“There are some things that you might’ve heard about me that quite possibly could be true” – John Luther
There’s little doubt that Luther is one of the more entertaining and seriously intense police dramas to ever greet our television screens. Idris Elba brought a dark heroism to John Luther and the anticipation for a new chapter in the series will now come in the form of a Christmas gift.
Much like Sherlock’s trip back in time, Luther will return for a special episode at Christmas that aims to push the detective (and the audience) to their limits:
Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Elba) will learn the hard way; he may never be able to walk away from capturing the tormented psychopaths that lurk the streets of London. His attempt to leave the darker side of humanity behind for a chance at a “normal” life is quickly thwarted when he’s drawn into a terrifyingly complex case. A cannibalistic serial killer delivers a devastating blow that not only pulls him out of seclusion but pushes him closer to the edge than he’s ever been. A BBC AMERICA co-production, the gripping, psychological thriller Luther makes its highly-anticipated return in a one-night special event on Thursday, December 17, 9:00pm ET.
The last we heard, Fox had put a rumored American Luther adaptation on hold and the original series was aiming for the fourth iteration of the U.K. series to air in 2015. As it turns out, this supersized Christmas special will encompass the fourth season. BBC America provided some detail behind the plot within their press release, noting that the threat that brings Luther out of hiding is the type that would give Hannibal a run for his money:
This time we find Luther on a leave of absence from the police force, laying low in a rundown cottage. A visit from colleagues, Detective Chief Inspector Theo Bloom (Darren Boyd, Veep, The World’s End) and Detective Sergeant Emma Lane (Rose Leslie, The Last Witch Hunter, Game of Thrones) brings a shocking piece of news that draws him back to London in search of the truth. At the same time, a gruesome cannibalistic serial killer has struck the city, eating body parts as he goes. With a trail of clues leading from one crime scene to the next, Detective Superintendent Unit Martin Schenk (Dermot Crowley, Babel, Bleak House) and his team must work out the twisted logic that connects each victim. But this murdering mastermind is more than a match for Schenk’s police, outsmarting them at every step. It’s not long before Luther makes his triumphant return to the Bullpen, determined to capture the killer before another mutilated body joins the mounting pile. But he’s dogged at every turn by ghosts from his past. Isolated and volatile, it will take every fiber of Luther’s being to keep it together.
While having an entire season boiled down to a three hour special might seem cruel to your normal series in the states, this is just right for Luther. Besides, you don’t want to spend too much time muddling around in the darkness and grime. Next thing you know, you’ll be creating some sort of real life role playing game with your hammer-wielding twin.
(Via BBC America)
