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Parents' Guide to

Luther

By Matt Springer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Excellent British cop series with blood and some intimacy.

TV BBC America Drama 2010
Luther Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Oli
Oli Adult
April 20, 2020
age 16+

Stylish, violent and dark

Personally I love Luther. The show has plenty to offer, cops solving crimes, fascinating characters and hooking plots; this show is the best British police show since Life on Mars! Violence: - violent beatings - shootings - strangulations and choking - sexual violence and rape are discussed Language: - occasional ‘f**k’ Sex: - in later episodes there is a brief sex scene Other: - dark topics such as: - rape - child sex abuse - necrophilia
Walter White
Walter White Adult
December 1, 2020
age 2+

One of the best BBC series

See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The titular character in LUTHER (Idris Elba) is a detective with the London police with a single-minded focus on capturing serial killers and sexual predators. He has a genius-level investigative mind but lacks self-control when it comes to his own relationships and emotional life. His singular focus has damaged most of his personal relationships, and his identity straddles a terrifying line between the light of justice and the darkness of the criminals he pursues.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (9 ):

Mature fans of great TV will recognize Idris Elba instantly; he portrayed the calculating, simmering Stringer Bell on HBO's The Wire. Luther is a showcase for Elba's incredible acting ability, offering him a character that's the polar opposite of Stringer -- Luther is emotional where Stringer was methodical; Luther is a flawed hero while Stringer was a villain with redeeming characteristics.

Essentially, Luther enables Elba to unload as an actor in ways that portraying Stringer did not. His performance is explosive, nuanced, brilliant; it's the key to the show's success. Also key is the clever dialogue from series creator and writer Neil Cross. These are definitely cops, but they're the most articulate and funny cops on television, in a natural and organic way. Rather than making the characters unrealistic, it only adds nuance and dimension. Like any violent cop series, Luther is only appropriate for mature teens and adults; unlike most of its contemporaries, Luther transcends its genre and becomes a remarkable portrait of a singular television character.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's violence. How is the violence depicted on this show different from that in U.S. shows? What would the show be like with less graphic violence -- would it still work?

  • What kind of moral questions does this show bring up? How would you handle yourself in similar situations?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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