Luther and The Fall analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiLg7WDR9rU&list=PL6Nkwo0N-f6zsUCx1Ub_NEYHMZfHW6rK9

The fast paced action and quick camera cuts in the opening for Luther's pilot episode sets the tone for a thriller based show. The editing and camera movement in The Fall is very slow and calm, which sets the tone for the show too. These are essentially polar opposites which shows the range of differences in which crime drama shows can work under. The mis-en-scene of The Fall uses many subtle clues and iconography that has deeper meanings behind it in the pilot episode. In Luther, it is more action based and meant for more passive viewing. There is not a lot of music in The Fall, and the sound is very quiet in general. In Luther, the sound and music is significantly louder and of a higher pace. The colour and lighting in both shows is very dark. In Luther, it is more of an evil feeling to the darkness of the show, but in The Fall, it is more of a sad and depressing feeling. The Fall has intertextuality with the horror genre, especially in the form of the criminal. It is also much more realistic in comparison to Luther.

The opening episodes for Luther and The Fall are similar in terms of genre and basic plot, but share many specific differences. Both follow the genre of criminal drama. However, they focus on different protagonists. Luther focuses on the detective, but The Fall focuses on the criminal. Both are very well known actors in Idris Elba and Jamie Dornan. The investigator in The Fall is similar to the one in Luther in a sense of them both being very strong characters who seem emotionally unbreakable. However, they differentiate in their methods. Luther is very direct in his approach to stopping crime, whereas the female detective in The Fall is sneaky and likes to add up all the clues before making a move. In Luther, we focus on the detective's personal life a lot more than we do in The Fall. Both criminals are very dislike-able generally. However, in The Fall, we get to explore the mind of the criminal and actually sympathise with him in many scenes, such as the ones with his kids in. The victims in both shows seem weak. However in The Fall, the victim only seems weak in comparison to the criminal. As a whole, the victim is a relatively strong character.

Enigma codes provoke the audience into a certain response in both shows. For example, the audience would have a lot of questions and suspicions about many plot twists in Luther and when they are proven right when it is revealed, there is a sense of audience pleasure there. However, on the contrary, The Fall eliminates the audience pleasure of finding out who the criminal is as he unmasks and shows his face immediately. The representation of women in The Fall is strong. The detective is arguably the strongest character on the show and she is brave and fearless. On Luther, the representation of men is controversial. Luther is a stereotypical man who has every manly trait possible and is always angry.