Every individual, ranging from those who cast cursory glances at “The Great British Bake Off” to those who binge-watch Netflix as if it’s a paid corporate position, shares a commonality — an ill-advised, yet hedonistic penchant for likable jerks. Tony Stark. Damon Salvatore. Oh, and Lucifer.
Fox’s “Lucifer” returned for a second season this past month. The titular character, played by Tom Ellis, who wooed viewers with his charming decadence, returns alongside Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German, “A Walk to Remember”), big brother and dark-winged angel, Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside, “24”) and a host of other characters to a world that is built upon the premise that the Devil relinquishes his role in Hell and settles down in Los Angeles.
The introductory season was, to put it simply, an introduction. Viewers could almost hear a suppressed Lucifer belting out, “please allow me to introduce myself / I’m a man of wealth and taste” (Rolling Stones, for the culturally impaired). As a side-note, the first season also did wonders to establish Lucifer as a singing prodigy (YouTube ‘Lucifer — Sinnerman.’ You’re welcome).
The second season, therefore, affords scriptwriters the opportunity to add more intricacies. The new season picks up where its predecessor left off, in that someone has escaped hell, namely (SPOILER ALERT), Lucifer’s mother. God’s ex-wife. Think a complicated, heavenly divorce that ended with the wife being exiled to Hell.
During the first few episodes, Lucifer and Amenadiel are on a hellish chase (pun fully intended) to track down a woman who is in an alien world, can inhabit human bodies and is the mother of every angel to have ever existed. Interested yet? While Amenadiel has his hands full with his own personal troubles, Lucifer attempts to tie every homicide to “Mum” (as he so eloquently calls her), leaving a bemused Chloe Decker in his wake.
Therein lies the chip on the show’s shoulder that has still not been shaken off. The emphasis on the police procedural aspect aids in constructing tension surrounding overarching character arcs. Other shows, like “Castle” and “Criminal Minds,” have gained cult status by doing so.
Viewers, however, will potentially reach a breaking point where the anticipation of a Game of Thrones-esque climax cannot make up for the glib attempts at a CSI homage that don’t relate to one another. To put it mildly, the lack of episode-by-episode engagement might prove damning.
Tom Ellis, though, is magnetic in his portrayal and the writers continue to chip away at the Devil’s character development. Lucifer is the Devil, a God-given role. Is the role God-given though? Or is Lucifer genuinely addicted to this vice?
“No one chooses to be a sin-eater,” he lectures Decker. “No one wants to be custodian of the world’s filth. Why would they?”
Lucifer’s mother further adds to general complexities. The primary task of finding her is rather difficult. As Maze — full-time Lucifer sidekick and demon with a part-time ‘nice guy’ mode — puts it, “she’s stupid hot, wearing my clothes and she’s got a corporate credit card.” Lucifer’s reply is befitting — “Bollocks.”
Why has “Mum” been introduced now, though? It is clear that both Lucifer and his mother are living in the ashes of their respective falls from heaven, reveling in God-given stereotypes. Viewers will wonder whether this specific character arc aims to change that.
The show is smart, elegantly sexy and rakishly witty. It possesses a dense smattering of layered characters that instantly gain fan loyalties. If it cannot, however, consistently connect mundane police investigations to simmering plot twists, Lucifer will most definitely be pleading for sympathy for the Devil.
