The BBC's Best Detective Is Sherlock, Columbo, And Reacher In One

Published Sep 30, 2026, 7:45 AM EDT

Craig began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016 and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. After previously writing for various outlets, Craig's focus turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally became useful. Craig has previously been published by sites such as Den of Geek.

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There are many different detective archetypes on TV. You've got the genius brain-like-a-supercomputer ones, and your 'punch first, ask questions later' ones. Some are lovable mavericks, while others are notorious sticklers for the rules. There are those roaming from town to town solving crimes, and those who stay within one particularly deadly town. And whereas some detectives are legitimately employed as officers of the law, others do it just for kicks.

With so many small screen sleuths making their mark over the decades, newer additions are increasingly adopting traits and hallmarks from their predecessors, combining them together to become something new. And that's certainly the case for Idris Elba's DCI John Luther.

Debuting in 2010 and running for five seasons, Luther has since transitioned into a series of movies. And despite Idris Elba's fame growing exponentially during the 16 years since Luther's maiden case, it's a rare treat to see an actor stick with their breakout character, evolving alongside them as time goes by.

John Luther Is A Collision Of 3 Iconic Detectives

Like many of his chin-stroking contemporaries, Luther can be traced back to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Throughout his five seasons, the greatest weapon possessed by Idris Elba's character is his mind, piecing together small details into clues like nobody else can. He's also something of a tortured soul whose inner demons play havoc with personal relationships - something Mr. Holmes could certainly relate to. Just like Doyle's creation, however, Luther's brilliant intellect always outweighs ethical or interpersonal flaws.

Despite having Holmes in his bones, John Luther could also be described as London's Columbo. It's not just that both men love a long coat and an old car, but that both are also singular, unconventional investigators doing their best within the confines of a police department system, unlike Sherlock Holmes, who prefers to retain his autonomy by working outside the institution. Luther's creator, David Cross, also acknowledges taking inspiration from Columbo when devising Luther's format. He explains that, in contrast to Sherlock and others in the genre, Columbo and Luther focus on how the titular detective actually resolves cases instead of putting emphasis on unmasking the perpetrator's identity to a shocked audience.

Finally, John Luther brings a certain level of intimidation and threat to proceedings. He carries both a physical presence and an aura of unpredictable menace, like there's a rage within him that could explode at any time. That's a trait that can also be found in Lee Child's Jack Reacher, former member of the military police and current proud owner of a Trailways bus pass. These are investigators no criminal would want to upset, as well as investigators happy to dole out punishments with their own hands should the need arise.

Sherlock Won The Battle, But Luther Wins The War

2010 was a weirdly massive year for BBC detectives, as both Luther and Sherlock premiered their first episodes less than three months apart. There's little doubt that Sherlock emerged victorious in that particular battle for London's sleuthing rights, with Benedict Cumberbatch's series outperforming its grumpier, grittier rival by virtually every metric.

And yet it's fascinating to witness the trajectory both shows have experienced since. Sherlock fell off slightly towards the end thanks to a baffling Victorian special and a fourth season below the show's usual standard, whereas Luther more or less maintained its quality and steadily grew in popularity with each season.

Idris Elba became just as much of a household name as Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, but whereas Sherlock and Watson are effectively retired at this point, Elba keeps coming back for Luther's next chapter. His latest case, Netflix's The Falling Sun movie, divided fans and critics, but with a sequel on its way, the Luther franchise is still going strong after 16 years.