Ambiguity Of Morality In The Television Show, Luther By Neil Cross

The human mind tends to have an immense fascination with things that are impossible to explain or comprehend or, in simpler terms, mysteries. Commonly, crime and detective television shows exploit the peoples’ enthrallment toward mysteries to captivate and maintain viewership. For example, the television show, Luther, is very complex and exciting show in that it approaches these mysteries in a unique way. Neil Cross, the writer of the show, employs the use of various traditional detective story devices, including but not limited to the presentation of a problem followed by the detective’s canny methods to the resolution of the problem. In the case of the television show Luther, the problem that is presented is the murder of Alice Morgan’s parents.

Neil Cross’s focus on the ambiguity of morality and the character’s constant battle between right and wrong allows for the show to be captivating and all-round successful detective program.

Almost everyone in today’s society has some guidelines that they choose to follow. Whether the guide is religious or just a sense or right or wrong, such guidelines reflect the actions made by the person. However, one person’s values might not be the same or even similar to another’s values and morals. In a similar fashion, Neil Cross toys with the audiences’ view of morality which can be seen in the opening see in the first episode. In this scene, Luther interrogates Henry Madsen who is later revealed to a kidnapper and murder. Luther tries to get the whereabouts of a young girl, which Madsen has abducted, as Madsen hangs on a ledge for his life. After Madsen revealed the location of the girl he pleads to be saved; however, Luther, after a

A perfect representation of the portrayal of good and evil in a detective story would be Sherlock Holmes, the good, and the ever so brilliant Moriarty, the evil. In the same manner in Luther, Luther explores the area between good and evil; most characters are neither truly good nor evil. For example, Luther himself is not all good. Although his intention is good, many of his actions prove to be otherwise. Luther even goes against the law by breaking into Alice Morgan’s apartment in order to steal the dog’s ashes. Similar to Holmes’s Moriarty, Luther’s counterpart would be Alice Morgan. Morgan’s intellect and deception fuel Luther to pursue her even more. Alice Morgan effortlessly kills both of her parents out of pure hatred for them. However, the way the character is portrayed makes her seems not entirely evil. Cross’s repetitive use of the “gray” area between good and evil makes the show entertaining and