“What if He wants us to judge ourselves…what if we’re the ones who control all of it.”
What a difference a final act can make.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been uncommon for Lucifer to have a few uneven beats throughout an episode. Whether it’s the procedural portion (most often), the human side of things (for example, the terrible bachelorette party), or just lacking the crisp writing that, even when the first two fail, still makes Lucifer a worthy watch.
While the homicide story may be lacking, the mouthful of a title, “Quintessential Deckerstar,” delivers on those last two points in spades.
One of the greatest weapons a writer has is to get the audience invested in a character and then pull the rug out from under them. Charlotte is the target of this particular axiom as the episode opens up with her experiencing the same nightmare she’s been having since her return. A figure cycles through several faces, each face responsible for mowing down her kids then Dan. She doesn’t know if it’s guilt for a past deed, payback from her former life, or a nasty mix of both.
While Charlotte deals with her emotional demons, now that Pierce is seemingly out of the picture, Lucifer is determined to get his relationship with Chloe back to normal. But like most things, Lucifer doesn’t really have a clue what “normal” means. As they investigate the murder of a former baseball player’s wife, he pays homage to the past, performing acts identical to their first cases together. Like many things he does, Lucifer’s behavior is both frustrating and funny. Here he is, an immortal celestial that prides himself in the truth, unable to come clean to Chloe about his true feelings for her. Thankfully, as Chloe (with some help from Charlotte and Amenadiel) solves the case, he sprinkles hints into the conversation about their relationship. It’s not until he watches her catch the bad guys that Lucifer realizes the truth: Chloe has never really needed him. They’ve been partners all these years because she has wanted him there, by her side. That knowledge gives him the strength to break the chains holding him back from opening up to her and, finally—yes, I say finally—the two share a meaningful kiss, one that may propel them to a nice and happy future…
Ha, as if there’s going to be a happy ending.
“That’s where faith comes in, Charlotte; hope in the face of hopelessness.”
As much as this week is Lucifer’s story, it’s also Charlotte and Amenadiel’s. In fact, it’s fair to say that the way Charlotte’s story bookends the hour, it is more about her journey than anyone else. The relationship between her and Amenadiel has continued to solidify over the last few weeks with the chemistry between the two actors putting in mind that of two people that have similar stories that they don’t quite realize until sharing their fears. Her insight into the fact that, celestial or human, they both are just winging it hits the mark but the most poignant of observations does come from God’s favorite son.
Still unclear on if her current deeds warrant a place in Heaven, Charlotte’s fears are echoed by Amenadiel. He’s human now and even he doesn’t know if he deserves a spot behind the pearly gates. It’s this doubt that fuels his epiphany; what if it’s not God that judges a person’s fate but that person? Considering that Lucifer’s version of Hell is a person reliving their worst moment in perpetuity, it makes sense. Here in the real world, philosophers have oft mentioned, one way or another, that Hell is a prison we create for ourselves. It’s a testament to the strength of responsibility, guilt, and personal forgiveness.
“I think I’m the one who took my wings away.”
While Lucifer, Charlotte, and Amenadiel contemplate their responsibility to their lives and overcome the fears of reaching out, the bitterness of loss has propelled Marcus Pierce into a vengeful state. Now that he’s lost Chloe, he wants to regain his Mark, briefly recruiting the still vindictive Maze to his team. His new plan is simple: kill Amenadiel, thus regaining the Mark, and frame Lucifer for it. It’s a win-win, except, as we’ve all known, Mazikeen is not the heartless demon she likes people to believe. When Amenadiel offers her the compassion she’s needed, Maze turns on Pierce and though beats down the former immortal, a moment of indecision turns the tides and Pierce is not only able to get away but also track down Amenadiel and put the mortal celestial in his gunsights.
When Charlotte sees the gun, she doesn’t think about the danger, instead puts herself in the way of the bullet to save her friend. It’s a selfless moment, one the episode had been building towards from the start. Still, watching Charlotte die in Amenadiel’s arms was both painful and poignant. Just as she had reached that place of contentment and come full circle, she was taken. Her death does erase any doubts of her worthiness and, for Amenadiel, he resolves to take her home, his wings returning for their journey up to Heaven.
Post Script
- Such a powerful episode. Both Charlotte and Amenadiel’s journey towards breaking free of their self-imposed chains is one often found in literature and, no matter how much it’s used/seen, is no less important. Understanding just how much our minds play a role in how we view ourselves and the world (and vice versa) is pivotal for growth and understanding. People—and characters such as Lucifer—often are their own impediments. Being able to see through the forest of BS often grown through failure and doubt is no easy task but when accomplished, opens up a world of possibility. Even if only for a moment.
- “Chloe, I am the devil.” While this may not have been the first time Lucifer has admitted to Chloe his true self, this is the first time he’s said it sans casual whimsy. It’s one of the few moments he’s allowed himself to be vulnerable and her response of “No, you’re not; not to me” may be the formation of an unbreakable bond or, when she sees his true face, the storm that shatters the façade. While my hopes are for the former, the way drama works, it’ll probably be the latter.
Lucifer: “Quintessential Deckerstar”
