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Overview
One of literature’s greatest villains gets his own show in which he becomes a homicide detective. Not to, mind you, seek redemption, but because he is starting to care and with this comes some sort of need to work on the side of justice.
Characters & Story
Somehow, Lucifer (Tom Ellis) has found a way out of hell and into Los Angeles. A place where he drives around freely, has sex with whatever woman he wants, and often uses his gift of drawing out people’s deepest darkest desires to get away with quite a few things. However, it seems that as much as Lucifer is the devil many have come to know, hate, and perhaps fear, he has a bit of a soft side depending on the person. Enter Delilah (AnnaLynne McCord) who is someone Lucifer was entertained by as he worked in a nightclub, and helped toward stardom. Not for her soul either, but seemingly because he saw her talent and wanted to cash in a few favors from those whose soul he took, or he did favors for in the past.
However, just as Lucifer is giving Delilah the talk about turning her life around, she gets shot to death. Thus leading to Detective Chloe (Lauren German) to get the case and, being that she isn’t moving fast enough, and Chloe’s ex Dan (Kevin Alejandro) isn’t seemingly vigilant on getting the justice Lucifer wants, Lucifer decides to participate in the investigation. Thus setting up a Lucifer and me type of show in which it seems, as Lucifer grows close to Chloe, due to him being perplexed he can’t draw out her darkness, he will help her solve crimes.
All the while, Amenadiel (D. B. Woodside), an angel who is a bit wicked, will try to convince Lucifer to return to hell.
Praise
Ellis as Lucifer has all the appeal of Tom Cruise as the Vampire Lestat. He is smug, charming, yet you recognize he should be a hated figure. However, by the episode’s end, you see that as much as Ellis is portraying Lucifer as he is often seen or depicted, a part of you almost realizes that Lucifer maybe just as complicated as any human out there. Granted, he has magic powers, which thankfully are sparingly seen, in any sort of CGI/ special effects way, but there is something so selfishly human about Ellis’ Lucifer that it makes even one of the most hated villains in history a likable bastard.
As for everyone else? Well, German as Chloe I feel can grow on me, and I am quite interested where Lucifer and Amendiel’s storyline may head. For with Lucifer out of hell, there comes the question of what are happening to all the souls which are supposed to head down there? Are they now in a sort of limbo state, without suffering; with Lucifer gone, are the gates of hell open and souls are moving freely; and, most of all, the question has to be asked: which version of hell/ Lucifer is this? Is this “Dante’s Inferno” Lucifer or John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” Lucifer? For while the Wikipedia page says it is based off “Sandman’s” Lucifer, there can still come the question of which one is that Lucifer based off?
Criticism
While Lucifer is comical and charming, to a certain degree, I must admit this show does seem like the type which probably would fit better on Showtime than FOX. If only because it seems like it is consistently dancing around what it can and can’t get away with on network TV. Though that isn’t the show’s only problem. To me, as much as I want Chloe to succeed, and she could very well become interesting, a part of me feels her backstory just cries out for sympathy and for you to quickly get into her in the most artificial way. I mean, she is a single mom; someone trying to walk in her father’s footsteps; she is trying to redeem herself; her ex is a fellow cop, a slight ass, but a good enough father so we can’t fully hate him; she is a special snowflake due to Lucifer’s magic not working on her; and then, to really drive the idea that she has a long way to becoming more than a trope, she seemingly is going to eventually become Lucifer’s love interest. Likely once he almost fully becomes less biblical Satan and more so someone who might be very selfish but can selectively have empathy.
Overall: Worth Watching
Take away the idea of Lucifer solving crimes, and pretty much this show would have nothing. For it is really the idea of Lucifer being shown as a sort of anti-hero that is intriguing here. Especially considering Ellis plays him in such a way where you know you should hate him, but are slowly but surely charmed. Add on the role Woodside plays, and the idea that perhaps demons may come to LA to possibly cause havoc, and you have quite the show.
Thoughts Since The Premiere
I fully stand by the rating of this show but I do feel this show shouldn’t go past a third season. Hell, a quality 2nd half of this season and an end would be fine. For with Lucifer now exposed to Dr. Martin, as well as Mazikeen, to a certain degree; having Chloe as a fully realized love interest, and him very much humanized, all that is really left if for God to be cast and for those two to have an out. Otherwise, the only option is for this show to keep bringing in bad guys and dragging this premise out past its expiration date.
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