The Thin Red Tie.
4 Episodes. Starring: Idris Elba, Wunmi Mosaku, Michael Smiley, Dermot Crowley, Patrick Malahide & Ruth Wilson. Creator: Neil Cross.
"Can you breathe"? Detective Chief Inspector 'Luther' asks a fleeing suspect. After he throws him into the side of a shipping container like dropping an anchor, after an epic car chase through the dock to start Season 5 proceeded on foot. The criminal who can't outrun the long tweed coat of the law pants something breathlessly that sounds like an affirmation to the question. "Pity that"! London's biggest smoking detective replies before hauling him in the back of his Volvo police car. Did you miss the message in what he just asked? Anything for a pop against some of the racist New York City cops. Because this is London town and here that's not how it goes down. All you "Lutheran's" get ready to do the paperwork, Idris Elba is back and who needs Bond right now (although it would really shake things up to see this stirring presence as Fleming's 007)? Besides this man has played a real hero Mandela...and made music about it (there's another Madiba album on the way from Driis). This is Luther, DCI Luther. Even without a license to kill his line of duty, straight out of Kingston for his dynamite directorial debut 'Yardie' sends him from the scorching Summer to the foggy fall of starting a war in London again. The best beat cop in the biz with a Bruce Wayne closet of suits for the bats. And you thought this was a Luther Vandross biopic here and now what? WOTCHER! Because he's not the only one back on the block. Out the rabbit hole Ruth Wilson's Alice returns to this wonderland with her criminal 'Affair' going from American Showtime to the BBC for a definitive drama that belongs in the British Broadcasting Corporation's big-three alongside Cillian Murphy's flat cap gang of 'Peaky Blinders' and of elementary course, Benedict Cumberbatch's modern 'Sherlock' in your homes. And now the boy in blue is back just in time after Christmas for the ball to drop on a New Year. Bringing life back to your dry January of "new me" now what's.
Clocking what's happening here in the Great British capital like Big Ben, you'll never want to go to one of the world's most popular, populus cities London again. Let alone catch a night bus (but how about a big red Easter Egg of the 'Uprising' sequel to his 'Pacific Rim' apocalypse? Starring 'Star Wars' and 'Attack The Block' star John Boyega as his characters son). This is your stop. As 'Luther' starts back up to bring endgame to this war even if his gatekeeper didn't make it past the opening of 'Infinity'. "Tell the Spice Girls to back off as well"! This cop tells veteran stetson legend Patrick Malahide after being tazed to a chair by his gang of cardboard gangsters. Grabbing the six shooter (at times camera angle pointing it like it was Dirty Harry's magnum) and the Williams backhand return advantage of the situation you know it's on. But Posh, Ginger, Baby and the Scary Spice of those who use Harry Potter cockney greetings that sound like what Elmer Fudd says to the Roadrunner aren't the only thing this DCI has to deal with this Winter season. There's a neon hooded killer on the loose, stalking the streets and double deckers, all whilst wearing a mask straight out of that epic Joker orchestrated, bank job robbery that began Heath Ledger's 'Dark Knight' last song with a bang. And this moonlighting murderers day job will really have you scared to call and sick and ask for a doctor's note. And that roll case he's pulling...ain't because we're all going on a Summer holiday. This just might be the creepiest, most sinister evil we have ever seen in the darkest BBC crime drama in their "obsessed" season (and we've had a petrol station villain spraying something that burns worse, whilst rolling a dice to see who gets what the hammer or the gun (a water pistol actually much worse than a revolver in a crowded victim laden Victoria Station). Five really comes alive though in our Bowie obsessed hero's haunted duty to bring these horrors to justice in a day and age were we are all scared of our own shadow because we have no idea who the hell it is. Under pressure doesn't even begin.
Once the iconic eye in the Embankment skyline red, Massive Attack, 'Paradise Circus' theme of the Neil Cross created show quietly claps back our detective will need all the help he gets. In the form of brilliant beat cop Michael Smiley, head charge Dermot Crowley and a scene stealing new perfect partner in Wunmi Mosaku even for a man who would prefer to go it workong strong, silent type alone. But it's an inspired Idris whose Luther is sewing it's own legendary legacy by the seams of every series. Elba is epic, wearing this tweed suit jacket with even more swaggering distinction than the definitive tux people want to see him suit up through the periscope. The grittiness his gravitas brings to this worn and world weary series is as real as the greys creeping in on a character who has seen everything and an actor who has already done it all. Double-0 or no. And his working "relationship" with the ever evolving character and actor of Ruth Wilson is the ever combusting catalyst carried like a dripping petrol can to ensure this show remains explosive. When my dad upon watching 'Luther' for the first time at five asked if she was like John Wick. I replied, "yes if no one murderd John Wick's dog and he just went and killed everyone anyway without so much as a little yawn in reply". Think more Batman and The Joker devil dancing in the pale moonlight. Or are they part of a classic love story? Laced with jealousy, betrayal and all the rage that comes seething out of that? Even in a street leopard skin, angelic blonde wig she's literally like the devil on his shoulder as she peers up with those piercing pupils from his right one. If we hadn't already seen her talking and doing things to others we wouldn't be surprised if our caffeine and bad dreams fuelled officer was seeing things. Like she was just all in his head like 'A Beautiful Mind'. He should be so lucky in a show that is as mental as it is ugly. And so should we if we ever get to see him rise from the desk to report for duty again after this. As from Bond Street to this OBE being worthy of being knighted as the next King of the secret service, James. With 'Luther' leaving just as quickly (the four nights, four episode trend may be the perfect anticipatory, antithesis bridge between week by week and binge culture viewing) as he returned with an epic, emotionally engaged end in sight. What now? TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Sherlock', 'Peaky Blinders', 'Collateral'.
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