Luther S3E3

The show Luther began life as a stylish yet unconvincing crime drama in my eyes, but found its sweet spot with the conclusion of the season 1 arc. In short, the show got real personal real fast, and it made for an extremely thrilling two part finale to that season. I think the producers realized that immediately, and so modeled the second and third seasons on this success: both consist of a couple of two-episode, highly personal arcs.

This episode is captivating thanks to the best villain 'Luther' has dreamed up so far. The tradeoff between getting justice at all costs and giving criminals their fair due has been a major theme throughout Luther's run, so it's only natural at the (presumed) end of the show that he faces off with his own dark nature personified. This is a psychological thriller show after all, so it's totally brilliant to match Luther against essentially himself in a dark mirror.

It's worth mentioning that this episode taps into the Dark Knight's idea of making our villain attempt to prove to the hero that society is on his (the villain's) side. In TDK Joker tries to show Batman that given the choice the free citizens of Gotham would murder others to save themselves, and of course in this episode the villain tries to prove to Luther that London is on the side of brutal justice. Ultimately, in TDK we get redemption for Batman as the Joker's prediction falls flat but in Luther his prediction is on the money. London, through its social media and even symbolically through one singular victim, is on board with the kill-the-criminals idea. I'm guessing public opinion will turn against him now that he's killed a copper, but maybe it won't and that might be a good reason for Luther to bow out of policing all together.

Speaking of Ripley, he finally bought it in this show. Poor Ripley's well being was featured heavily in a Season 2 arc as well, to great effect, and it is just as effective here. I might quibble with the exact logic of the scene leading up to his death (he was acting a bit suicidal there, after all it's not like he didn't have other options than standing his ground or letting the creep get away), but in the end that's immaterial. His death was probably inevitable as the series comes to a close, in a show this personal, do you really think that Luther's spiritual life line would escape unharmed?

3/4