Idris Elba (The Wire) stars as DCI John Luther in BBC One’s new intense psychological thriller series, Luther, created and written by Neil Cross (Spooks).
Episode 1
Tuesday 4th May 2010
DCI John Luther returns to work after a spell of leave following the traumatic arrest of serial killer Henry Madsen. Luther’s first case is to investigate the murder of the parents of child genius Alice Morgan. He quickly deduces that Alice is responsible for the deaths, but the seemingly perfect crime leaves no evidence with which to convict Alice.
Outside of work Luther is trying to win back his wife, Zoe, now he’s got his life back on track. She has moved on, however, and has a new man in her life: Mark, who is the antithesis of Luther. Will Luther be able to save his fractured marriage to Zoe?
As the murder case proceeds, Luther realises he has become Alice’s next project and that Zoe is in danger – because he dared to question Alice’s brilliance. Luther and Alice seem to have a strange connection – both extraordinarily intelligent, they verbally spar with each other and seem to delight in the competition.
Luther’s brilliant mind soon works out how Alice managed to kill her parents without leaving a trace, but without the evidence of the gun there is nothing he can do. On this occasion it seems Alice has won – but Luther refuses to give up. In the meantime, unbeknown to Luther, Alice has tracked down Henry Madsen to his hospital bedside where he lies in a coma. But what does she intend to do now that she has found him?
Episode 2
Tuesday 11th May 2010
DCI John Luther is called to the shooting of two uniformed police officers. The murders are cold-blooded but appear motiveless. Luther quickly realises that the killer is a soldier and that he seems to be targeting anyone wearing a police uniform. With Ripley’s help, Luther identifies the killer as Owen Lynch – but not before they are called to the scene of another shooting, where three more police officers are gunned down.
Meanwhile, Alice has been investigating Luther and, to his horror, seems to know what happened to serial killer Henry Madsen during his arrest. She baits him further by asking what Zoe would think if she knew the truth. Concerned for Zoe’s safety, Luther urges her to leave London as he fears Alice will come after her again, but Zoe refuses to believe him.
Trying to uncover the killer’s motives, Luther discovers that Owen is taking his orders from his father, Terry Lynch, a convicted police killer. Terry wants his sentence quashed and is threatening further deaths unless his terms are met.
Determined to flush out Owen, Luther gives a taunting television interview, ensuring that all of Owen’s anger and hatred is focused on him. However, in an effort to catch his killer, has Luther just signed his own death warrant?
Episode 3
Tuesday 18th May 2010
Kirsten Ross, a young mother, has been abducted. DCI John Luther realises that this is the work of Lucien Burgess, a collector and writer of the occult, who was suspected of the murder of another woman, Grace Allen, 10 years previously; but Burgess was never charged.
Meanwhile, Mark is beaten up. With relations strained between Zoe, her ex-husband Luther and Mark himself, he automatically assumes that Luther is responsible and reports the assault to DSI Teller. But the culprit is not as suspected, and a further twist emerges as Luther receives a recording of the assault from an unknown source.
To complicate things, Martin Schenk from police complaints is brought in and, realising that Schenk is going to suspend him, Luther escapes to buy himself some extra time. On a deadline to find the young mother before it’s too late, Luther and Ripley work into the night to piece together clues and link Burgess to another murder committed 20 years earlier.
Luther and Ripley’s investigation leads them to the canal, where they find Burgess’s narrowboat. They discover Kirsten inside. Ripley wants to call it in, but Luther stops him, knowing that Burgess will wriggle out of it once again if they stick to the rules.
Episode 4
Tuesday 25th May 2010
Having spent a night with Zoe, Luther thinks they are back together. Meanwhile, serial killer Henry Madsen, the man responsible for Luther’s extended leave, has woken up from his coma. A worried Luther knows he must concentrate on a new case.
Across London, four young women have been murdered. Despite the hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and the huge pool of witnesses, no connection can be found between them. But the time between murders is decreasing; whoever this killer is, he’s on a spree. He’s going to keep killing until he’s caught.
Convinced the unknown killer will strike again that night, Luther must work against the clock to identify his man. At the same time, he must seek to convince Alice that he can’t see her any more. Because of Madsen, it’s just too dangerous. But can Alice ever accept this?
Episode 5
Tuesday 1st June 2010
When an art dealer’s wife is taken hostage at gunpoint, Luther leads a tense investigation.
The hostage takers want payment in diamonds so, stalling for time, Luther substitutes a bag of replacement diamonds from the Serious Crime Unit’s evidence safe. Luther and DCI Reed are on hand to arrest the gang members picking up the gems, but when everything starts to unravel Luther begins to suspect that even Reed has double-crossed him.
Luther tries to persuade Reed that between them they can make it work, but Reed knows it is only a matter of time before Luther has to give him up. Terrified and distraught, Reed goes to the only person he knows Luther will listen to – Zoe.
Episode 6
Tuesday 8th June 2010
Framed for murder, the only person DCI John Luther can turn to for help is Alice. As Luther plots with Alice, DCI Reed remains at the heart of the police team, quietly shoring up the evidence against Luther from within. Even Rose Teller, Luther’s former stalwart supporter, now leans on Reed for emotional support and, when the murder weapon is found at the crime scene covered in Luther’s fingerprints, Ripley’s confidence in Luther wavers too.
To have any chance of escaping Reed’s web of lies Luther must steal the evidence and discredit him; but in doing so he seems unquestionably guilty and Teller brings the Armed Forces in to hunt him.
Backed into a corner, Luther secures Mark North’s forgiveness and complicity and Mark agrees to lure Reed to them. The plan is coming together but now Luther must trust Alice, who assures him she will never betray him; but can a scorpion change its nature?