Luther: A Gaze into the Abyss

Image Credit: BBC One

Luther, a crafty, dark police miniseries drama produced by BBC One, stars Idris Elba as dedicated, yet psychologically disturbed Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. When the series commences, viewers catch a glimpse of the troublesome conclusion of a case Luther headed, involving serial killer Henry Madsen. Abruptly, the show jumps seven months to Luther's first day back on the job, and his boss, Detective Superintendent Rose Teller discovers him in the same place his latest case concluded. Luther's distressed, pondering his last decisions and their chaotic consequences in the Serious Crime Unit.

Yet, he has more demons than that. Every case brings Luther to the edge of darkness; his occupation forces him to delve into the psychologically ravaged mind of the killer in order to stop homicides and crimes from occurring again. There's a certain moral ambiguity and complexity to Elba's character that one can only understand by watching. His unconventional crime solving is coupled with his stunning analytical and intellectual capabilities, which drives his passion for bringing justice to the streets of London. Even after successfully ending a case, Luther lives in the past, bothered by the cloud of evil he's fought. He's been referred to as "dirty" for the lines he's crossed during his cases, and is often frowned upon for his irrational outbursts and fiery temper. Even his wife has left him, since she's haunted by exactly what torments Luther, his obsession with solving crimes and the despair he's uncovered.

Did I mention that Luther spends half a morning on an apartment complex's roof staring off the ledge, slowly inching the laces of his shoes forward to his demise? Or that his closest confidant is a deranged, yet intellectually sound young murderer named Alice Morgan? Luther and Alice's friendship is based off their individual yearnings to fully comprehend the motives of each other's actions. What they both believe is the "right" thing to do might not necessarily be agreed upon by the other. There's a blurred line of good and evil that they both have crossed at some point. Their scenes together are riveting and unpredictable as Alice, played by Ruth Wilson, constantly questions what Luther stands for, yet Luther often seeks her out for advice in his moral struggles.

And that's only the tail end of Luther. While its first season is six episodes and its second only four, the development of the series is prodigious, and one might feel as if a thirteen episode season has been packed into six dense chapters. The tone of the series is dark, gloomy, and even the costumes' color schemes (especially Luther's) embody this. Luther's a troubled, suicidal hero, one to definitely offer ten hours of sympathy towards. With a vote of confidence, I urge you to explore the grim, disturbing abyss seeping through Luther's core. You won't be disappointed.