Ep 1. Natural Selection

Vera season 7 episode 1, "Natural Selection," follows the determined and wise Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope as she solves another intricate case in the North East of England. In this episode, Vera and her team investigate the mysterious death of a promising young biologist, Melanie Sharpe, whose body was found floating in the lake at a nature reserve.

Vera and her team are called in to investigate the crime scene, and they soon discover that the reserve, run by a charity, is under threat from developers. The team quickly begins to question those closest to Melanie, including her colleague and lover, Alex Reid, as well as the charity's head, Harriet Cauldron. They also talk to a group of birdwatchers who were at the reserve when Melanie's body was discovered.

As Vera and her team dig deeper, they discover that Melanie was working on a top-secret project involving freshwater mussels. Her work was so ground-breaking that she had been approached by a pharmaceutical company, and as a result, she had made a number of enemies. However, the motive for her murder remains elusive. Vera and her team must determine whether the murderer was motivated by jealousy, greed, or something else entirely.

As the investigation unfolds, Vera struggles to balance her personal life with the demands of the job. She is haunted by memories of her father, who died when she was a child, and this case brings back painful memories of their time together. In addition, Vera must cope with the news that her trusted colleague, Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy, is leaving the force.

As the clues begin to mount up, Vera and her team solve the case in typical style, unravelling a complex web of deceit and betrayal. Amidst a backdrop of soaring cliffs and shimmering lakes, Vera finds herself face to face with the murderer, who has one last trick up their sleeve.

In "Natural Selection," viewers are treated to the trademark lush scenery, the deep character development, and the intricate plotting that has made Vera such a popular show. The episode poses tough questions about conservation, science, and the value of human life, and it does so with the intelligence, subtlety, and wit that has made the series so enduring. As always, the acting is superb, with Brenda Blethyn delivering another powerhouse performance as the indomitable Vera Stanhope. "Natural Selection" is a wonderful start to what promises to be another top-notch season of one of the best detective dramas on television.