REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE EPISODE

 

 

 

When a main character in a drama series is killed off, it can be seen either as a sign of desperation or a show of strength.

Unless an actor is leaving (Jessica Brown Findlay’s decision to quit Downton Abbey prompted the demise of Lady Sybil Branson) or the programme is predicated on a constant threat of zombification (The Walking Dead slaughters its own on a weekly basis), the death of a regular tends to indicate a faltering drama in need of an urgent shakeup or a creative team so confident in their work they’re prepared to go to any length to maintain the level of quality – including offing the big names. No one is indispensible.

Of course, it could also mean that a show is coming to its natural conclusion and there is no longer any need to maintain the status quo. But more of that anon. For now … Luther, bloody hell. Or rather, Ripley, bloody hell.

Although this episode ostensibly concerns the hunt for Twitter-savvy, scumbag-executing vigilante Callum Marwood, it’s also about the enduring bond between DCI Luther (Idris Elba) and DS Ripley (Warren Brown). ‘He’s my mate,’ Luther explains to new girlfriend Mary Day (Sienna Guillory). ‘I love him.’ Later, in the office, he tells his sergeant: ‘It’s time you were doing my job, having little Ripleys of your own.’ Although this seems a bit saccharin and soppy at the time, it pays heartbreaking dividends later.

Mark Rowley makes Marwood a fairly sympathetic villain, with sufficient tragedy to evoke compassion but not enough humanity to make him genuinely likeable – although readers of certain tabloids will delight in his violent vendetta against hoodies and paedophiles. ‘Have you never been tempted to administer a bit of personal justice?’ he asks Luther. ‘I don’t have the right to do that,’ the detective replies. ‘No one does.’

Yet the consequences of Luther’s righteous rule-bending are a feature of this series and DSU Stark (David O’Hara) is still trying to bring him down – this time by frightening off Mary with tales of her new boyfriend’s dark past. ‘You’ve spent your life thinking you’re the whirlwind,’ the anti-corruption alcoholic gloats, ‘but you’re not, because I’m the whirlwind.’

Stark seems to be confusing himself with Jimmy White, but his personal crusade against Luther is shunted to the sidelines (along with everything else) by Marwood putting the RIP in Ripley. With a nonce dangling by a noose and Luther trying to fight off an entire mob singlehandedly, it’s his junior partner who pursues the vigilante into a dead end – and takes a lethal shotgun blast to the chest. By the time Luther arrives, Justin is beyond help.

With Luther prostrate and crying at his dead friend’s side, it’s a magnificent scene, devastating and compelling, demonstrating a drama at the height of its powers: shaking things up because it can rather than because it needs to.

But where does Luther go from here? Is there a long-term future without Warren Brown or has Neil Cross already decided to bring down the curtain while the series is still at its peak? It’s impossible to tell if next week’s episode will be the last ever, but this season has certainly proved the incalculable value to a cop show of a good sidekick.

Although Luther is always the focal point, it’s the maverick detective’s colleague who gives the show enough credibility to counterpoint the outlandishness. The pivotal role in Luther is Ripley’s – believe it or not.

Aired at 9pm on Tuesday 16 July 2013 on BBC One.

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