“Sometimes we push boundaries we shouldn’t and cause rifts with people we care about. It’s only fair we take our share of responsibility in a conflict.”
Pulling bodyguard duty for a stubborn pop star and looking for the person that wants her dead while simultaneously trying to convince the man upstairs that Chloe means nothing to him? Yeah, Lucifer definitely has his hands full in this week’s show.
Despite being an immortal archangel, a being half as old as the world itself, there are times where Lucifer seems to have the emotional IQ of a fifteen-year-old boy. It’s not his narcissism or even his proclivity of sleeping with any attractive soul with two legs that are the issue, rather it’s his impulsive nature as it pertains to plans. Putting aside last week’s epic fail with Cain and Abel, realizing that he still has something left to lose, Lucifer decides to shun Chloe in an attempt to ‘trick’ God into believing he doesn’t care about the good detective. Believing—like he does with all his plans—this is a brilliant play, Lucifer makes sure Chloe knows that she isn’t special and, as is his nature, goes overboard with relaying that information. It’s so over-the-top and ridiculous, Chloe understands Lucifer’s behavior for what it is shortly after the first commercial break: an attempt to distance himself from her after she nearly died defusing last week’s bomb. While it’s Lucifer’s reaction is a natural one, how he deals with the emotions associated with the reaction are head-scratchingly hilarious. As if God wouldn’t see through Lucifer’s B.S. is more proof that the Morningstar’s reactions contain no thought as he is more a creature of the Id than anything else.
In that, it’s just as entertaining to see Lucifer in over his head babysitting for Axara, the aforementioned pop star who, despite being the target of some crazy-obsessed fan, wants nothing more than to jump into the spotlight and do what she loves. It’s easy to call her stubbornness in the face of danger stupidity (and there is truth to that supposition) but while a diva in every way, there’s also something pure about Axara’s love of singing.
“Here’s the deal: you can’t let anyone come in between you and the things you’re passionate about in this life…or it ain’t worth livin’.”
And alas, this is Lucifer’s dilemma. For so long, he has lived a carefree life, sticking it to “Dad” and loving the pleasures of life. But now, with his feelings for Chloe strengthening these past few years, Lucifer doesn’t know how to deal with the new sensation. Losing her is the greatest fear that he has and he’s finally realized that, if He wished to, God could take that away from him.
But Lucifer isn’t the only one dealing with issues. The most emotionally compelling exchange of the entire episode is between Dr. Linda and Mazikeen. Taking Charlotte’s advice, Linda allows the assistant DA to mediate her rift with Maze. The demon’s initial reactions are that of a petulant child but once the two let their true emotions out, we get to see that an apology and gift ax just won’t be enough. It’s quite possible that the sisterhood of doctor and demon is broken and can’t be fixed.
“How can you possibly have any faith or hope when you’re in a loop of endless suffering?”
Then there’s Pierce. Down in the dumps now that his (perhaps) final chance of a mortal life was taken when Abel was killed, he’s lost all semblance of hope for anything other than his continued suffering. Like the audience forced to listen to his atrocious rendition of “Dust in the Wind”, Pierce wants it all to be over. He’s in such a bad place that even Amenadiel, sworn to uphold God’s judgment upon the murderer, tries spreading his personal mantra of faith and hope to the man that was Cain. Pierce is befuddled by this blind belief in the face of this dark and brutal world of pain and suffering. Until Amenadiel points out the hope represented by Lucifer—the Morningstar, the First of the Fallen, the Prince of Darkness—caring for someone other than himself. Chloe.
Unfortunately for Lucifer, Pierce sees something totally different: if he’s doomed to live this life eternal, maybe it’s time for him to pursue that which is fair and good in the world.
…and maybe that pursuit (of Chloe) will make his existence bearable.
Post Script
- Despite being the center of one of the weakest procedural cases in recent memory (the less said about it, the better), Axara herself was a good character, deeper than what is initially shown on the surface. Yes, she is a diva but she also loves what she does, not just for the admiration and spotlight, but because it is a part of her. Her advice on living a life in pursuit of what you love opens Lucifer’s eyes to the fact that he needs to stop with attempts to one-up God and appreciate what’s right in front of him. His inability to see that sooner may cause him untold grief, now that Pierce has his own desires for Chloe.
- Staying on the Axara front, she and Lucifer’s rendition of “I Will Survive” was the highlight of the episode. The pair worked so well off each other, battling for the spotlight until ultimately sharing it. Not only is it the best scene in the episode but it also speaks to the overall message that several characters are dealing with: working through the pain and suffering life brings to grab ahold of what you love and not let it go.
- When Maze first saw Amenadiel and Linda in that lover’s embrace, one had to feel a bit of sympathy for the demon. When Linda pushed Amenadiel away from it, I asked the question of how much should one give of their own happiness for someone else? Now, though I may still have a soft spot for the violence-loving demon, my sympathy for her is gone. Like Lucifer has at times, Maze is embracing her inner petulant child, easily pointing out what Linda has done wrong while ignoring any sort of culpability she has in the broken triangle. I’m not sure if the pair will ever be able to regain what they once had, and that’s a shame.
