Representation Of Gender In 'Luther'

Luther
The stereotype of gender is countered in the TV drama: Luther. In the very first episode, we see a rugged, rough and tumble detective chief inspector.. John Luther. Our first impressions of this man is that he is a

violent, weak man who struggles to control his emotions. Which we see throughout the series with his numerous outburst of rage. Although, the audience recognises he is someone of significant purpose as he is a high-ranking police officer.

In the pilot episode, Luther is called to the scene of a double murder. The prime suspect is the daughter of the two victims; Alice Morgan. At first we believe she is a vulnerable, fragile young woman; distraught at the recent events. Conforming with the stereotype of gender within TV drama's. She can barely answer Luther's questions whilst being interviewed because she is that upset. Although, John manages to figure out that she is the person responsible and is determined to prove she committed the crime. What follows throughout the three series of 'Luther' is truly remarkable. The audience begin to realise that Alice is a well educated, genius psychopath who only murdered her parents in order to reinforce her arrogant ego that she is too brilliant to be caught out. In the following episodes John realises that he has truly met his match and that their is no possible way he will ever be able to prove that Alice murdered her parents. Alice begins to torment John knowing that she is in the clear.
Throughout 'Luther' Alice and John have various altercations where it is apparent that the two secretly appreciate each other's brilliance. The most intriguing of these regular altercations between the two characters is a scene following the murder of Alice's parents. Alice torments John by holding up the ashes of her dog and saying "It was only a dog, seems unduly pitiless to me". At the time; John is unaware that the weapon Alice used in the murder of her parents is hidden in the ashes of her dog. Of course Alice knows this, and personally satisfying to be so arrogant and audacious as to show Luther the ashes as if to show how close she can let him but still maintain her genius in order to not get caught. In this scene we also see the great lengths Alice has gone to in order to find out all the information she needs to destroy Luther. She knows about his previous 'dodgy' cases and brings up his failing marriage. Within this scene we also see the first signs of the huge sexual tension between the both of them. Jon walks in close to Alice and she asks him "did you come here for sex?", I believe this stem from the fact that they appreciate their respective brilliance so much that they are obsessed and driven by one another. Alice also uses the description of a black whole as a metaphor of how she intends to "Suck John in and crush him into nothing more than a speck of dust". This scene confirms to Alice that she has John wrapped round her little finger.

 Another clear showing of the power Alice possesses due to her astonishing mind is at the end of the first series. John, Alice, Ian and Mark are all at a train station where they have cornered Ian. Alice is pointing a sawn-off shotgun and is asking the other to vote on whether she should kill Ian. The fact that she is so cold as to leave the decision on ending a life down to a vote really does display her evil. This suggests that murdering someone isn't a big task for Alice and that you may as well have a bit of fun whilst doing it. She knows that this will torture Ian because he realises that he isn't in control of his own life. Alice is true to her word and shoots Ian in the chest at point blank range without hesitation; staring him straight in the eyes.
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The TV drama 'Luther' counters the normal stereotype that in TV and film men possess all the power. This is clearly represented thorough out all three series of 'Luther' because Alice Morgan is an integral part in all the decisions that have an impact on the story of the drama. Every single act of Alice has impact on the lives of the other characters, mainly John. These impact are not always immediate and are not always apparent to the audience.
The conformity the stereotype is also apparent within 'Luther'. This is shown most clearly to the audience when John is leading investigations and is making big decisions which effect other people's lives, whether that be victims or his own colleagues. One of the strong characteristics of DCI John Luther is that he isn't afraid to make critical decisions; whether they have a consequent effect on a stranger or even loved ones he is prepared to do so. John's power is truly apparent towards the end of the third series because he has managed to amaze Alice so much that she has developed feelings for John and has begun to appreciate that he is a true match for her. In the same scene where Alice shoots Ian; Luther is stood over Ian strangling him, tormenting him by asking him to tell John what it feels like being on the brink of death and not being able to do anything about it.
In conclusion, I believe that the fact that the director has chosen to go against the usual stereotype of gender we witness in TV and film is refreshing to see and plays a big part in the success of the TV drama 'Luther'.