Recap Luther - Episode 1, season 4

DCI John Luther (Idris Elba, 45) has finally taken that long over-due leave of absence. After the death of yet another loved one, this time college Justin Ripley (Warren Brown, 39); Luther left London and is now spending his days in a little house somewhere on the coast - watching the ocean while contemplating life and death.

And let’s not forget about Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson, 35). The woman that has been in and out of the show, and Luther’s life, since the very first episode.

Alice is the brilliant, ingenious and dangerous woman that seems to be the only one remaining when others come and go, even though he knows she is a murderer. Last season ended with them standing on a bridge, her asking, “what now?”

Well, the answer to that question is; nothing. Alice is dead, as it turns out when Luther gets a visit from two colleges; she has drowned in Antwerp.

Like most viewers I am in disbelief. Wasn’t Luther and Alice supposed to end up together? Through the whole series their sexual chemistry has been forceful, her pouting lips often close to his, but never quite there.

And now she’s dead?

And who is the beautiful woman sneaking around Luther’s house?

The time has come for Luther to dust of the old Volvo, toughen up a bit more (if that now is possible?), head back to the city and find out who took Alice away from him.

Like in most episodes, this has parallel stories. A murderer is on the loose, one that has a taste for human flesh. A psychopath killing young, innocent (sometimes pregnant) women and eating parts of their bodies.

Classic!

But Luther starts with Alice’s murder - in his own style - by finding a snitch, staring down a gangster holding a gun to his forehead, breaking some guy’s nose and throwing a man into the trunk of his car. Why do it the legal way, when you can do it “Luther-style”?

Pity on those who get in his way, because he “will come down on them twice as hard, twice as fast”, despite being so fragile and soft at heart.

Everybody he loves dies. The ex-wife Zoe, the lying friend Ian, his mate Justin, even the recently introduced college Theo. And now the unicorn Alice.

Before long, Luther has changed into his suit, he is back at the station. Being a copper. The only thing he knows how to do.

It’s almost always raining, sometimes snowing, in this series. After all they are in London. Grey, foggy swoops of the city, Luther unbothered by the elements. It’s hard, dark and beautiful.

And once more Luther is sitting on some curb, mad and frustrated because the murderer just slipped out of his fingers – when the mysterious woman from before (the one hiding behind the curtain) shows up with a message.

“A message from whom?”

“From Alice Morgan.”

Tune in next week.