Honestly, people usually forget how weird the timing was for Luther TV season 4. It dropped in December 2015 like a frantic, two-part Christmas present nobody was quite sure how to unwrap. After the third season wrapped up in 2013 with John Luther literally tossing his iconic, salt-and-pepper tweed coat into the Thames, most of us thought the show was dead. Buried. Done.
Then Idris Elba popped back up on a clifftop.
It’s a bit of a jarring start. We find him living in a "totally disco" (his words, weirdly) shack by the sea, looking like he’s trying to retire from being the most stressed-out man in London. But this is John Luther. Peace doesn’t suit him. It never has. Within ten minutes, he’s dragged back into the grime because of two things: a cannibal is eating people in the city, and Alice Morgan might be dead.
The Mystery of Alice and the "Missing" Season
The biggest gripe fans had back then—and still have today—is the length. Why only two episodes? Basically, it was a "special" rather than a full series. Neil Cross, the creator, had to cram an entire season's worth of trauma into about 120 minutes. It makes the pacing feel a little frantic. You’ve got Rose Leslie (fresh off Game of Thrones) joining as DS Emma Lane, a cannibal named Steven Rose installing spyware on computers, and a mob boss named George Cornelius who just wants to chain Luther to a radiator.
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It's a lot.
Most people watch Luther TV season 4 specifically to find out what happened to Alice. The news of her death in Antwerp feels like a slap in the face. Luther isn't buying it, and frankly, neither were we. Enter Megan Cantor, played by Laura Haddock. She’s this eerie, psychic-type character who claims Alice sent her. She’s essentially the "New Alice" for this mini-season, but she’s way more unsettling in a quiet, "I might have murdered your best friend" kind of way.
Breaking Down the Steven Rose Case
The "monster of the week" here is Steven Rose. He’s a software engineer—classic trope—who uses his job at a tech support firm to stalk people. He’s a cannibal with a "Leigh-on-Sea" fetish, and he is genuinely one of the show's most stomach-churning villains.
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- The M.O.: He doesn't just kill; he consumes. It’s grisly even for BBC standards.
- The Tech: He uses the "Geek Patrol" to install cameras. It’s that specific brand of Luther horror that makes you want to put tape over your webcam.
- The End: The showdown in the derelict hospital is peak Idris Elba. He’s tired, he’s bleeding, and he’s still the smartest guy in the room.
What Most People Get Wrong About Season 4
There’s a common misconception that this season is just "filler." It’s not. It’s actually the bridge that connects the early, procedural years to the late-stage, "superhero" Luther we see in season 5 and the Fallen Sun movie. This is where the show stops being a gritty cop drama and starts becoming something more mythic.
The relationship between Luther and George Cornelius (Patrick Malahide) is the best part of these two episodes. Cornelius isn't just a villain; he’s an "old-school geezer" who ends up being a recurring thorn in John’s side. Their chemistry is fantastic. It’s that weird London underworld respect where they both know they’re probably going to end up killing each other eventually, but for now, they'll just trade threats over a drink.
The Cast Shuffle
We lost Justin Ripley in season 3, and the void is massive. Michael Smiley is still there as Benny Silver, thank god, providing the tech support and the dry humor. But the absence of Warren Brown’s Ripley means Luther has no moral compass. DS Emma Lane tries, but she’s dealing with her own trauma after her partner, DCI Theo Bloom, gets blown up in the first twenty minutes.
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It's a bleak season. Even by Luther standards, the "good guys" are barely holding it together.
Why It Still Matters
If you’re marathoning the series in 2026, don’t skip these two hours. They explain why Luther is so hardened by the time the fifth season starts. It also confirms that Alice Morgan is a force of nature that can't be killed by a simple car accident in Belgium. The season ends on a cliffhanger that basically says, "Yeah, he’s back in the coat, and no, he’s never going back to that cottage."
If you’re looking for a neat resolution, you won’t find it here. Luther TV season 4 is about the transition. It’s about John realizing that he can’t run away from the darkness because he is the darkness that keeps the other monsters at bay.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist:
If you've just finished season 4, move immediately into season 5 to see the actual payoff for the Alice Morgan mystery. If you're looking for more of Rose Leslie being a total badass, check out The Vigil. For those who just want more Idris Elba being an unconventional lawman, the 2023 film Luther: The Fallen Sun is the logical conclusion to the threads started right here on that windy clifftop.