Product Details

• Actors: Steven Robertson, Golda Rosheuvel, Babou Ceesay, James Puddephatt, Hamza Jeetooa
• Directors: Sam Miller
• Writers: Neil Cross
• Producers: Idris Elba, Katie Swinden, Leila Kirkpatrick, Phillippa Giles
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: October 25, 2011
• Run Time: 240 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (144 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B005DVIOIG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,887 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Luther: Season 2" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fans of the smashing British crime procedural Luther won't want to miss the gripping second season, which resolves season one's nerve-wracking cliffhanger. But the second season wastes no time in dropping a vicious new evil into the path of DCI John Luther (the impeccable Idris Elba, never better) and the rest of the London homicide detectives. The newest bad guy is a phantom who wears a mask, committing random acts of violence and mayhem--"precisely to wake this country up," as he tells Luther in an untraceable phone call. As the coppers work feverishly to save one of their own, Luther is trying to rebuild his shattered personal life. His ex-wife is long in the past, and his relationship with the tender Alice (who is so nutters she's been hospitalized against her will) is slowly changing as well. Yet Elba's Luther is appealing precisely because of his humanity. When he breaks into a porn/human trafficking ring run by fearless kingpins from Eastern Europe, there's never a doubt that Luther will put himself directly into harm's way to protect a young woman who needs to be taken kicking and screaming (literally) into protection. And once again, the costar of Luther that's almost as memorable as Elba is the underbelly of London. It's not picturesque, it's not pastoral, and it's definitely not romantic--and yet the London of Luther pulses to its own heartbeat, which is as real and compulsively watchable as its hero. A note about season two: There are just four episodes in this boxed set, and no extras. But fans of the series won't want to miss any of it. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Idris Elba (The Wire, Thor) won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries for his riveting performance in this heart-pounding psychological drama. Elba stars as John Luther, the near-genius detective struggling with his own demons. Devastated by the brutal murder of his wife, Luther returns to policing in a different world. His old unit has gone and he's working in the newly created Serious and Serial unit, headed by former police complaints officer Martin Schenk. Luther quickly gathers together his team, rescuing his old partner, Detective Justin Ripley, from uniform. It's not long before they're dealing with their first case. A masked man wanders the streets of London, carrying out ritualistic murders in historic locations, working his way up to one final masterpiece... Crackling with energy and beautifully shot, this new mini-series sees Luther take bigger risks and face even darker challenges.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Rogue Cop Returns: Four More Episodes Of An Edgy And Unpredictable Crime Serial October 25, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

After a hugely successful run in its first six hours, BBC's "Luther" returns for another go with four more episodes. Some have contended that "Luther" is unlike any other show on TV, and I'm not entirely sure that I would agree with this assessment. While "Luther" can certainly be wild and unpredictable, it is not breaking the mold of many other rogue cop hero shows that have populated the modern TV landscape. As the titular Detective John Luther, Idris Elba brings much passion, conviction, and gusto to the standard role of a cop who must sometimes cross the line to do what's right. But to the program's credit, Elba can be extremely erratic as well and does push the notion of a "good" cop to an uncomfortable, and at times, violent level. It is this anything-may-happen feel that livens up even the most standard of cases. By the end of Season One, Luther had become absolutely unhinged and Elba had served up a performance that would be nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe award.

Season Two (again, this is only 4 episodes) may not be quite as strong as the previous offering, but it is still solidly entertaining television. The first two episodes deal with a serial murderer who liked to broadcast his crimes, while the last two dealt with a sociopath's increasingly violent crime spree. Of these two, the second was my favorite--as the case was twice as complicated as anyone suspected and the grisly crimes were, literally, being decided on the roll of a dice. There was such a palpable sense of randomness, the danger and tension were ratcheted up considerably. Both had their highpoints and both had moments of implausibility, but the show is done with such conviction--it's hard not to get wrapped up in the mayhem. Over the entire second season, there is also a continuing subplot where Luther is asked to rescue a young woman from the seedy world of adult entertainment which gets our hero in deep water with some nefarious criminal types. I'm not sure that all of this was entirely effective, but it did give Elba a chance to showcase a softer side (albeit only marginally).

For me, the element that made Season One so great was its leading lady Ruth Wilson. As a psychopath who develops an unsettling bond with Luther, every scene that they shared was elevated to exquisite uncomfortableness. It was brilliantly acted, written and refreshingly daring for series television. Wilson does appear in Season Two in a more abbreviated performance. It's still fantastic, but when she was gone--I absolutely missed her! Aside from Elba and Wilson, Nikki Amuka-Bird turns in some strong work as a detective who is wary of Luther's reputation and Warren Brown's role gets expanded as Luther's strongest advocate who finds himself in harm's way. While I preferred Season One, this is still an easy recommendation for fans. And if you haven't seen any of "Luther," treat yourself and start at the beginning. Solidly entertaining throughout. KGHarris, 10/11.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Rogue Cop Returns: Four More Episodes Of An Edgy And Unpredictable Crime Serial October 25, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

After a hugely successful run in its first six hours, BBC's "Luther" returns for another go with four more episodes. Some have contended that "Luther" is unlike any other show on TV, and I'm not entirely sure that I would agree with this assessment. While "Luther" can certainly be wild and unpredictable, it is not breaking the mold of many other rogue cop hero shows that have populated the modern TV landscape. As the titular Detective John Luther, Idris Elba brings much passion, conviction, and gusto to the standard role of a cop who must sometimes cross the line to do what's right. But to the program's credit, Elba can be extremely erratic as well and does push the notion of a "good" cop to an uncomfortable, and at times, violent level. It is this anything-may-happen feel that livens up even the most standard of cases. By the end of Season One, Luther had become absolutely unhinged and Elba had served up a performance that would be nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe award.

Season Two (again, this is only 4 episodes) may not be quite as strong as the previous offering, but it is still solidly entertaining television. The first two episodes deal with a serial murderer who liked to broadcast his crimes, while the last two dealt with a sociopath's increasingly violent crime spree. Of these two, the second was my favorite--as the case was twice as complicated as anyone suspected and the grisly crimes were, literally, being decided on the roll of a dice. There was such a palpable sense of randomness, the danger and tension were ratcheted up considerably. Both had their highpoints and both had moments of implausibility, but the show is done with such conviction--it's hard not to get wrapped up in the mayhem. Over the entire second season, there is also a continuing subplot where Luther is asked to rescue a young woman from the seedy world of adult entertainment which gets our hero in deep water with some nefarious criminal types. I'm not sure that all of this was entirely effective, but it did give Elba a chance to showcase a softer side (albeit only marginally).

For me, the element that made Season One so great was its leading lady Ruth Wilson. As a psychopath who develops an unsettling bond with Luther, every scene that they shared was elevated to exquisite uncomfortableness. It was brilliantly acted, written and refreshingly daring for series television. Wilson does appear in Season Two in a more abbreviated performance. It's still fantastic, but when she was gone--I absolutely missed her! Aside from Elba and Wilson, Nikki Amuka-Bird turns in some strong work as a detective who is wary of Luther's reputation and Warren Brown's role gets expanded as Luther's strongest advocate who finds himself in harm's way. While I preferred Season One, this is still an easy recommendation for fans. And if you haven't seen any of "Luther," treat yourself and start at the beginning. Solidly entertaining throughout. KGHarris, 10/11.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Like that old Woody Allen joke in reverse October 22, 2011

By Dogyeller

Amazon Verified Purchase

You know the old joke about the women complaining about the food at a restaurant in the Catskills? "This food is terrible," says one. "Yes," agrees her companion, "and the portions are so small."

Luther is like that joke in reverse. "This show is so great, but the portions are too small."

Do four episodes really constitute a season? I was left wanting more after the six episodes of the first season. What am I going to do until Season 3?

The lead character is an intriguing mix of deeply flawed humanity and world weariness -- a hero for our times. While I wish there had been more of his unlikely ally crazy Alice in this season, the finale holds out the hope that she will reappear in Season 3. I can hardly wait.

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