Brenda Blethyn in a floppy green hat is basically a British institution at this point. Honestly, by the time Vera season 10 rolled around in early 2020, you might’ve thought the show was running out of steam. Most crime dramas start to feel a bit repetitive by their tenth year, right? You get the same moody lighting, the same predictable red herrings, and a lead actor who looks like they’d rather be anywhere else.
But Vera is different.
There is something deeply comforting—and surprisingly gritty—about DCI Vera Stanhope stalking across the Northumberland moors. Season 10 didn't just go through the motions. It actually doubled down on the messy, isolated atmosphere that Ann Cleeves originally wrote in her novels. If you’re looking for high-speed chases or high-tech lab montages, you’re in the wrong place. This season is about old-fashioned, painful police work. It’s about people living on the margins of society. It's about why we can't stop watching a woman who treats her subordinates like annoying nephews but would walk through fire to get them justice.
What Actually Happens in Vera Season 10?
The tenth season kicked off with "Blood Will Tell," an episode that felt a bit like a classic country house mystery but with much more dirt under its fingernails. When a wealthy bailiff is found dead, Vera has to untangle a web of family resentment. It’s classic Stanhope. She doesn't care about your money; she cares if you're lying to her.
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Kenny Doughty is back as DS Aiden Healy. Their chemistry is the backbone of the show now. He’s the physical muscle and the emotional buffer, while Vera is the raw intellect and the bulldozer.
One of the standout moments of the season involves the second episode, "Parent Not Expected." It centers on a salmon farm. Sounds glamorous, right? Not really. It’s cold, wet, and miserable—exactly the kind of setting where this show thrives. The plot explores some pretty heavy themes regarding paternity and biological connections. It reminds you that Vera season 10 isn't just about "who killed who," but rather "how did these people's lives get so broken?"
The third episode, "Dirty," takes us into the world of industrial cleaning. It’s a stark contrast to the sweeping vistas of the coast. We see the grime of the city. We see the people who do the jobs nobody else wants to do. When a worker is found dead, the investigation reveals some pretty shady corporate negligence. It felt relevant. It felt like the writers were actually looking at the state of the UK at the time.
Finally, "The Escape Turn" closed out the season. This one focused on the death of a wealthy businessman found in a stadium. It’s a bit more complex than the usual "body in a ditch" scenario, involving intricate financial fraud.
The Blethyn Factor: Why We Keep Watching
Brenda Blethyn is 70-something years old and spends her workdays filming in horizontal rain. Respect.
She has talked openly in interviews—specifically with the Radio Times—about how she doesn't actually like the hat. But the hat is part of the armor. In Vera season 10, you notice a few more cracks in Vera’s persona. She’s a bit more tired. The weight of the cases seems to sit a little heavier on her shoulders.
What makes this season work is that it doesn't try to make her "nicer." She is still sharp. She is still occasionally rude to DC Kenny Lockhart (played by the brilliant Jon Morrison). But there’s a flicker of vulnerability there, especially when she’s back at her lonely cottage with a glass of whiskey.
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The Northumberland Landscape is a Character (Really)
People say this all the time about shows, but for Vera, it’s true. The cinematography in season 10 is breathtaking.
- The Farne Islands
- Whitley Bay
- The bleakness of the North Pennines
These aren't just pretty backdrops. The isolation of the landscape mirrors the isolation of the victims. In the episode "Parent Not Expected," the vastness of the water makes the characters feel small and insignificant. It adds a layer of existential dread that you just don't get in a police procedural set in London or Manchester.
The production team, including executive producer Phil Hunter, has always been vocal about their commitment to filming on location. They don't use many sets. If Vera is standing on a windswept cliff, Brenda Blethyn is actually standing on a windswept cliff. You can see it in the way the actors move—they’re genuinely cold. That authenticity translates through the screen.
Breaking Down the Cast Dynamics
Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty) has finally found his footing. In earlier seasons, he felt a bit like a replacement for Joe Ashworth (David Leon), but by Vera season 10, he’s his own man. He challenges Vera more. He worries about her health. He’s the one who makes sure she actually eats something other than a petrol station sandwich once in a while.
Then you have Ibinabo Jack as DC Jacqueline 'Jac' Williams and Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards. They don't get as much screen time, but they provide the essential "boots on the ground" perspective. They represent the modern police force trying to keep up with a boss who prefers paper files to tablets.
And we have to talk about Dr. Malcolm Donahue, played by Paul Kaye. His interaction with Vera is pure gold. They have this wonderful, prickly mutual respect. He’s just as cynical as she is, which makes their scenes together some of the best in the season.
Is Season 10 Better Than the Rest?
Honestly? It’s consistent. That’s the greatest compliment you can give a long-running show.
It didn't try to "reimagine" itself. It didn't add a gimmicky new character or a serialized subplot about a mole in the department. It stayed true to the formula: a complex murder, a list of believable suspects, and a dogged detective who won't let it go.
Some critics argued that the two-hour format (per episode) can feel a bit long. Sure, sometimes the middle act drags. But that length allows for character development that a 42-minute US procedural could never dream of. You get to know the suspects. You see their houses, their grief, and their secrets. By the time Vera does her final "pet" reveal, you actually care about why the crime happened.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re diving back into Vera season 10, keep an eye on the background details. The set dressing in the victims' homes is incredible. It tells a story of its own. Look at the clutter, the faded wallpaper, the specific brands of tea on the counter. The production designers are at the top of their game here.
Also, pay attention to the music. Ben Bartlett’s score is subtle. It doesn't tell you how to feel with soaring violins. Instead, it’s a low, atmospheric hum that builds tension slowly.
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Your Next Steps for the Vera Obsession
If you've finished season 10 and you're craving more, here's what you should actually do. Don't just jump into season 11 immediately.
- Read the Books: Go back to the source material by Ann Cleeves. The Crow Trap is where it all started. You’ll find that the "literary" Vera is even more abrasive and physically imposing than the TV version. It’s a fascinating comparison.
- Check the Filming Locations: If you’re ever in the North East of England, there are actual "Vera tours." You can visit the police station (which is actually a set in Wallsend but uses exterior shots from across the region) and the various coastal spots.
- Watch the Specials: Make sure you haven't missed the Christmas special "The Rising Tide." It bridges the gap between later seasons perfectly and captures that same "isolated community" vibe that peaked in season 10.
- Listen to the Soundtracks: Seriously, the ambient music from the series is great for focused work or just setting a moody, autumnal vibe in your house.
Vera Stanhope isn't going anywhere. Even as the series progressed into its 11th, 12th, and 13th seasons, the foundations laid in Vera season 10—the focus on family trauma and the harsh reality of rural poverty—remained the heart of the show. It’s not just a mystery; it’s a character study of a woman who has given everything to her job and the people who have been forgotten by everyone else.