The third series of Luther presented cracked mirrors of Idris Elba's title character, and broke down the core of the show in surprisingly conclusive ways. We discuss this early finality, along with Neil Cross ideology, the social role of TV, perverse fan pleasing, embracing comic book conventions, London verisimilitude, infectious ideas, British 'bubbles', middle class radicalism, Thomas Marwood as a character, the 'LutherTruther' movement, and much more.
(00:00:00) Differences from S1 & S2
(00:05:49) The first two-parter + flowing on from S2
(00:11:02) Stark & Erin
(00:17:19) Ripley & Barnaby
(00:22:14) Character death + pillars of the show
(00:31:38) Marwood
(00:37:04) Finding peace, running away, loving murder
(00:43:13) Luther as a priest
(00:47:37) Fear in storytelling + appeal of the show
(00:54:06) Scary moments in series 3 + Blade Runner blues
(01:00:17) Generations + happy Luther + little Ripleys + Mary
(01:06:07) Alice’s characterisation
(01:17:55) Marwood’s characterisation + Luther morality
(01:24:48) Skewed morality + moral convolutions
(01:30:42) Marwood’s life & politics
(01:52:04) Police headquarters & Schenk
(01:58:42) LutherTruther — show ending at series 3
(02:06:23) Neil Cross on form (novels & TV)
(02:15:01) Neil Cross on novelists & writing
(02:23:05) Neil Cross on espionage & current affairs
(02:29:22) Neil Cross — strange anecdotes
(02:37:40) Neil Cross on ideology
(02:45:01) State tools & Southwark Bridge…
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