Luther

Luther (2010) 

First we got George Gently with Wallander, then Sherlock came along, with Luther stuffed in between. Four names from BBC One studios, all crime shows that are similar in many ways, while each one is completely different. Where the first two named (the best possible) representatives of the classic “old-school" approach to the genre (one from the sixties and the other present day and each in their own way), where the third is the absolute (best possible) opposite, Luther does not belong among those, but on the fourth tip of an imaginary quadrangle, mainly due to the final two episodes which pull this otherwise “merely" high-standard series up to new highs. The first four episodes concentrate on the characters and mainly the tensions in the original John and Alice “relationship" (I can see here a clear crossover: Dexter Morgan meets Alice Morgan). Until they begin concentrating on the case itself. They aren’t bad at all, but you have certainly seen similar elsewhere and so you find yourself muttering “deal with the personal level, deal with the personal level". That comes too, don’t worry. And when it does, we are treated to countless uncompromising twists and intense suspense. Like nothing else I’ve seen. In season two (two separate cases divided into four episodes) the creators luckily realized where it had been strongest during season one and combined the tension and the uncompromising approach on a personal level with “regular" crimes. This is a happy medium between both approaches from the first season which is slightly creaky only in the first opening episode and mainly due to the fact that Alice requires considerably more (and mainly her sexy “swish-swish"). And Elba is clearly growing into his role; if there were some nit-picking objections to his performance in the first season, now he has unarguably fused with his character. However, season three is not just resting on its laurels, but falls off them. Dime a dozen, loose ends and following the model of preceding seasons. The authors tried to introduce a destiny storyline, but Luther is seriously sidelined in the last episode. And it’s the same with everything, lots of good motifs, loads of ideas, but somehow it all fizzles out in the end. And Alice’s return is just a bit pointless. Elba supports the season as much as can, but he can’t help the fact that the whole internal affairs storyline is dumber than anything. In the shadow of the storyline (and style) of Line of Duty this is even more disappointing. It’s still way above average, but even so, this is a clear drop in quality. Season four takes no risks and recycles what worked best. Which you might not find too pleasing, but for two episodes it undoubtedly works. S1: 4/5 S2: 4/5 S3: 3/5 S4: 4/5 (20/02/2011)