'Vera's Season Finale Trailer Explores the Detective's Joys of Retirement

The detective series Vera is one of the few pervasively popular British cozy crime shows that reached household name status without ever officially airing on PBS. The show's first four seasons played as one-off reruns on local public broadcasting stations from 2011-2014, but starting with Season 5 in 2015; the show disappeared behind various "exclusivity" paywalls, first on Acorn TV before moving to BritBox in 2018 with Season 8. By then, the show had established itself as one of the best female-led detective series of the 2010s, the kind that could go for a quarter-century easily, like rival Midsomer Murders.

But time began to catch up with actor Brenda Blethyn, who plays the titular DC Vera Stanhope. The character was supposed to be on the verge of retirement in Season 1, and by Season 12, questions started surfacing as to how long Blethyn would stay with the series, which began reducing its four-episode count to three. (Filming TV shows is notoriously grinding; the late Maggie Smith said after Downton Abbey ended that, at the age of 81, she was too old ever to do that again; Blethlyn is currently 78.) 

The answer turned out to be "through Season 14," officially the program's last installment. (Not to worry, Blethyn hasn't left acting; she's already filmed Saving Grace Again!, a follow-up to 2000's Saving Grace—yes, the film that initially spawned the character of Doc Martin—due out in 2025.) With the final season a compact two episodes, BritBox will also tack on the behind-the-scenes special, Vera: Farewell Pet, which will air the week after the Season 14 finale and will be viewers' final opportunity to say farewell.

Since Season 14 is comprised of two feature-length episodes, here are the synopses for each:

• In the first episode, DCI Vera Stanhope is called to the banks of the Tyne, where some anglers have discovered the body of a young man. A tangled web of a broken relationship, secret love, grudges, regret, and fraud begins to emerge - has our former inmate been served cold justice, or does his death run deeper? 
• The final episode brings Vera back to a familiar place when a body is found at the foot of legendary local stones, The Dark Wives - with memories of childhood in the background, Vera must work hard to uncover the mystery of why a bright young student would be violently attacked and left so far from home. This poignant episode weaves past and present together, making for a compelling and emotional farewell.

Here's the special's synopsis:

• With exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the final series, viewers will discover the show's enduring appeal and its profound impact on the cast, crew, and fans alike. Featuring heartfelt interviews with cast members and author Ann Cleeves, the program shares their cherished memories of working alongside Brenda Blethyn and reflects on the unique bonds formed throughout the years. As DCI Vera Stanhope prepares to hang up her iconic hat with the last two thrilling episodes, this documentary will capture the extraordinary journey of Vera and its lasting influence on British crime drama - set against the stunning backdrop of Northumberland, where the landscape became a character in its own right, this celebration honors the show’s remarkable legacy. This documentary offers fans a final chance to say ‘farewell pet’ to Vera, one of television’s most beloved detectives.

Brenda Blethyn returns for the last time as DCI Vera Stanhope. She's be joined in her final outings by David Leon as DI Joe Ashworth, Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards, and relative newcomers Sarah Kameela Impey as pathologist Dr Paula Bennett and Rhiannon Clements as DC Steph Duncan. The final season of Vera was written by Phil Mulryne, with directors Claire Winyard and Paul Gay each helming one of the two feature film-length episodes. Will Nicholson produces with Kate Bartlett as Executive Producer. 

Vera: The Final Season (aka Season 14) will debut on Thursday, January 2, 2025, on BritBox. The second and final installment will stream one week later, on Thursday, January 9, with the Vera: Farewell Pet documentary rounding out the run on Thursday, January 16, 2025.