Idris Elba, Luther – BBC America

As a murder detective in the dark and demon-ridden “Luther,” Elba has earned numerous accolades, from a 2012 Golden Globe to a 2016 SAG Award to three recent Emmy nominations. His visceral performance as the London-based character is so compelling because his character is as tortured as the psychopaths and serial killers he hunts. Indeed, there’s a sense that he could go down in flames with those he is chasing, which makes for riveting television—particularly when the actor playing that role is capable of portraying a character of this layered complexity.