Ep 1. Witness

Vera, a British crime drama series, returns for its eleventh season with the first episode titled "Witness." This episode features Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, played by Brenda Blethyn, who leads a team of detectives as they investigate a case involving the murder of a talented young engineer.

The episode begins with a scene showing a woman walking alone on a quiet country road. She pauses to look at the picturesque view of the landscape when she suddenly hears a loud noise and turns around. The audience then sees a glimpse of a figure running away.

The scene shifts to the victim's workplace, where Vera and her team arrive to investigate. The victim, Jim Tullman, was a brilliant engineer who was working on a high-speed train project. His colleagues describe him as a perfectionist and someone who was very passionate about his work.

Vera soon discovers that Jim had a troubled personal life. He was divorced and had an estranged daughter. She also finds out that Jim had recently become paranoid, thinking that someone was watching him, and had even installed security cameras around his house.

As the investigation unfolds, Vera and her team follow several leads that bring them closer to the culprit. They start by looking at Jim's former colleagues and his ex-wife as possible suspects. They also find out that Jim was going through a legal battle against his former business partner, raising suspicions about his involvement in Jim's death.

As they delve deeper into the victim's life, Vera and her team uncover more secrets about Jim's personal life, which takes them in an entirely new direction. They discover a controversial project Jim was working on, which could have drawn the attention of people who were willing to go to any extent to stop him from moving forward with his work. The team soon realizes that the case is much more complex than what they had originally thought, and they are running out of time to solve the mystery.

As the story unfolds, we see Vera's character's indestructible nature and her meticulous detective work shine through, leading to a nail-biting climax scene that leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.

Overall, "Witness" is a gripping episode that sets the stage for an intense and interesting eleventh season of Vera. It features a multi-layered plot, with interesting characters and clever twists and turns that keep the viewers engaged throughout the episode. The show's gritty atmosphere, combined with stellar performances from the cast, makes it an excellent addition to the Vera series.