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Amazon.co.uk Review
Idris Elba is the magnetic star of the thrilling BBC police series Luther, a gritty, captivating drama that will impress fans of police procedurals and knotty character studies. Elba (The Wire, The Big C, The Office, 28 Days Later) is a nuanced, tortured presence as DCI John Luther, a detective focused on understanding the most horrifying criminal mind. Luther also has sacrificed a normal personal life for his work, and Luther focuses on his back-story as much as on the plot at hand. The supporting cast is as brilliant as Elba, especially Indira Varma as his estranged wife, Zoe, and Ruth Wilson as the fragile-seeming but only marginally sane Alice, with whom Luther has been having a secret affair. The episodes are fairly straightforward police procedurals, including serial killers and other creepy bad guys. But what keeps Luther extra engaging is the superior writing, direction, and production design--making watching Luther an immersive experience for the viewer. And it's not always a comfortable one--this is not the cleaned-up New York of Law & Order, where most bad things happen off screen. Luther's bad guys (and gals) commit their evil deeds on camera and sometimes in slow motion--which only heightens the suspense and deep feeling of immersion. Luther and its focus on its leading character's personal life owes a lot to Helen Mirren's Prime Suspect, but Elba and the supporting cast of Luther do even more to make the viewer feel a part of the imperfect British law-enforcement system. The boxed set includes an excellent documentary with interviews with series creator Neil Cross and the directors and cast members discussing how they deliberately designed the series to be more "impressionistic" than "realistic" in terms of plot. (The interviews would have more impact if they weren't streamed onto a computer screen, but that's a small quibble.) Catch Luther while he tries to catch the bad blokes, and enjoy every twisted step of the journey. --A.T. Hurley. Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Seeing as new series this starred Idris Elba (Stringer Bell from The Wire) I thought I'd give this a try and I'm glad I did.
Centering on John Luther (Elba), damaged cop and loose cannon par excellence it was one hell of a ride - violent, provocative, often funny and very clever. We first encounter him pursuing a child molester who he accidentally let fall to a "certain" death, just before his breakdown. Months later and back in the serious crime squad, his first case is the unexplained murder of an elderly couple, the parents of the beguiling Alice - scientist cum psychopath. He knows she did it but cannot prove it and as the series progresses she returns into his life and work at sporadic intervals.
Their relationship is fascinating as she changes from stalker to confidante and finally accomplice. Ruth Wilson is excellent as the pouty blue-eyed scientist with the killer instinct and Luther fixation. Ditto Elba, who somewhat overplays Luther, the walking nuclear bomb who causes everyone around him to suffer in the fallout. The chemistry between the two is very real and makes this series extremely watchable. As the series progresses, the crim from episode one begins to wake in intensive care and Luther finds himself under close investigation from the harmless looking but dogged inspector. The ice-blue eyed Alice is the only one he can turn to with devastating results...
Great stuff - part Cracker, part Sweeney, part Waking the Dead - it's not to be missed.
Centering on John Luther (Elba), damaged cop and loose cannon par excellence it was one hell of a ride - violent, provocative, often funny and very clever. We first encounter him pursuing a child molester who he accidentally let fall to a "certain" death, just before his breakdown. Months later and back in the serious crime squad, his first case is the unexplained murder of an elderly couple, the parents of the beguiling Alice - scientist cum psychopath. He knows she did it but cannot prove it and as the series progresses she returns into his life and work at sporadic intervals.
Their relationship is fascinating as she changes from stalker to confidante and finally accomplice. Ruth Wilson is excellent as the pouty blue-eyed scientist with the killer instinct and Luther fixation. Ditto Elba, who somewhat overplays Luther, the walking nuclear bomb who causes everyone around him to suffer in the fallout. The chemistry between the two is very real and makes this series extremely watchable. As the series progresses, the crim from episode one begins to wake in intensive care and Luther finds himself under close investigation from the harmless looking but dogged inspector. The ice-blue eyed Alice is the only one he can turn to with devastating results...
Great stuff - part Cracker, part Sweeney, part Waking the Dead - it's not to be missed.
45 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The 4th episode aired last night, so I obviously can't speak for the entire series. However, based on these episodes, I have to conclude that this is one of the best BBC tv series' in a long time. Whilst it may appear to be just another detective show, it is so much more, and John Luther (Played by the always great Idris Alba) is one of the most compelling characters I have seen in a long while. Like many great characters, he is deeply flawed, his job an obsession, and he toes a fine line between good and bad. In many ways, he is like "House" who also treads that line. Idris Alba, like Hugh Laurie in House, however make sure that you root for his character.
Each episode revolves around a different case, however their is the overarching story which is possiibly more compelling. I cannot go into too much detail without giving spoilers, so I will end by saying that the show is fantastic, and needs to be watched. The only concern I have is whether the bbc will provide us a second series, or return to the safety of their period dramas
Each episode revolves around a different case, however their is the overarching story which is possiibly more compelling. I cannot go into too much detail without giving spoilers, so I will end by saying that the show is fantastic, and needs to be watched. The only concern I have is whether the bbc will provide us a second series, or return to the safety of their period dramas
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Note: The BBC has just commissioned two two-hour long specials as a continuation of this first series, to be aired in 2011. Happy days.
'Luther' was originally created as an answer to the solve-everything-without-fail genius detectives in the vein of Sherlock Holmes, whilst at the same time trying to portray a character so wound up in his profession that his own personal life and personality begin to fracture, a la Cracker.
In this sense, the show succeeds, and does so very well. John Luther is a man who is constantly redefining the boundaries between insanity and intelligence - whilst, more often than not, he deduces who the villain is, he often does so at the expense of his own mental equilibrium. He knows that sometimes the law fails the innocent; he knows that sometimes the criminals get away with all; and he also knows that his colleagues appreciate his presence on the team, but that they watch him with a wary eye and keep their distance. Essentially, Luther is a philosopher at heart, but he can see his world falling to pieces and is helpless to stop it. It would be easy to call Luther, brilliantly played by Elba, a 'tortured soul', but there's much more to it than that analogy suggests.
I won't say too much about the series itself, so as to avoid spoiling anything, but just know that the acting is spot-on all round (with some great turns from Ruth Wilson as 'Alice', and Steven Mackintosh as 'Ian Reed') , the stories are gripping (with quite a stunning finale), and it is very evident that a lot of effort and care went into the production of the show.
This brilliant, dark and intelligent six-part crime drama is a glimpse at how fine a line there is between madness and genius, and how a man is supposed to maintain a handle on reality when continually placed under such disturbing and often brutal circumstances. Touching on existential themes, such as the things beyond our control and how we just have to accept them, 'Luther' is proof enough that the quality of the BBC's programming is on the up. Let's just hope it carries on.
'Luther' was originally created as an answer to the solve-everything-without-fail genius detectives in the vein of Sherlock Holmes, whilst at the same time trying to portray a character so wound up in his profession that his own personal life and personality begin to fracture, a la Cracker.
In this sense, the show succeeds, and does so very well. John Luther is a man who is constantly redefining the boundaries between insanity and intelligence - whilst, more often than not, he deduces who the villain is, he often does so at the expense of his own mental equilibrium. He knows that sometimes the law fails the innocent; he knows that sometimes the criminals get away with all; and he also knows that his colleagues appreciate his presence on the team, but that they watch him with a wary eye and keep their distance. Essentially, Luther is a philosopher at heart, but he can see his world falling to pieces and is helpless to stop it. It would be easy to call Luther, brilliantly played by Elba, a 'tortured soul', but there's much more to it than that analogy suggests.
I won't say too much about the series itself, so as to avoid spoiling anything, but just know that the acting is spot-on all round (with some great turns from Ruth Wilson as 'Alice', and Steven Mackintosh as 'Ian Reed') , the stories are gripping (with quite a stunning finale), and it is very evident that a lot of effort and care went into the production of the show.
This brilliant, dark and intelligent six-part crime drama is a glimpse at how fine a line there is between madness and genius, and how a man is supposed to maintain a handle on reality when continually placed under such disturbing and often brutal circumstances. Touching on existential themes, such as the things beyond our control and how we just have to accept them, 'Luther' is proof enough that the quality of the BBC's programming is on the up. Let's just hope it carries on.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Luther -- A Complicated Hero
A unique BBC series with a strange moral compass. "Luther" is a complicated central character with more than his share of problems. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Suzanne Naughton
Brilliantly intense
Gripping from start to finish. Complex and engaging characters, great plot and even like the title music. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bernie
Absolutely Brilliant
This series is as good as Sherlock. Edge of the seat viewing from start to finish. Just can't fault it.
Published 3 months ago by nic
brilliant
first series of Luther-a different take on a detective character,with a powerhouse performance by the actor-he really brought Luther to life. Read more
Published 4 months ago by bernie
For Alice!
Did I commit a sacrilege by expressing my very honest thoughts in the title? I leave it to you to judge me, but please let me absolutely candid in my inferences, and they are:... Read more
Published 4 months ago by RIJU GANGULY
great watching
the first series of luther is great , i missed it when on tv and only saw the the second so really did not understand it properly . Read more
Published 5 months ago by luther lover
BAD BORING BIGOTED
Inner city POPO LUTHER is tough and kind of GAY actually, he breaks the rules has a gun and a chip on his shoulder. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. D. Campbell
Will make you want more.
Luther is like 24 done Brit-style. Great characters, plots, stories and acting. Idris Elba is the next Pacino, de Niro, Freeman and Denzel Washington. Read more
Published 7 months ago by N. Alterskye
Excellent trouble free purchase
Not exactly of "The Killing" standard but good to watch when there's nothing else on tele and we've watched all the other DVDs in the rack
Published 8 months ago by Hime Arite
Luther Series 2
This was exactly what I hoped it would be: thrilling, on the edge of your seat, viewing. The only thing was that I missed Alice. I hope that she will be in Series 3 a bit more.
Published 8 months ago by Lady Bicton
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