The BBC show “Luther” follows Idris Elba as the titular character, a grim detective investigating grim cases. But Elba has the ability to “take the piss” from time to time.
This is one of those times.
“Luther” is not for the faint of heart. There’s a serial killer who acts as a sort-of Watson to Luther’s Sherlock. There’s another serial killer who is a cannibal.
Luther’s marriage is on the brink and doesn’t end well.
At all.
Partners get killed. Police get killed. Innocents get killed.
And in the center of it all is Elba as DCI John Luther, wearing his trademark coat and red tie. Life is beating him down.
Luther fights right back, often doing the wrong thing to make something right. He then spends time covering for himself or dodging those he inadvertently (or on purpose) wronged along the way.
The show’s grim tone doesn’t lend itself to comedy. Hell; there’s not a joke in five seasons of television.
But back in 2016, Elba worked with the folks at Comic Relief/ Sports Relief to take the piss out of the show.
Go watch a “Luther” episode on BBC America and then watch this to cheer you back up.
