Joe Ashworth, Vera's partner, and his daughter Jessie (Olivia Armstrong) board a train in "On Harbour Street," from "Vera" to begin its fourth season.
I just learned that Joe (David Leon) is not returning next season. It's such a great partnership, I hope the series doesn't suffer.
In this episode, an elderly woman boards a train and looks over at Ashworth's daughter, Jessie. She sits down. When Joe and Jessie leave the train, Jessie notices the lady is still there, seemingly asleep, and asks if she can wake her up. Joe says okay. When Jessie tries, she sees a bloody wound and screams. The woman is dead.
Very interesting episode as Vera and Joe endeavor to find out why anyone would want to kill this old lady, whom they learn is named Margaret. It turns out that she has quite a past, and also a friendship with another woman, Dee (Tilly Vosburgh), an alcoholic Margaret helps.
There's the discovery of a body, there's another murder, and an old mystery solved as Vera and Joe dig deeper.
Joe probably leaves for family reasons - his wife calls him upset because he's apparently forgotten about a counseling session for one of their children. Unlike Vera, he has a life outside of the department.
Very seemed more cheerful in this, as if she's lightening up. I think losing Joe will be very sad for her, as she seems fond of his family as well. Brenda Blethyn is wonderful as Vera, with her sly smile, her way of questioning a suspect, and the stories she tells.
Good episode.