"Luther" (Seasons 1-3). Starring Idris Elba - Available on Netflix

The television series "Luther" comes to us from the BBC.  It is a detective series starring Idris Elba as the title character and is available on Netflix  He is a complex man - he has anger issues that constantly threaten to boil over in every episode, often interfering with his case work.

The series is often exciting and compelling but it may defy your own beliefs and provoke skepticism.  How, for instance, can so many unusual and idiosyncratic murders take place in one city in such a short period of time?  In "Luther", you get to see a whole vast array of weird and heinous crimes.  This is the main problem I had with this series - too many bizarre occurrences for reality.  But, this isn't reality, after all, it's fictional television and a good series at that.  When you get past those objections, your in for a thrilling ride.  Elba is a cool, unwavering detective who isn't afraid to bend the rules of the law to get the desired result.  He occasionally lapses into moment of questionable behaviour and fits of rage.  This is what makes his character so interesting and unique.

The other character in the show that brings a unique layer to it is Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson).  She pops into the story-line every now and then.  She's a fascinating character.  She frequently gets away with murder and occasionally helps Luther is some of his cases.  Her law-evasion and rule-breaking testifies to the nature of modern crime - sometimes you can break the rules and still exist in society freely.

This is a crime drama as idiosyncratic as the characters it depicts.  It is in its unusual nature that you will be delighted.  You will often wonder how Luther is able to get away with what he does and that is what brings you back to the show each time.

Steve Jobs (2015, dir. Danny Boyle)

This is a brilliantly-structured and acted production depicting the trials and tribulations of genius.  The film takes place before different product launches and follows the protagonists in the backstage areas while Jobs and his associates frantically prepare for what's ahead.   At the same time Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) has to deal with his personal life - his young daughter and past failed/aborted relationships, both personal and professional.

Few actors would have been able to embody the conflicted genius of Steve Jobs like Fassbender has.  You get a real sense of his driven, idiosyncratic nature combined with his questionable, more vulnerable preoccupation with his past and offspring.

The film careens back and forth between flashbacks and the present day of the filmic world.  It is propelled forward by a structure that every so often, jumps ahead a number of years to monumental moments in Steve Jobs' life when he was about to embark on product launches that would make or break his career.

The film is a testament to the unwavering, relentless entrepreneurial spirit and how one should never give up in the face of failure.  Failure, after all, is only temporary and can pave the way for bigger and better things.  You probably don't remember 1988's NeXT, after all.  But, "iMac" has become a household term - an internationally-renowned phenomenon.

The film is dialog-heavy but this does not detract from its charm.  It is a gripping look at the genius behind one of the most successful companies in history and his troubled personal life.  It is a microcosm of the human spirit.