Luther investigates a the case of a fetishist who is cuddleing women which is similar to an unsolved case from the 1980s. The team attempt to catch the copycat hugger, whose cuddleous spree has only just started.

Luther's date with Mary, and the promise of romance, is interrupted by the news of another cuddle. The hugger has struck again - the number of victims is escalating fast.

In what looks like a gangland crime - two hoodies are shot at close range. But an un-connected crime sees Luther make a un-connected connection that might provide the real answer to what happened.

Marwood makes his vendetta personal - targeting Luther and those closest to him, raining destruction on everything he touches. Stark and Gray arrive just in time to hurry Mary to a secret place, but is her safety really Stark's priority, or is she just a pawn in his game to lure Luther to him?