User Reviews

When last week's episode ended with the killer appearing in the back seat of PC Ripley's car it looked as if the young policeman was going to be his next victim; however as this episode opened we learnt that he had been kidnapped rather than killed. This means that Luther and his team have a race against time to figure out what the killer is up to and where he is. Finding his colleague isn't his only problem; he finds out that his rescue of a girl from prostitution last week was a set up. Her mother had got Luther to rescue her so that the people in charge of the racket could pressure him into persuading a man in witness protection to change his statement. As the team learn more about the killer they realise that he isn't planning to stop; in fact he is about to escalate his killing by killing a bus load of school children.

This was another gripping episode with a few genuinely shocking moments, one of which leaves Luther with a rather nasty injury to his hand… I won't say more to avoid spoiling it. As always the acting was good; Idris Elba continues to impress as Luther and Dermot Crowley put in a good turn as his boss DSU Schenk. Unfortunately we didn't see much of Ruth Wilson's Alice this week; hopefully she will play a larger role in future episodes as there is a real chemistry between her and Elba. I had expected the serial killer story lime to last longer but it seems the real series long case is going to concern the family running the pornography ring and the girl Luther rescued.

Luther goes about rescuing his friend who is being held and tortured by the masked narcissist killer. In the process, he has to convince people to do things on faith in is abilities to read situations. This guy is pure evil and thinks he is speaking some nihilist agenda. The way that things play out works quite well when the young monster decides to kill a group of school children and burn their bodies. The other plot involves the young prostitute who is hooked up with the worst of the worst. Her mother sets Luther up and seems to have no moral compass at all. The baddies that are after her may be seen again in a future episode. Luther's fundamental morality may soon work against him.

After the storming series 2 opener we get the conclusion of the cliffhanger from the end of the last episode where Ripley is in extreme danger,the killer has kidnapped kids and Luther's in big trouble with the gangland boss.

Killer Cameron Pell(Lee Ingleby)abducts DS Justin Ripley(Warren Brown)and tortures him but tries his best to sweet talk him and escape to warn DCI John Luther(sublime Idris Elba)that Pell is set to kidnap a group of school kids and leave them locked in a van and is going to gas them. Whilst this goes on Luther has teen Jenny(wonderful Aimee-Ffion Edwards)to look out for but gangland boss Baba(creepy Pam Ferris)who claims she owns Jenny is trying to force Luther into stopping a police witness from giving evidence against her dodgy son Toby(David Dawson)so Luther hides Jen out at his apartment home for protection but is that wise. Also Alice Morgan(incredible Ruth Wilson)turns up on John's doorstep but what does she want. Can Luther find Ripley,save the kids,protect Jenny and stop the killer and of course chat with Alice.

Like the first episode there is so much going on but never does it complicate things it just makes it a tension filled classic hour of television with award worthy acting,scary moments and gripping action and a star actress in the making with Edwards.

Elba as ever is awesome as Luther and his life is getting out of hand once again as he has to stop a killer to do his job but also has to help a girl crying out for help along with trying to find his partner and mate and of course has a psycho turning up to annoy him,he plays a man constantly on edge to perfection and whether he's chasing the killer,coming face to face with nasty Baba,sharing sweet scenes with Jenny or having innuendo filled chats with Alice Elba is outstanding and is a person who is always under severe pressure from all around him.

He is supported but a fantastic cast headlined by two actresses who complete his character to me.Edwards is superb and though she is older in real life she plays a youngster who has trouble and dangers all around her,she is funny,sweet and a bit sarcastic but is a true talent and her scenes with Elba are truly marvellous. Ruth Wilson though briefly in it is again incredible and it wouldn't feel like Luther without her turning up trying to help even though it normally ruins things,a exceptional actress and perfect as Alice. Others like amazing actor Warren Brown as loyal Ripley,Dermot Crowley as DSU Martin Schenk,Ingleby as killer Pell,Kierston Wareing as Jenny's mother Caroline and brilliant but sneaky Pam Ferris as Baba all have top notch scenes to make their mark,its a cast full of amazing talent.

This episode is full of tension and edge of your seat sequences like Ripley held and badly tortured by Pell in a underground filthy dungeon,Pell kidnapping some frightened kids and trying to gas them while Luther chases after them,Alice turning up out the blue and making a already flustered Luther more anxious and the best part when Luther comes face to face with Baba and her henchmen which leads to her sticking a knife in John's hand to make him do what she wants and she don't care about upsetting a copper.Its another classic and gripping Luther episode dripping with tension.

Already for me stronger the first half of series one(just)this episode brings so many genres together like action,thrillers,crime and even Saw type horror and Se7en type psychological thriller with off the scale acting by all especially Elba,Edwards,Brown and Wilson with some really nasty bad guys,dark locations and action packed sequences.

Already the finest British drama series of all time for me.

This episode begins with John, he arrived at the crime scene. Justin has been ubducted by Toby puts a screw in John's hand. Cameron puts a plastic bag on Justin's head. Cameron controls the school bus, what are his plans? Justin found his way out. Cameron ubducted the kids in his van. Cameron is gassing the kids in the van. John found Cameron. John saved the kids. Justin arrested Cameron. John brought Jenny back to her mother: Caroline. Alice escaped out of the clinic, she has a conversation with John. Alice kissed John goodbye. John gives Jenny a place to stay at his appartment. Nice Episode of Luther Season 2, what a great one again. But it misses a bit more action!

Police detectives in the real world NEVER enter dangerous situations without backup. So that premise was NOT believable.

Luther's hand was nailed to a table. Then we're supposed to suspend our disbelief as Luther (magically) pulls the nail (and his hand) away from the table.

You lost me at "nail."

Then there's the HUGE plot hole of the kids. How did Cameron Pell transfer those kids from a huge bus into the small van without being thwarted or seen? Notice they didn't show us that part. Why? Because it wouldn't have held up under scrutiny.

The police know the suspect is heading towards Green Valley Industrial Park. Okay, so where's the helicopter scouring that area? Well, there isn't one. Why Not?

There's (supposedly) 14 kids in a small van and there's NO screaming, hardly any noise whatsoever. When in real life has THAT ever happened? You could believe that part of the story if the villain had abducted monks from a monastery. But silent KIDS? Absurd.

Talk about CLICHES . . . Cut to the hostage with a knife to their throat. How many times have we seen that?

FINALLY: the end of this episode. Luther should have walked away with Alice. She's the sanest and most proficient woman he's ever known. But instead, he goes back into rescuing the damsel in distress mode. REALLY?