John Luther kicks ass
Just a few short weeks ago, a new show hit British TV screens. Idris Elba, The Wire’s Stringer Bell, plays the lead role in a new drama set in modern day London.
John Luther is an unconventional, genius and as always, flawed detective. Going through a breakup with his wife and having only just returned to the force following a period of recovery after a mental breakdown, he finds himself thrust into the middle of a brutal case.
Slated for an initial run of six episodes, Luther has all the ingredients to prove a massive hit for the BBC. It has a mix of grit, intrigue, emotion and sometimes comedy. The character of John Luther is a complex one, a seemingly broken individual with similar characteristics as seen in Hugh Laurie’s portrayal of Gregory House. The ability to solve a case with only the smallest thread bringing everything together. A disregard for authority, public and sometimes his own safety adds to the sense that Luther is a man on the very edge of his sanity.
There’s a very un-English feel to it all. We have far too many stories of detectives who live in idyllic rural England, and must solve a new murder every week. Hint… it’s always the housewife! In all seriousness though Luther has a grittier feel to it; I don’t want to compare it with The Wire, but I must. It feels real, not some soapy murder mystery as we’re used to with English “Police Dramas”.
The development of the relationship amongst the main characters is excellent, with twists and turns all the way. I can’t say too much without letting slip a few spoilers, but what I will say is…
Go out of your way to watch Luther. It’s the best drama to hit the BBC in many years. We must keep actors like Idris Elba on British TV, but the only way to do that is with a role like this. Sublime acting, screenplay and production values make for a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
