Luther, Series 1
by Neil Cross (BBC, 2010)
Dark action/crime series with flashes of humour and exceptional performances from Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson, ably supported by Paul McGann, Saskia Reeves, et al. (The regulars and guest cast are uniformly excellent.) Alice Morgan emerges as one of television’s great sociopaths.
Luther, Series 5
by Neil Cross; dir. Jamie Payne (BBC, 2019)
Luther comes full circle in this spiralling 4-part finale. The tone of previous series is maintained—the darkness of London as a killing field; Luther’s restless inner turmoil—and there are gripping performances cast-wide: Ruth Wilson; Dermot Crowley; Patrick Malahide; Enzo Cilenti.