Idris Elba's Damaged Detective a Standout in 'Luther'
Mark A. Perigard - Boston Herald
Sep 28, 2011
John Luther (Emmy nominee Idris Elba) starts his morning with a round of Russian roulette.
Devastated by the murder of his wife last season, the British police detective tries to rebuild his career in the new season of BBC America's crime thriller "Luther."
His former boss and one-time adversary Martin Schenk (Dermot Crowley) recruits him to head up the new Serious and Serial Unit but issues him a warning: "No secrets. No agendas."
"It's all very soul-destroying, isn't it? Actual police work," Luther comments to his partner Justin Ripley (Warren Brown), one of the few people he trusts.
Their first case starts like something out of a CBS crime procedural. A masked killer viciously slays a woman on the streets of London and plays to the street camera.
"Murder by theater," Luther muses. "This was opening night."
The murderer later taunts Luther on a cell phone: "I'm going to remind people of what it's like to be really scared."
Next week, the scope of the killer's gruesome plans becomes apparent, and once again, someone close to Luther is jeopardized.
Luther's actions infuriate the madman, frustrate his colleagues and may just lead to the deaths of many more innocents.
The detective must also contend with a woman (Kierston Wareing) who blames Luther for the destruction of her family and demands he rescue her teenage daughter from a life of prostitution and bizarre fetish pornographic films.
Luther's relationship with psychotic killer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), now locked up in a mental hospital, becomes even more treacherous. (Her idea of small talk: "I'm a great fan of sharks.") She remains obsessed; Luther wavers, tempted. Nothing good can come of this.
The new season is but four hourlong episodes, no doubt to a concession to Elba's burgeoning big-screen popularity. (While best known for his TV work in "The Wire," "The Office" and "The Big C," he co-starred in "The Losers" and "Thor" and will appear in the "Ghost Rider" sequel alongside Nicolas Cage next year.) Still, we should be grateful for these. Series creator/writer Neil Cross continues to spin dark strands that stray unexpectedly into unsettling territory.
Elba, who also serves as an associate producer on the show, captures both swagger and melancholy in the same beat. Luther is a man supremely confident as a detective but lacking all faith in his ability to connect with others.
"So many times I've tried to help people, by doing things I shouldn't have done, and it's only made it worse," he says.
He's correct, actually, but that's what makes "Luther" such compelling viewing.
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