In my opinion, the majority of shows the BBC throws out are mediocre at best. They're not given decent budgets, and their target demographics tend to be the elderly or quite literally everyone at once.
Luther, however, is a special little show that surprises wonderfully, with its excellent cast choices -- John Luther's character is perfectly performed by Idris Elba, it's definitely the a role fit for him as an actor -- and its ability to smartly progress multiple narratives at once. It takes the two genres of crime and drama and entwines them in a way that questions morality and law; and it often reminds us that there's 'a way things should be done', but often enough a few rules must be bent.
Detective Chief Inspector John Luther is an infamous police officer, known for his brilliance, but also his light temper and aggressive dedication to bring justice down on the criminal underground under any cost. Luther is punished by the cruelty of humanity, spanning from downright evildoing to a lack of loyalty. Two things even Luther falls victim to on occasion.
Set in the stylish city of present London, the show takes on a strong level of realism regarding the crimes and how they're solved. John Luther's methods of investigating is connected to his very own mental instability, but never in an obnoxious, hyper-intelligent manner, but by displaying a fundamental flaw in humanity itself: the self-questioning when it comes to selfishness and desperation. Luther is no genius, he's just capable of putting himself on the same ground as the criminals and using his own knowledge to dive deeper -- although, John Luther also has a few hands to help him at the station.
Luther depicts the style of investigations as a cat-and-mouse-esque event, where he often acts like an apex predator, capturing his prey and toying with them, letting them go and waiting for them to fall even further into his psychological traps before capturing them for good. It allows the drama side of the show to shine, as we see many different ways in which the two fight, moving their chess pieces and attacking the other. It makes for a thrilling viewing experience, even though it's quite evident that in the end it will result in John Luther winning; we just don't know exactly at what cost.
Opportunity cost plays a big role in the narrative of each episode in Luther. As events get more and more serious and desperation follows, John Luther is forced to take drastic measures, bending rules to get what he wants or even to maintain the lack of awareness of his former unorthodox actions. He's not a bad cop, however, it's forever clear that he does what he does for the greater good. John Luther's ability to cover his own tracks heightens the drama between him and the criminals, especially when it becomes a game as other officers begin to question his truthfulness during investigations.
We see how John Luther stoops to the same levels as criminals, how much he risks, often enough his own life as a result of his own self-destructive ways and mental instability as a result of a failing marriage and a clear addiction to his work life. We see a broken man stuck in the cycle of trying to make things right, punishing the cruellest of society, and it's so wonderfully produced. Luther is a show that cannot be missed. It's a show that deserves much more recognition, and excels in almost every aspect.
