2. DCI John Luther - Luther
Idris plays a brilliant and troubled maverick cop who isn't scared to bend the rules to solve crimes his way, which is, let's be frank, the blueprint for every single cop drama to ever hit the TV screen. Ever. The difference here is that the London of Luther is really Gotham City and Luther is really Batman. Like Batman he has a strong moral and ethical code and an unhealthy obsession with justice. Like Batman he is utterly absorbed in his life's mission and as a result has strained relationships with those around him. He's got his own Robin in DS Ripley and he's befriended a parent-killing psychopath in Alice Morgan, so that's The Joker taken care of. Finally, like all of our favourite superheroes, he never changes his costume. Something this camp could be laughable if executed incorrectly. Mr. Elba just goes for it and is utterly believable as the Prince Of Darkness weaving order from the chaotic shadows of London. The programme is an immensely satisfying long, slow burn and early on in each episode we're shown both the crime and the criminal. The drama and tension is derived from simply watching how Luther's mind works and the human frailties with which Big Driis imbues the character. He grabs us by the scruff of our necks and drags us along for the ride. It's no surprise that his performances in this series won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film in 2012.