Episode #5.1

I love the Luther series as a whole, especially the first 3 seasons -- they comprise some of the most exciting, jaw-dropping hours television I have ever seen. But over time the show has fallen into a formula, one which this season 5 premiere proudly flaunts: drawn-out scenes of an animal-like serial killer with paraphiliac urges stalking their innocent prey; Luther finding himself caught up in the London underworld or with shadowy figures he's dealt with in the past; very little actual detective work that often boils down to Luther or another character using broad stereotypes/armchair psychoanalysis or general wisdom that anyone could've come up with to track down the bad guy (or simply saying "I have a hunch").

A lot of people watch Luther FOR this formula, though I was hoping the show would have evolved a bit by 2019. Here in episode 5x1 we have dapper gangster George Cornelius (Patrick Malahide) returning from season 4 to involve DCI Luther (Idris Elba) in the recovery of his kidnapped son. Cornelius serves the same role Baba (Pam Ferris) did in series 2: an underworld figure meant to involve Luther in the dark side so as to complicate his law enforcement career. There's also a creepy serial killer running around sticking various sharp objects into people, reminding us that this is, above, all, a horror TV show more so than a cop drama.

I found a lot of the events in this episode to be quite contrived and cliché-ridden, though I still enjoyed watching it. Some of these include: yet another new, naive partner to act as a foil for Luther (played this time by Wunmi Mosaku); some gangsters un-ironically strapping a bomb to someone as punishment; a weird psychiatrist (played by Hermione Norris) who clearly knows more than she's letting on.

Still, this is Luther: the acting is brilliant (with exception of Michael Obiora as Errol, who hams it up way too much), the editing and direction are on point, and the thudding, pulsing music will keep you glued to your seat. If you've watched Luther from the beginning, you'll see the ending twist coming a mile away; it's still good TV, just not really "must-see TV" anymore.

"Luther" Season 5 kicks off with a very strong episode. Perhaps even darker than previous seasons, the theme of this opening episode is pitch black in tone.

Luther's caught between the affairs of the criminal underworld's George Cornelius (brilliantly played by Patrick Malahide) and the search for a sadistic serial killer. As always, his life is nothing short of chaotic.

With a fantastic, and unexpected, cliffhanger, this first episode shows fantastic promise for this fifth season.

We've watched this show from the beginning through cast and crew changes but this is awful. It all falls on the shoulders of the cinematographer. It'd be nice to see the performances, to know what (and who) are in a scene. Dreadful dark and dreary looking. Shame.

After a cruel absence, Luther hit our screens like a force 9 gale, absolutely barn storming beginning, the episode kept a pace and intensity throughout. I was so caught up in events, and excitement, that parts of the story perhaps passed me by. They really did pull out all the stops with this one, from his kidnap, to the terrifying bus scene, to the shock visitor on the door.

If I'm totally honest, I thought this felt a little different to the last few outings for Luther and co, and not in a bad way, it had a vibe of Messiah (Ken Stott) and I utterly loved it.

They went for some big guns in terms of casting, Patrick Malahide is a total joy as a villain, and played his part superbly, Hermione Norris showed her vast talents also, but for me the casting of Wunmi Mosaku was genius, she is such a talented, measured actress, one who has the talent for making me utterly love her characters, I just hope they've not brought her in to bump her off.

That's the viewing I'm hopeful for in 2019!!

10/10

If it wasnt for Elba's charisma and pretty dynamic plot development this would be unwatchable. every scene is totally unrealistic and even ridiculous.