Lucifer header

Another week gone by and another instance of Chloe Decker doing her damnedest to figure out Lucifer and his manly whatnots out. But despite maintaining the same formula, if not a less interesting case, this week’s Lucifer adds a bit to the Morningstar puzzle that goes beyond the prolonged exposure to humanity is changing him, physically and psychologically.

“He’s the Devil! He’s the Devil!”

These words and Lucifer’s actions over the past several months replay in Chloe’s head as she struggles to reconcile the man with his actions, specifically those which her experiences cannot logically explain. Her showerful musings are interrupted by someone in the house. That someone is Lucifer and, in her surprise, Chloe’s towel falls to the floor, exposing all her godly assets to her breakfast-cooking pseudo partner. But the fun doesn’t stop there as her separated hubby Dan, with Trixie in tow, stop by. It’s a mortifying situation for Chloe, one she rectifies by throwing Lucifer out and enduring the “I’m disappointed in you” line from Dan.

Lucifer bares all for a stunned Chloe
Lucifer bares all for a stunned Chloe

Stunned at having been tossed out again, Lucifer makes a beeline to Dr. Linda’s, unburdening his horror of being thrown out of Chloe’s, unknowingly interrupting her appointment. Eventually Dr. Linda gives Lucifer—and us—the greatest advice. “People don’t have power over us,” she says, “we give it to them.” Lucifer has to reclaim his power, though his translation of her advice is to have sex with Chloe.
Soon enough the personal is momentarily put aside to take a missing girl case. Lindsay Jolson is the missing person, one who was last seen talking to Carver Cruz, founder of a Player’s Club group. Once again Chloe and Lucifer team up to go undercover. She breaks down the case for Luc who brazenly admits his plan to sleep with her. One can imagine how well that goes over with Chloe but despite the hiccup, the unlikely pair head to the seminar and immediately run into Kevin, Lindsay’s brother. He’s adamant that Carver’s behind Lindsay’s disappearance. But any headway they expected to make is blown when Lucifer outs Chloe, getting the pair tossed from the events. Despite the setback, Chloe realizes they can still salvage the operation…

Stepping off the primary path for a moment, Maze gets an unlikely visitor in Amenadiel. Though majorly outclassed, the demon attacks the angel who easily subdues her. His message is clear: she’s going to help him get Lucifer back into Hell. “We want the same thing,” he tells her, noting the fundamental changes going on with the Prince of Darkness. He needs to know what Lucifer’s weakness is to convince him back into the bowels of Hell but Maze refuses. Though she does leave him with something to think about…

Back to the missing person case, Chloe’s plan is to have the Player’s Club after party at Lux and hopes to gain insight through some mingling. But when she goes to pick Lucifer up, he comes out in his birthday suit, a jarring experience for Chloe, though one can’t help to see the first proof of desire at the detective’s mortification. But it goes deeper than that. When she sees the scars where Lucifer’s wings used to be and reaches out to touch, for the first time Lucifer shows true vulnerability. The non-verbal emotion that passes between the two in that moment puts a damper on his attempts of seduction and the duo head to Lux for recon into Carver. The case gets turned on its head though when Carver freaks, brandishing a gun. Chloe subdues him and the frantic Carver fills them in on Lindsay’s kidnapping.

Turns out, despite his player status, Carver fell in love with Lindsay and someone’s ready to take advantage of his vulnerability. Instead of sitting around waiting on what to do, Lucifer takes action, interposing himself as handling the ransom. Things don’t go as planned; Carver shows up and it turns out that Kevin and Lindsay planned the entire scenario. Turns out, Carver and Lindsay had a bit of a tete-a-tete several years ago and he didn’t remember her. The entire set up was Lindsay’s ploy at revenge. Lucifer tries to be the voice of reason, citing “you’re different, he’s changed. Does that mean anything to you?”

Not even Chloe’s lieutenant is immune to Lucifer’s charm.
Not even Chloe’s lieutenant is immune to Lucifer’s charm.

When she doesn’t respond, he points out how she’s no better. He stalks her, showing his face of punishment. The horror of it smashes her resolve and she begs him not to hurt her. “Why does everyone say that before they’re punished?” Chloe arrives before he can inflict another Jimmy Barnes on her and she is stunned when she catches a glimpse of his true nature in a reflection. In the ensuing confrontation Lucifer goads Chloe into shooting him…and it does not turn out the way he expected.

Chloe arrives before he can inflict another Jimmy Barnes on her and she is stunned when she catches a glimpse of his true nature in a reflection. In the ensuing confrontation Lucifer goads Chloe into shooting him…and it does not turn out the way he expected.

The pain Lucifer feels is a first in his foray onto the mortal plane but it doesn’t stop him from working his charm. He covers for Chloe with her with her lieutenant and embraces this new and exciting change. Mortality seems to be in his future but despite Maze’s urgings, he’s not quite ready to return to Hell.

Finally, out of the mouth of babes: Trixie remarks that Chloe shooting Lucifer means that she “must REALLY like him”. Add in her reaction to seeing Lucifer with his “berries ripe and ready to be harvested” creates the inexorable momentum towards something more than the fun quip-filled chemistry of their current relationship.

Devil’s Progress

• This episode changes the game in several regards. We get our first tangible evidence of Lucifer’s changes on his hiatus from Hell and coincidentally, a true vulnerability with Mr. Morningstar. His reaction to Chloe reaching towards the place where his wings used to be hint at a greater pain than what Lucifer is willing to admit. Dr. Linda was spot-on when she told Lucifer how he hides behind humor and one-liners. The revelation was truly necessary, lest the series remain nothing more than a decent procedural with limited character development.

• On the subject of character development, Amenadiel’s reaction to Maze’s overtly sexual action when he held her fast begs the question on how celestial beings are affected by their fraternization with humanity. I have to believe the writers have a plan for Amenadiel—one that may include a more intimate encounter with Mazikeen. Supernatural did it with Castiel and Meg, so why not?

• “How can I be afraid of something I don’t believe in?” Chloe answers Lucifer’s question on her fear of Hell with a question of her own. But what happens when she accepts the truth, that Lucifer is real? More to the point, how will that affect her relationship between her unlikely partner? Those questions will probably have to wait for the finale and the reciprocation of romantic feelings have ensured that both Chloe and Lucifer have more to lose.