Lucifer Review: S1:E2, “Lucifer, Stay. Good Devil”

Episode 2 of Lucifer, entitled “Lucifer, Stay. Good Devil,” delivered some highs and lows, opening with an amusing encounter between Lucifer and a doomsday street preacher. Lucifer terrifies the blatant charlatan with the flash of a demonic face, explaining that he holds the utmost disdain for liars, as Lucifer, like in the comic, is contrary to popular belief not the father of lies but rather a truth-teller. Following this funny scene which emphasizes a fundamental component of Lucifer’s character—rather reminiscent of the comics—the remainder of episode 2 of Lucifer, driven by its weekly disposable crime case, essentially reemphasizes the lead characters and their respective tensions.

Chloe is determined to get to the bottom of who in the Hell Lucifer is, naturally refusing to accept the reality that he is indeed the Devil, despite his openness. This skepticism is sure to continue for a few episodes, but not for the entire season. Chloe coming to terms with Lucifer being the Lucifer may perhaps be the show’s turning-point, leading to potential exploration of some of the more fantastical elements.

The significance of the show’s present angel and demon has certainly begun to expand. Amenadiel again implores Lucifer to return to Hell, and Lucifer detects that his angelic brother fears their Father will assign Amenadiel to reign over Hell should he fail to get the Devil to return. One can certainly see this happening by the end of the season, especially if the show continues Lucifer on a prodigal son redemption arc, which would make Amenadiel’s efforts to send his brother back to Hell more vindictive than virtuous—more demonic than angelic.

Maze continues to look down her nose at the erstwhile Lord of Hell, which leads to some interesting mounting tension between the two, Lucifer losing his temper and pulling rank on Maze. Conceding that he can tolerate and even enjoy her sarcasms, Lucifer reassures Maze that she is not to disrespect him, ultimately erupting into a brief rage, his eyes flashing demonic red and his voice booming as he explodes, “You are not to speak to me in this way!” Maze is happy and perhaps even aroused by the sight of the Devil proper, but promptly disappointed by his all-too-swift disappearance. Maze is later overjoyed when Lucifer invites her to indulge in some hellish punishment of the wicked on Earth, but once more let down by Lucifer aborting the fun-and-games.

Dr. Linda Martin, who is now regularly in bed with the Devil, points out at the beginning of the episode that behind Lucifer’s sardonic humor hides insecurity—that the Prince of Darkness is changing. By the end of the episode, Lucifer confesses that he does feel he is indeed changing—mostly courtesy of the presence of the charm-resistant Chloe—and that he, who is accustomed to being in complete control, is rather thrilled by the prospect of an uncontrollable joyride. Yet while the show attempts to downplay Lucifer’s penchant for solving crimes as his indulging his wicked sense of fun as he investigates Chloe’s mysterious immunity to him, Lucifer’s opening exchange with Linda perhaps drew out something subtly revealing. Linda explores Lucifer’s “metaphor” of his being the Devil (she doesn’t yet believe that the Devil speaks true either), and after Lucifer briefly runs through some of his various soubriquets, he states that that was “the old me,” and that he is now just plain “Lucifer.” As I’ve written, the preference for the name Lucifer in the comics enhances the rebel Lightbringer’s élite elegance, princely pride, and incandescent individualism, but Lucifer in the show seemed to hint that the use of his native name indicates that he is perhaps ultimately deep down trying to be the prelapsarian Lucifer—the “good Devil” indeed. The show will naturally take poetic license with the comic book character, but that would certainly do Mike Carey’s Lucifer a disservice.

What Lucifer continues to reveal to the viewer throughout the episode is his low-brow taste, despite his dapper suits and flashy nightclub. Lucifer is for instance delighted by the discovery of Hot Tub High School star Chloe’s mother being the “queen of 80s cheese ball sci-fi.” Lucifer is at his lowest, however, when we see him smoking a joint at a crime scene. I understand the show is emphasizing the whole rebellious son dimension of Lucifer’s defiance of God the Father, but…Lucifer the pot smoker? That seems simply far too juvenile for the Prince of Pride. Lucifer not only runs the risk of making the Devil all-too-human, but making him all-too-adolescent as well.