BBC: Luther (What has Idris Elba done that is interesting)

[Nellie]

I think we need a Luther thread for those that are not coming in here. I think it is that good. Have not had the time to do it (READ: Lazy).

By your command.

I'm a lazy shit and starting a thread like this implies that I've paid enough attention to what is going on.

I'm not a huge fan of police shows, CSI was about the limit of my patience, but I like this one. To a point it's about as by the numbers as it gets.

Elba is Luther, a maverick cop who doesn't play by the rules and blah blah blah snore. There's shouty bosses, dutiful juniors, rule breaking, a signature car and races against time to catch the murderer, that sort of stuff. Despite all that it's completely engrossing and much greater than the sum of its parts for reasons that I can't really put my finger on. Oh and Ruth Wilson.

So anyway, series 2 started last night and I reckon it's picked up pretty much where it left off. It's still about as realistic as Stallone's face lift and did a pretty shoddy job filling in gaps in the memory. But after they'd finished not quite explaining things in a way that made sense, in the context of the finale of last season and just on with it then it's very, very watchable.

I also like the humour running through it and the occasional nod to the rest of us from cast and writers that they know exactly what is going on and aren't taking themselves too seriously.

Elba is always watchable and I'd crawl over broken glass to push matchsticks in Ruth Wilson's poo.

[edit]
Ok, I was in the TV & music forum, how did this end up here? This is another reason why I shouldn't be allowed to start threads.

[farfrael]

Oh, a wild thread appears

I really liked series 1 and it looks like series 2 is going to be as mental as the 1st one (albeit only 4 episodes ... why)

The inherent viciousness of some of the characters is refreshing in a sense. Not everybody is a "fundamentally nice guy tormented by a horrible event in his past". Most of them are just nasty.

[Tyjenks]

Dammit Nellie! ;)

I hate cop shows and then The Wire came along and ensured I would hate every cop show that was ever made.....however,

Luther is just different enough and the characters original enough that it puts something different into it. No, it is not The Wire, but it is very good in a different way. Ruth Wilson's character is amazing. And I have professed my love of Idris Elba elsewhere. He is excellent, IM(Biased)O.

You can get Series 1 on Netflix. I think it is 6 episodes in total, IIRC. Watch the first and you will be sold. Don't overanalyze!!! Like Nellie said, some of it does not quite fit together, but just sit back and enjoy the ride and the performances.

Now where is that stusser hiding himself so he can move this thread. I knew I should have started it myself. ;P

[nixon66]

I just started on this series over the weekend and was blown away by the first episode. And watched the second last night as well via Netflix. This is a great case of Netflix steering me in the right direction after all my love of the British shows I've rated on there.

[Nellie]

*sniff* Sorry.



possible spoiler








I like that they spent all of about 10 minutes setting the baddie up in the opening episode and everyone already knows who he is. There's no pointless deliberation, often done while you sit on the sofa rolling your eyes while they stumble around waiting for the big plot reveal, now it's just a case of how and when (if?) they'll catch him.

[Marged]

I kinda want a gif of that guy in the very beginning of the third episode and his... tongue... At the same time, I also think that would burn my brain.

[robsam]

I just can't get past the "matchsticks and poo" line in the OP.

[Nellie]

disappointing. Even the Mrs who's a police drama fanatic was let down by it. The trailers for the next one are already on the go so maybe it'll be a return to form. I hope it picks up because apart from a few scenes they're wasting a fantastic cast right now.

[Tyjenks]

While still in the wrong subforum......

Funnily enough, the Amazon sale for the Series 1 DVD showed up in my inbox. I must have looked for it sometime.

Stupid other country getting to see Series 2 before us.

Originally, I had heard, 2 two-hour episodes, but I think you guys have already gotten 3 hour long ones. Any word if this is going to be another 6 like Series 1?

[nixon66]

Seriously. People. Watch this show. Worth the time you'd spend, and the joy of it being a British show is it doesn't take 6 episodes to get going, it starts right off the bat.

Netflix. It's your friend for Luther.

[Tyjenks]

Also, stusser, stusser, stusser.

If you say his name three times, he will show up and move a thread, right?

EDIT: PM'd

EDIT II: This is a Tom thing not a stusser thing.

[Hugin]

Luther and Alice Morgan need to make a guest appearance on Dexter.

[Nellie]

if epII was a bit meh, last night was bloody brilliant.

No idea what is going on with the BBC and really short series runs of stuff that's actually good.

[farfrael]

not sure I would go as far as brilliant but it was certainly enjoyable.
Shame about the sorter run but on the other hand, it does make for "tighter" story-telling and there's less temptation to add filler episodes or "yet another senseless plot twist"

[Wing of ilium]

Just started watching this. What extraordinary trash. The Spartacus of police procedurals. It really is so bad that you can't look away.

[gurugeorge]

Really like this.

It's not so much bothered about the audience figuring crap out (that side of it is, as others have said, pretty throwaway), it's more about the psychological tensions between the protagonists, leading to ponderings (in the audience's mind) about life, the universe and everything, all done in a spiffy, hyper-real production style.

But mainly it's about Idris Elba's immensely watchable and expressive face.

[farfrael]

just watched the last one (ep 4), loved it.
Really, really hope there will be a season 3

[anaqer]

No, but keep an eye out for that two-parter Christmas special!

[Tyjenks]

Really like this.

It's not so much bothered about the audience figuring crap out (that side of it is, as others have said, pretty throwaway), it's more about the psychological tensions between the protagonists, leading to ponderings (in the audience's mind) about life, the universe and everything, all done in a spiffy, hyper-real production style.

But mainly it's about Idris Elba's immensely watchable and expressive face.

Those are my thought put into better words than I could come up with. Still gotta ways to go before it shows up on BBC America.

My favorite line turned up in an advertisement for the Series One DVDs, "Do you ever wonder if you are on the Devil's side without knowing it?".

I would watch anything with Elba in it. Most of the character arcs are refreshing.

[nixon66]

Just finished watching series 2 and really enjoyed the hell out of it. Too little Ruth Wilson, but Idris does quite well again. Read as well it has been picked up for a third series, so maybe we will get Ruth back.

[Tyjenks]

Third series!?!?! And here I thought they were done. Awesome.

The only reason I did not like Series 2 as much is because Series 1 was so consistently brilliant. And more episodes.

Completely agree on too little Ruth Wilson and my Idris love has not waned in the slightest.

[ElGuapo]

Really liked this up until the last two episodes of the second series. A guy goes on a killing rampage with a hammer? Really? I don't see that happening, especially in a crowded place like an office building or train station. Someone in that crowd would throw a chair or a wastebasket or something at him. Guns I understand, but a hammer?

Also, do the police in London really never carry guns? Not even an old fashioned six shooter? Mace? Tasers? A lot of cops in this series get killed or hurt because the badguys come at them with knives or sticks.

[Peter Olafson]

I haven't checked out Luther yet. But if memory serves, he was on The Big C for a while.

[Tyjenks]

I haven't checked out Luther yet. But if memory serves, he was on The Big C for a while.

That he was. What're you waiting for?!!

Elba just got nominated yet again for an Emmy. He won last year for Luther. The show was nominated too. It is not perfect, but it is an excellent show just to watch Elba's charisma ooze all over the screen.

[Peter Olafson]

I'll get to it, promise. It's in my Instant queue somewhere. (And now that Netflix seems to have repaired the "shuffle" bug, I'm slowly closing in.)

[ShivaX]

Also, do the police in London really never carry guns? Not even an old fashioned six shooter?

They don't.