Home > Luther > Season 1 « TV Series Page Luther: Season 1 (2010) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Want to see Episode List Season 1 Luther Critics Consensus Gritty and ambiguous, Luther is a captivating drama bolstered by a powerhouse performance from Idris Elba in the title role. 91% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 23 93% Audience Score User Ratings: 517 NEW More Info × Close Want to see Super Reviewer Submit Super Reviewer Edit Review Episodes 1 Episode 1 Air date: Oct 17, 2010 In the series premiere, Det. John Luther (Idris Elba) investigates a seemingly perfect double murder, while also trying to win back his wife (Indira Varma), who has already moved on. More 2 Episode 2 Air date: Oct 24, 2010 A sniper is targeting police officers, but his motive is unclear. Meanwhile, Alice reveals what she knows about Madsen's arrest and threatens to let Zoe in on Luther's secret. More 3 Episode 3 Air date: Oct 31, 2010 A young mother is abducted, and Luther realizes it's the work of an occult writer who was suspected but never charged in the murder of another woman 10 years earlier. Meanwhile, Zoe's boyfriend, Mark, is assaulted, and blame falls on Luther. More 4 Episode 4 Air date: Nov 7, 2010 Serial killer Henry Madsen wakes up from his coma, and Luther worries the truth will finally come out about Madsen's arrest. Meanwhile, an unknown killer is targeting young women in London. More 5 Episode 5 Air date: Nov 14, 2010 An art dealer's wife is taken hostage and Luther uncovers a shocking betrayal as he works to free her. More 6 Episode 6 Air date: Nov 21, 2010 Luther is framed for murder in the Series 1 finale, and Alice is the only person he can turn to for help, but he's still not sure he can trust her. More Luther: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (20) Tv Season Info Idris Elba, known for playing drug dealer Stringer Bell on "The Wire," explores life on the other side of the law in this psychological crimedrama from acclaimed crime writer Neil Cross ("MI-5"). Elba portrays John Luther, a brilliant but tortured homicide detective who gets caught up in the psychological cat-and-mouse game between detective and criminal. Co-stars include Ruth Wilson as Alice Morgan, Warren Brown as DS Justin Ripley, Steven Mackintosh as DCI Ian Reed and Saskia Reevesas DSU Rose Teller. Genre: Drama Network: BBC Premiere Date: Oct 17, 2010 Creator: Neil Cross Exec. Producer: Phillippa Giles Cast Idris Elba as John Luther Ruth Wilson as Alice Morgan Steven Mackintosh as Det. Chief Insp. Ian Reed Indira Varma as Zoe Luther Paul McGann as Mark North Saskia Reeves as Det. Superintendent Rose Teller Warren Brown as Det. Sgt. Justin Ripley Anton Saunders as Henry Madsen Show More Cast News & Interviews for Luther: Season 1 13 TV Shows You Should Binge-Watch This June 2016 Emmy Winners Announced: Game of Thrones and Veep Win Top Awards 2016 Emmy Award Nominations View All Luther: Season 1 News Episodes 1 Episode 1 Air date: Oct 17, 2010 In the series premiere, Det. John Luther (Idris Elba) investigates a seemingly perfect double murder, while also trying to win back his wife (Indira Varma), who has already moved on. More 2 Episode 2 Air date: Oct 24, 2010 A sniper is targeting police officers, but his motive is unclear. Meanwhile, Alice reveals what she knows about Madsen's arrest and threatens to let Zoe in on Luther's secret. More 3 Episode 3 Air date: Oct 31, 2010 A young mother is abducted, and Luther realizes it's the work of an occult writer who was suspected but never charged in the murder of another woman 10 years earlier. Meanwhile, Zoe's boyfriend, Mark, is assaulted, and blame falls on Luther. More 4 Episode 4 Air date: Nov 7, 2010 Serial killer Henry Madsen wakes up from his coma, and Luther worries the truth will finally come out about Madsen's arrest. Meanwhile, an unknown killer is targeting young women in London. More 5 Episode 5 Air date: Nov 14, 2010 An art dealer's wife is taken hostage and Luther uncovers a shocking betrayal as he works to free her. More 6 Episode 6 Air date: Nov 21, 2010 Luther is framed for murder in the Series 1 finale, and Alice is the only person he can turn to for help, but he's still not sure he can trust her. More Critic Reviews for Luther Season 1 All Critics (23) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (2) Come for some slightly above-average murder mysteries, stay for some way above-average central performances. Luther is often good, never clean and always fun. Apr 28, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review… Andrew Williams Quickflix Top Critic Creator and writer Neil Cross explores tricky dramatic territory, with suspense, crackling dialogue and a talented cast. Oct 17, 2010 | Full Review… Joanne Ostrow Denver Post Top Critic It's beautifully shot, full of slick architectural vistas, and boasts the versatile and saucy Ruth Wilson as its villainess. Oct 17, 2010 | Full Review… Serena Davies Daily Telegraph (UK) Top Critic Powerful, challenging, ambiguous, surprising, dark, odd, stunning, grisly, disturbing, raw, sexy, taut, intense, captivating. Oct 17, 2010 | Full Review… Jonathan Storm Philadelphia Inquirer Top Critic Luther often teeters on the edge of plausibility... But Elba's deeply grounded performance keeps the show from feeling over-the-top. Oct 19, 2018 | Full Review… Anna Peele Esquire Magazine Snag is, the plot is ridiculous, and a batch of rather fine actors have been persuaded to throw subtlety and logic to the winds and to portray characters which veer wildly between cliché and implausibility... Jul 17, 2018 | Full Review… Adam Sweeting The Arts Desk This was woeful ham, utterly redeemed by Idris, and I await Luther II with genuine anticipation and my cliché-pants ready. Jun 22, 2018 | Full Review… Euan Ferguson Observer (UK) When Luther meets Alice, her parents and their dog have just been killed... Their subsequent cat-and-mouse game provides an intriguing, ongoing storyline that gives Luther an edge you don't see on most cop shows. Nov 30, 2015 | Full Review… Marc D. Allan NUVO Newsweekly The first episode of Luther has plenty to recommend it. Oct 17, 2010 | Rating: B | Full Review… Scott Tobias AV Club Top Critic Cross's series does have some things going for it. One is Idris Elba. Another is the pathological flirtation between Luther and the killer he can't quite nail. Oct 17, 2010 | Full Review… Thomas Sutcliffe Independent (UK) Top Critic View All Critic Reviews (23) Audience Reviews for Luther: Season 1 Jul 24, 2019 First series was excellent. James B Mar 16, 2019 Amazing....simply amazing Great stories , great characters, some plot holes but the characters and actors are so good it doesn�??t matter Great, a few loop holes with the American criminal, his demise and that of his accomplices. Framing of Luther was so surprisingly easy. His outbursts sometimes seemed otp and uncalled for as was his rage which almost cost him a bullet from the marksmen, which he knew could happen. Nevertheless this series hooks you with some great acting and some great moments and great characters, particularly Alice who is so witty and funny. Tariq A Feb 11, 2019 I tried desperately tried to like this. Idris only had two acting emotions, angry or monotone...the story line rushes through from cliche to ridiculous so you never get a chance to get to know any of the characters enough to care. No suspense just bad London accents speaking the obvious. The only saving grace was Alice who was an amazingly acted interesting character who has to make room for the name sake. Tiffany H Jan 24, 2019 Idris Alba is actually quite avreage. Everything and everyone else is f'ing amazing! Not gripping but grapples with you, much like a pet dog that never listens to you but you can't quite let him or her go! Looking forward to season 2. Saumik D Jan 21, 2019 Gripping and well acted but its far fetched and predicatable at the same time. Desperate ending which you cant wait to watch more of. Aaron M Nov 17, 2018 Unbelievably awful. Over acted, no real storyline. Grace W Dec 09, 2017 Absolutely Fantastic. Bob L Apr 05, 2017 Between Luther's constant disrespect of people's boundaries and everyone else letting him get his own way this is such a boring use of his character. Have we not moved on from "anger wins"? Marianne K Jan 10, 2017 Not just your average cop show, Luther brings psycho logical thrills without the gun violence american cop shows. Also how much better can Idris Elba get?! Jonathan A Nov 27, 2016 I hate the Brits. And that hatred is driven by jealousy. They produce so many great programs that it's hard to keep track. Luther certainly fits that characterization. I've seen 4 episodes so far and it's superb. Well written, well acted, well produced - well done! Shawn O See all Audience reviews News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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