“Lucifer” 1.04 Review: Lucifer Ponders His “Manly Whatnots”

Upon finishing the latest episode of Fox’s hit supernatural drama Lucifer, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I was pleased that the show maintained its reputation for quick-witted banter and character-driven storylines. On the other, I was aggravated by yet another plot contrivance designed to throw the two lead characters, Detective Chloe Decker and Lord of Hell Lucifer Morningstar, together. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy watching them interact because Tom Ellis and Lauren German have stellar chemistry. But I’m getting tired of the monotonous methods in which the writers are choosing to advance their relationship—and am slightly disappointed that the endgame in regard to these two characters is so predictable.

So, what happened in this episode? Well, like always, there’s a case, and this case requires Chloe and Lucifer to join forces in order to solve it. This time, it involves a kidnapped girl and a self-help guru who makes a living off teaching men to utilize their caveman skills in order to score women. Classy, right? Naturally, Lucifer is intrigued by the concept while Chloe is appalled. For the most part, this case-of-the-week is overshadowed by Lucifer and Chloe’s growing fascination—and attraction—toward one another. Lucifer is still confounded as to why and how Chloe is immune to his charms and Chloe is still exasperated yet intrigued by Lucifer. As the episode opens, Chloe ponders Lucifer’s secrets while in the shower. Could he be telling the truth? Is he really, as he says, the Devil?

I don’t blame Chloe for being skeptical in this regard because I’d find the claim unbelievable myself. However, I can’t help but feel like the writers are dumbing her down in order to keep her in denial. Even if she doesn’t believe that Lucifer is the Devil himself, she has to know that something is seriously wrong with the dude. After all, she’s seen him survive drive-by shootings and other such skirmishes without a scratch, and she’s also witnessed him woo the pants off of virtually every person that he comes across. I’m dubious about the idea that being grazed by one bullet would curb her suspicions, and that’s what I feel like the writers were trying to accomplish with this episode.

Nevertheless, I have faith that the writers will find a new way in which to trip Chloe’s trigger. Otherwise, what’s the point? Love is in the air for these two, but if this story is to have any resonance, sooner or later Chloe will have to figure out who Lucifer really is, and the two of them will have to go from there. Maybe, by that time, Lucifer will have changed so much that the concept of being with the Devil won’t seem like such a bad thing.

Because he is changing—no doubt about it. This episode did an excellent job of emphasizing that not only is he changing mentally but he’s changing physically as well. He spends the majority of the episode trying to figure out why exactly his charm fails to influence Chloe. At one point, he even claims that perhaps Chloe is defective. However, as Lucifer comes to find out, he is the one who is actually malfunctioning. His previous immortality and imperviousness are beginning to fade, a discovery that shocks Lucifer and absolutely terrifies Maze, so much so that she appears to be entering into an alliance with the angel Amenadiel in order to get him back to Hell. As far as storylines go, this one is definitely one of the more intriguing ones that the show has introduced so far. To what lengths will Maze go, with Amenadiel’s help, to lure him back into Hell? I can’t wait to find out!

I also hope that we get the chance to learn more about the circumstances of Lucifer’s Fall from Heaven in the future. That small moment of tenderness between Lucifer and Chloe concerning the scars on his back from his removed wings hinted that the Fall is an emotional goldmine, one that could help us understand the show’s lead character better if the show is brave enough to go there.

New episodes of Lucifer air on Monday nights at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Fox.