Luther - Miniseries 2, Episode 4: But I do know ka-razy

The BBC America conflicted cop series Luther just concluded its second min-season run with an episode that had its protagonist go to some pretty psychotic extremes to end a stand-off with a serial killer identical twin. Idris Elba acts the hell out of this to make it work better than it sounds... somebody just go ahead and make him the new James Bond.

And what better to back batsh*t crazy events like this than the lunatic stalker love song ("Palaces of Montezuma") that Nick Cave performs with his rock outfit, Grinderman.

"Oh c'mon baby, let's get out of the cold / And gimme gimme gimme your precious love for me to hold." Ice cream cones taste so good with gasoline.

Luther - Miniseries 2, Episode 4
"Palaces of Montezuma" - Grinderman

Luther "Episode 1": Just Ask Alice

While a TV series about a detective as messed up as the criminals he's chasing isn't a new thing, having Idris Elba (The Wire's Stringer Bell) certainly makes things novel. Pitting him up against a female Hannibal Lecter doesn't hurt either, especially when Ruth Wilson* plays the sociopath Alice with the degree of intelligence and sexuality that she does. Novelist Neil Cross has the pedigree (Booker Prize nominee, writer for MI-5) to pull it off, but I've heard mixed things about how the series sticks the landing (I've only seen the first three episodes, which present crazy kind of potential).

*Those that watched AMC's The Prisoner likely found themselves Googling her. But that's like 12 people, so...

Luther - Episode 1.01
"Paradise Circus" - Massive Attack [download] opening sequence
"Gun" - Emiliana Torrini [download] closing credits