Idris Elba reprises his role as DCI John Luther, the near-genius murder detective, in a new four-part series of Luther on BBC One this summer.

> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.

> Buy the Series 2 DVD on Amazon.

DCI John Luther is a dedicated copper, dazzling, possessed and sometimes dangerous. But Luther has paid a heavy price for his dedication; in series one his wife Zoe was brutally murdered by Luther’s old colleague and former best friend Ian Reed. Luther is struggling to accept the loss of his wife and to cope with an overriding sense that it was his own obsessive dedication to his work and his immersion in the dark and dreary world of crime that caused her death.

 

Episode 1
Tuesday 14th June 2011, 9pm

A year after the death of estranged wife Zoe and best friend Ian Reed’s betrayal, Luther remains tortured by the past. While Alice bides her time in a psychiatric unit and Ripley languishes in uniform, Luther has been shut away with dusty files working on cold cases. His only solace exists in his newfound friendship with Mark North and their late-night chess games – forever bonded by the person that once divided them: Zoe.

Former investigating officer Martin Schenk offers Luther a role in the new Serious and Serial Unit, and Luther accepts. He is determined to devote his energy to reinstating DS Justin Ripley as a rising star in the police force and help those who he inadvertently hurt or compromised in the past, including Alice.

The team, complete with the new addition of ambitious DS Erin Gray, is immediately faced with a surreal and nightmarish case. They must catch a man who hides behind a Punch mask as he brutally murders his victims. Luther quickly concludes that this man is obsessed with fairytale and mythology and is determined to enter into historical folklore himself by accomplishing one final devastating set piece.

Luther’s focus is disrupted by the arrival of Caroline Jones, the wife of a man Luther committed to prison long ago. Caroline blames Luther for the destruction of her family and now demands his help to rescue her daughter, Jenny.

 

Episode 2
Tuesday 21st June 2011, 9pm

Luther is devastated by the news of Ripley’s abduction but refuses to believe that he is dead. He throws himself into the investigation, knowing Cameron has an ultimate plan that is far more horrific than any of his previous murders.

Meanwhile, Cameron is busy with his own personal investigation. He has strung Ripley up, bleeding but alive, in an underground bunker and is using any means necessary to force information from him.

The steadfast Ripley reveals nothing about the case. Forced to change tactics, Cameron phones Luther and plays the pitiful sounds of Ripley’s screams down the phone. Luther stubbornly refuses to engage. He forbids anyone to answer Cameron’s enraged pleas for attention, convinced that they risk Ripley’s life further if they build a relationship with Cameron. A desperate call from Caroline forces Luther to put his investigation on hold and, at Caroline’s house, he comes face to face with Baba, Jenny’s ruthless and vengeful gang boss…

 

Episode 3
Tuesday 28th June 2011, 9pm

As Luther’s affection grows for Jenny, the quirky girl who is integrating herself into his life, so does his determination to protect her. His wish to get her back on her feet even overrides his obsession with work and, for the first time in too long, he takes a holiday to help her. Their domestic morning is interrupted, however, by news of a violent attack at a petrol station. Luther reluctantly leaves Jenny, warning her to be careful.

Meanwhile, Baba and her heavies continue to make their demands on Luther. As yet, he has been unable to find a way to end their blackmail. However, when Toby and Frank set Luther another task, he sees an opening through the obvious antagonism between the two men. For Jenny’s sake he knows he must do what they say but, slowly, a plan to exploit Frank’s frustration with Toby starts to formulate in his mind…

 

Episode 4
Tuesday 5th July 2011, 9pm

Luther’s personal and professional life spirals out of control as he tries to cover up a death and appease a suspicious Baba. He must also protect Jenny from any further harm.

At work there’s also a killer at large whose actions are ruled by his dice. How do you stop a man who sees life and death as a game and whose actions can’t be predicted?

Confronted with the gruesome reality of his actions, Luther has a momentary flicker of doubt, questioning whether he can go through with his plan. He knows that by continuing he is moving further into the dark abyss of the criminal world than he ever has before. But he must, for Jenny. Steeling his nerves he commits to his plan before hurrying back to work.