Luther: Season 1

Idris Elba (The Wire, American Gangster) stars as Detective John Luther in this thrilling new crime series from BBC America. A self-destructive near-genius, Luther might just be as dangerous as the depraved criminals he hunts. Luther follows his own moral code as much as the rules of criminal law. But he quickly becomes locked in a lethal battle of wits with Alice (Ruth Wilson, The Prisoner, Jane Eyre), a beautiful, highly intelligent mass murderer, and his decision-making process becomes increasingly murky. The strain begins to tell as he's drawn deeper and deeper into a series of horrific murders, and the shadow of a former case threatens to bring him down. Forced to face his own capacity for violence, he struggles with why his wife left him and what draws him to Alice. As the stakes get higher and more personal, Luther's lonely path pulls him towards the very edge of temptation. Is he a force for good or a man hell bent on self-destruction?

A brilliant detective tormented by the darker side of humanity, Luther shines a light into the hearts and minds of psychopaths and killers and the shadowy spaces of his own soul. A BBC AMERICA co-production starring The Wire's Idris Elba (Russell ‘Stringer' Bell), Luther is a gripping, psychological thriller driven by an emotionally impulsive detective. A self-destructive near-genius, Luther might just be as dangerous as the depraved criminals he hunts. In each episode, the murderer's identity is known from the start, focusing the drama on the psychological duel between predator and prey. Luther premieres on BBC America October 17, 2010, 10:00p.m. ET/PT.

Luther is created and written by Neil Cross, the acclaimed suspense novelist and one of the lead writers on MI-5. He says: "It's an intense psychological thriller which examines not only human depravity but the complex nature of love ... and how it's often this - our finest attribute - that leads us into darkness."

Elba, who is also an associate producer on the mini-series, is joined by an all-star cast: Ruth Wilson (The Prisoner, Jane Eyre) is Alice Morgan, beautiful, extraordinarily intelligent and a key witness in Luther's first investigation; Steven Mackintosh (Criminal Justice) is Detective Chief Inspector Ian Reed and Luther's loyal friend and work colleague; Indira Varma (Rome) is Zoe Luther, who's had the strength to walk away from the man she still loves; Paul McGann (Withnail and I) is Mark North, unafraid to compete with Luther for Zoe's love; Saskia Reeves (Bodies) is Detective Superintendent Rose Teller, Luther's risk-taking boss and Warren Brown (Occupation) is Detective Sergeant Justin Ripley, Luther's loyal, awestruck new partner.

Luther follows his own moral code as much as the rules of criminal law. But as he becomes locked in a lethal battle of wits with Alice, his decision process becomes increasingly murky. The strain begins to tell as he's drawn deeper into a series of horrific murders, and the shadow of a former case threatens to bring him down.

Forced to face his own capacity for violence - he struggles with why his wife left him and what draws him to Alice. As the stakes get higher and more personal, Luther's lonely path pulls him towards the very edge of temptation. Is he a force for good or a man hell bent on self-destruction?

EPISODE ONE
Detective John Luther returns to work after a spell of leave following the traumatic arrest of the serial killer Henry Madsen. Luther's first case is investigating 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 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 realizes 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 bed where he lies in a coma. What does she intend to do now that she has found him?

EPISODE TWO
Luther is called to the shooting of two uniformed police officers. The murders are cold blooded but appear motiveless. Luther quickly realizes the killer is a soldier and 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 police shooting. Three more police officers are gunned down.

Meanwhile, Alice has been investigating Luther and to his horror, seems to know what happened to Madsen during his arrest. She baits him further by asking what Zoe would think if she knew the truth. Concerned for her safety, Luther urges Zoe 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 reduced and is threatening further deaths unless his terms are met. Determined to flush Owen out, Luther gives a taunting television interview, ensuring that all of Owen's anger and hatred is focused on him. In an effort to catch his killer, has Luther just signed his own death warrant?

EPISODE THREE
Kirsten Ross, a young mother, has been abducted. Luther realizes it's the work of Lucien Burgess, a collector and writer of the occult, suspected in the murder of another woman, Grace Allen, 10 years previously, but Burgess was never charged.

Meanwhile, Zoe's partner, Mark is beaten up. With relations already strained between Zoe, her ex-husband Luther, Mark automatically assumes that Luther is responsible and reports the assault to his boss, Detective Superintendent Rose 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, realizing 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 FOUR
After spending a night with Zoe, Luther believes they are now 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 focus on his latest case.

Across London, four young women have been murdered. Despite the hundreds of hours of surveillance 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 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 FIVE
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 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's 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 SIX
Framed for murder, the only person 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's forgiveness and complicity who then 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 really change its nature?

Directed by Brian Kirk, Sam Miller, Stefan Schwartz
Written by Neil Cross
Produced by Katie Swinden
Executive Produced by Phillippa Giles
Original Music by Paul Englishby
Cinematography by Julian Court, Tim Fleming
Film Editing by Victoria Boydell, Tania Reddin, Katie Weiland
Costume Design by James Keast

"Taut, punchy, brilliantly filmed and acted with total conviction... gloriously entertaining" The Times

"Idris Elba in his best post-Wire role to date" Guardian

"Beautifully done and deliciously intriguing - and the powerfully charismatic Elba is terrific" Daily Mail