of the details were communicated through dialogue, which rendered the plot difficult to follow.

Nor did we learn much more about Vera's character, apart from the fact that, like many police officers before her, she frequently took solace in whiskey while sat alone in her office. The maverick never really gets the chance to socialize with their fellow-officers; they might be outstanding at their jobs, but they are perpetually condemned to life on the outside.

"Tuesday's Child" was watchable, but not especially interesting.