“What else are you supposed to do when some parasite inserts himself into your relationship?”
Heartbreak: it comes in many shapes and sizes (so to speak). Equally as varied is our response to said heartbreak. This week’s Lucifer tackles the subject with a killer’s M.O. from the 50s returning to modern times as well as some of our favorites dealing with change of the good and bad.
Despite being the oldest human around, we haven’t really gotten a peek into Pierce’s past lives…until now. The episode starts by showing us the Pierce we all know—gruff, focused, and with no time for true human interaction. He’s tracking this ‘Broken Hearts’ killer…one who specifically targets cheating couples.
Fast forward sixty years. Soon after the original killer dies in prison, the killer’s m.o. returns in all its awful glory. Instantly identifying the similarities, Pierce decides to join Chloe and Lucifer on the case. It’s his insertion into the duo’s partnership that causes the main points of contention. Despite often hovering in limbo as to where he wants to take things with Chloe, the moment Pierce makes his interests in the good detective known, interests she reciprocates, Lucifer can’t help but feel a possessive discomfort in the idea that their partnership will be altered. Were he a typical—Hell, even atypical—human, Lucifer’s jealousy would be an obvious call to his feeling for Chloe. But considering his status as archangel and one who has abdicated his throne, it’s difficult to get a fix on Lucifer’s emotional state. Does he view Chloe as a possession—one he’s quite fond of and wishes no harm to come to? Or has the continuous human interaction these past years started to mold how he feels/approaches relationships? Personally, it seems as if he wants more than just a partnership (though he absolutely treasures that aspect of his relationship with Chloe) but, in the back of his mind, cannot shake the belief that God the Father has planned it from the beginning.
“If you don’t learn to open up, nobody will ever love you.”
On the flipside of Lucifer’s emotional availability is Pierce. In a way, ‘The Last Heartbreak’ is his first time in the spotlight. Not only do we get several flashbacks to the original case and his interactions with Kay, a server at the bar he used to frequent, but the flash forward to the present and the ease of his interactions with Maddie (Kay’s granddaughter) and the immortalized human seems just that…almost human. Factor in his pursuit of Chloe and maybe, like Lucifer, Pierce wants to take the chance, to open up and love. Alas, that’s not the case as his final words to Maddie show someone that doesn’t care about an emotional connection to another person, rather he sees Chloe as nothing more than a means to an end…and, this end is that of him finally being at peace in death.
Not to be forgotten, both Amenadiel and Mazikeen have their own arcs. When the fallen angel sees Charlotte for the first time, he instantly believes her to be his mother, blabbering about those final moments with her months ago. After discovering that it’s not her, he opens up to Dr. Linda, wondering if he should tell Charlotte the truth about her time as something else. Despite Linda’s advice, Amenadiel eventually comes clean and though we never see Charlotte’s response to the truth, there is no doubt that this new information will cause some serious issues for her character.
On the Maze front, it seems as if the demon is falling deeper into despair. Either that, or she’s decided to embrace her demonic side. She’s openly hostile now, uncaring as to who she hurts, even bringing Trixie to tears. Whereas Maze was once a fun, exciting creature, she’s now a shell of her old self, lashing out (as demons are wont to do, I guess) at those closest to her. If she continues on this route, she’ll find herself truly alone.
When put that way, it sounds like she’s all too human after all.
Post Script
- The unique take on this week’s case and how it gave us a glimpse into Pierce’s past life was a good decision. And yet, as with most case-of-the-week’s in Lucifer, the characters overshadow the procedural. With that said, the heart of the case, so to speak, encompasses what our characters are going through in some way (or, in Chloe’s case, the potential heartbreak). The dual use of the case prevents it from being a stale, forgettable trope and hints at how things may end.
- Even with their limited interaction, Lucifer and Pierce still bring the best chemistry of characters on the show. I’m not certain what’s happened to the strength Chloe once possessed but now, she often comes across as an excited and immature teenager. It’s taken away from what I once loved about the show—her and Lucifer’s connection. I’m not sure if it’s the writing or the direction being given but we need to old Chloe back.
- Now that Charlotte knows the truth will she accept it or brush off Amenadiel’s words as nothing but delusion? It’s an important distinction and could affect other characters, particularly Chloe. The fact that she’s still in the dark about the truth after three years of partnering with Lucifer is getting a bit old. Maybe, just maybe, as the season comes to a close and she gets more involved with Pierce everything will become clear for her. Personally, I believe that’s the only way things can truly move forward between her and Lucifer. Or will the truth shatter her as it almost did Dr. Linda?
