By Luca Newton
The final season of Lucifer being out, I wanted to speak on why it's one of my favourite shows, and how I'll miss it..
Includes MAJOR series SPOILERS!!
Debuting in 2016, Lucifer has been a show I actually came to very recently. A friend of mine recommended it to me, and on top of the praise I'd heard about it, I found the first 3 seasons on Amazon Prime, while the others were on Netflix. Anyways, there was a slight issue. Seasons 1 and 2 were leaving Prime in time for the second part of season 5, and so in the fear that Season 3 would have that same fate, I very quickly binged through the first 3 seasons. And it wasn't even a bad thing, as I'd fell in love with the show. I have a lot to say about the series, then I'll go into depth with what I loved about the final season which I got done watching a couple days (and have still not recovered from).
Lucifer is a show about the Devil himself, Lucifer Morningstar, played by Tom Ellis, taking a vacation in LA, and setting up his own nightclub, LUX. However, when seeing an old friend of his, she is murdered in front of him, which introduces Lucifer to Detective Chloe Decker, who ends up letting Lucifer join her in figuring out the murderer of his friend. Lucifer grows to love this job, and becomes Chloe's partner in the LAPD. However, over that extended vacation, Lucifer has several parts of his celestial life leak into LA, in varying ways.
My journey with Lucifer is split in 3 parts..
"As you can see, the Devil does indeed wear Prada": Seasons 1-3
Starting my journey, obviously the first 3 seasons. These seasons originally aired on FOX, for broadcast television. You can tell. But these first 3 seasons are insanely charming either way. I think the best part of them is that charm.
The first season specifically has such a great vibe to it. It is literally Lucifer and Chloe going on several homicide cases together. It is the sprout of their relationship. Their dynamic is really good, as in the start, Chloe is very much hiding any charm she has for Lucifer, and instead acting very fed up with him. It really eases us into all these characters with this formula of crimes being looked into and figured out by the end of the episode, and the crimes connecting directly to Lucifer's issue of the day, which he vents to his therapist, Linda. It's a pretty addictive and smart formula for 30 min episodes on broadcast television. Intercepted into this formula, are hints of an overarching narrative, with Lucifer's angel brother, Amenadiel constantly asking Lucifer to return to Hell. This escalates to reviving a dead corrupt cop, who fears Hell, leading to an intense warehouse stakeout.
In the second season, they really build upon the universe. In this season, we are introduced to Lucifer and Amenadiel's mother, the Goddess of Light. She inhabits a recently deceased body. What I love about season 2 is that we start to see more of the religious parts of the series, as the title would imply. We are even introduced to another angel. In addition, we are shown 2 major religious themes through Lucifer - guilt and pre-destination. Lucifer kills his brother and feels immense guilt for it, and he finds out that Chloe was made for him, and so makes him vulnerable when she's around him. In this season, Amenadiel also loses his powers and wings, leading him to really attempt to start living among humans, and learning humility. The themes are just really solid here, and there's definitely more of a focus on an overarching story with the Goddess of Light. But then you tie that to the cases every episode, in the same formula, which still are very charming. I liked the way they connected the Goddess of Light to the Chloe story, in that she was in Charlotte Richards' body, who is a lawyer, and in this season we have an entire episode exploring Chloe's dad and the truth behind his murder. We also got Chloe and Lucifer's first kiss, one huge part of the overarching "Deckerstar" story, which I was honestly very invested in, and Linda was the first person to actually find out about celestial existence, which added a completely new dynamic to the show in many ways I loved.
Then in season 3, it starts to really ramp up. This season is by far the longest one, with 26 episodes. While I enjoyed all of them, I feel like given the formulaic nature of the episodes under FOX, it sometimes felt like the show was purposefully slowly paced in the actually interesting story. But what it gave us, was still very solid. Although there is a particular story I wasn't a fan of. So in season 3, it starts with Lucifer attempting to tell Chloe the truth about celestial existence, but being unable to use his devil face or wings, and so goes in search for the Sinner Man. The new Lieutenant Marcus Pierce, rubs Lucifer the wrong way. We later find out he is actually Cain, as in Cain and Abel, the first killer who was cursed with eternal life. Lucifer finds out that Cain is actually behind his kidnapping, and Cain just wants to die. So Lucifer tries to find ways to kill him. But they all fail, and while Chloe and Lucifer drift away from a relationship, Cain and Chloe start dating, and eventually get engaged. Personally, I'm not a fan of this thread, seems super forced. However, the wedding doesn't go through. Chloe is kidnapped by Cain, and Lucifer saves her, revealing his angel wings, and revealing to Chloe the actual truth.
These first 3 seasons all follow that particular formula that works for programmed television, and the lower budget really does have its charm. These first 3 seasons really ease us into the world of Lucifer in an engaging way. Out of these seasons, I think season 2 is my favourite.
However, FOX cancelled Lucifer. After fan support, Netflix managed to nab the show to make and release on their service..
"Oh my Me": Seasons 4-5
Enter the Netflix era. I can't imagine what it was like before this, when the last season ended with Chloe finding out the truth, then the whole show being cancelled. Alas, I wasn't there, so I went straight onto season 4. These Netflix seasons have a clear difference in their budget in many ways and can afford to take more risks and it really shows.
Season 4 is a shorter season, but it's fine when you realise you don't have to endure an onslaught of filler. What you'll realise with season 4 is that it really strips back on that formula. Given the new budget, the show really starts to focus on the overarching story. Of course you still have detective work and therapy in a lot of episodes, but the real point of season 4 was to focus on Lucifer and Chloe's relationship after she knows the actual truth. I think this is a real highlight for Chloe's character, as she acts scared and unsure on whether to help the priest kill Lucifer because of a prophecy of Lucifer's first love killing Lucifer. In addition to this, they introduce Eve, Lucifer's "first love", as a way to show someone accepting of Lucifer to kind of make Chloe think. Eve goes onto have a really great relationship with Maze. Linda has a full on child with Amenadiel. Lucifer is at his most vulnerable in this season, as he becomes more self-conscious of himself. He even unwillingly has his full devil body exposed. Chloe starts to accept Lucifer for who he is, and confesses her love for him as he goes back to Hell as he realises the actual truth of the prophecy. This season goes pretty crazy with the story, but it's all airtight and really well done with a noticeable new budget.
Season 5 was split into 2 parts, I think it might've been because of COVID. But when I started watching the show, the second part was coming out. In part 1, the focus on Lucifer's evil twin Micheal, who is trying to sabotage Lucifer by messing with his relationships in LA. Chloe misses Lucifer immensely and originally kind of falls for the trick, but figures it out. This calls for Lucifer to come back to Earth. But before Lucifer can come back, Micheal reveals to Chloe that she is a gift from God, made for Lucifer, which throws a wrench in Chloe and Lucifer's relationship. However, after a very Lucifer action where he basically ignores Chloe for a day, it ends up with Chloe and Lucifer finally reuniting and apologising, then having sex for the first time. However, Dan, after finding out about Lucifer's true self accidentally, enters Lux and shoots Lucifer. However, Lucifer is no longer vulnerable and survives. However, in the final episode of part 1, Lucifer and Micheal duel to the death, but are interrupted by God himself. I like this first part, but it definitely is the one I'd want to rewatch the least because of the many threads that I remember making me scared for Chloe and Lucifer's future.
Season 5 part 2 is definitely better in my opinion. This is the season they the craziest. I'm talking about musical episodes and "Daniel Espinoza: Naked and Afraid". But at its core, it's the Daddy issues season, more than any season. Literal God comes down to Earth. Here we get such classic moments as a family dinner with Lucifer, Amenadiel, God and Micheal all sitting down with Linda in the most awkward dinner ever. He causes everyone to burst into song. But what's most notable is that he chooses to retire, and needs a successor. This causes a great war between Lucifer and Micheal for the title of God. and Lucifer wins. Also notable in the season is the prevailing Daddy issues preventing Lucifer from believing he can love anyone back, and says to Chloe that he will never lie about loving her, and he feels he is incapable of love. However, once he and the Goddess of Light reunite and go to her universe, Lucifer learns he is capable of love, and after Chloe dies in the war, Lucifer takes her down from Heaven, and admits his love for her. Dan also dies this season after being kidnapped at the command of Micheal, as a way to drag Chloe to Hell with guilt, forcing Lucifer down too. It's an incredibly well executed season overall.
I really love these 2 seasons, they show a real advancement in the quality after being given Netflix budget and really took advantage. They also used that format to improve the pacing and formula of each episode, with more briskly paced storytelling, and more celestial focus.
However, that ended my Lucifer binge. I was up to date, and awaiting season 6, the actual final season. I wasn't sure when it was going to come out. I honestly thought it would be coming out next year. However, only a month or so later, we found out it was coming September.. I didn't look at ANYTHING leading up to this.
"Partners 'Til the End": Season 6
I finished this season a few days, and have yet to recover from it. I made this post to discuss this final season. I am aware some fans aren't happy with it, but for me season 6 is the perfect ending for this series. An indescribably beautiful ending, that had me crying for a lot of it. But it's not only good for its ending, so I'll go in order of the actual season.
The first 3 episodes were really good at bringing us back into the Luciverse, and it did feel very homely. Stuff like Eve and Maze getting engaged, and Lucifer really putting off his responsibilities. But what stood out for me was Dan. His character in this season was really well done. We see him in Hell, but at the end of episode 3, he is a ghost on Earth, and all that drama with nobody being able to see him, and him reuniting with the celestial beings too. It was excellently done. I absolutely loved how his first instinct was to try to warn Lucifer of danger, as he was very infamous for being used against him. But what stuck most for me, was how him truly understanding how Trixie felt about him, is the thing that lets him ascend to Heaven. It was an absolutely stunning moment. He also says one of my favourite things to Chloe, about how she is the strongest person he knows. It just all hits very hard.
I have to highlight episode 3 though, as it absolutely one of the best of the season. Lucifer thinks he has to care about people he hates to truly understand what it means to be God, so he goes to the first person he and Chloe arrested, and the hell loop is animated, making for this series of scenes that are so great with animated Lucifer and Chloe. However, they go deeper and find the origin of his torment, and find that his mother abandoned him. They allow him to stay with his mother in Hell. It's this really poignant moment, I absolutely. Then the end of the episode, with Rory was insane. But that requires a new section.
Rory is a mysterious angel, that sends Dan down with her to kill Lucifer. But we don't know what her deal. However, it's revealed that she is the child of Lucifer and Chloe, but one that time travelled because Lucifer wasn't present in her life, and never saw Chloe even on her death bed. Having this character who is their child really adds an exceptional new amount of depth to the show that wasn't there before. It really adds to the season for me. As she bonds with Lucifer and the three of them spend time together, it's really beautiful. But the worst part is that they don't know why Lucifer disappears for Rory and Chloe's life. However after saving Rory, Lucifer realises his calling is saving lost souls, which causes Rory to go back to her time, as she now realises the reason she sent herself back. The relationship was beautifully developed in such little time.
One of the many highlights of the season has to be Ella. She finally learnt about celestial existence. Better yet, she figured it out herself. I love how she also gets a trustworthy boyfriend too. But the episode after she figures out the celestial existence, she is just insanely good and nothing beats her reaction to seeing angel wings.
As for the ending.. in the penultimate episode, Lucifer says goodbye to every notable character in case he goes missing, and all these moments are just so raw and real and very emotional. Especially now that I know the Chloe and Lucifer one was improvised. For the finale, Lucifer doesn't go through with being God, and instead Amenadiel takes that role. Honestly, I never thought Lucifer fit the role of God last season, and it's very in character to want something so much and then at the last section change his stance. Instead, he realises his calling is to save lost souls because he saved Rory from becoming what he was. But because she has to be saved to make him realise this, it's a time loop where Lucifer can't be present in her life. Lucifer has to go down to Hell to save lost souls. This sacrifice comes at the cost of not being present in Chloe and Rory's lives. We see Chloe die with Rory beside her, and Amenadiel takes her down to Hell to stay with Lucifer and be partners til the end. It is a completely devastating ending, and a very beautiful one that felt true to character. They made it work that Lucifer and Chloe could live together and love each other forever. Those last 20 minutes are completely emotional though with Lucifer and Chloe kissing on the piano, and the remix of Champagne Supernova playing over everybody's happy endings. Lucifer and Chloe together is the last scene of the show.
I was flooded with tears with this finale, and I'll never forget that.
What I Loved About The Show In General
Lucifer is definitely one of the best shows I have ever seen. I mean, it isn't flawless, it isn't better than most shows I've seen. I just prefer it. Because there are those little parts of it that just excel it for me.
The characters in Lucifer are insanely well done. I don't remember a show where I cared this intently about every single main character of the show. They're all insanely well developed, far exceeding expectations. Lucifer and Chloe as the leads are great of course. Their dynamic is gold, especially in the first 3 seasons. Chloe is the more serious work-focused person and Lucifer is less serious and very charming. You just instantly love his character from the start, and he constantly grows across the 6 seasons. So does Chloe tbh, she really grows and changes too, and they all feel natural. Then you have side characters you don't expect to love. Amenadiel would seem like a character you'd feel neutral on, but he gets true depth and becomes a highlight. Linda Martin as the therapist in the first episode, I did not expect her to be in any more of the show, yet she is the literal emotional backbone of the series, as Lucifer's therapist but also friend. Daniel Espinoza would appear as the jerk ex of Chloe, but he really develops and learns to respect Lucifer in a really great friendship, and when he is killed, everyone was devastated because he was THAT well done. A deeper cut; Charlotte. After the Goddess of Light left her body, she kinda became her own character in season 3, and her feeling insanely guilty and wanting to atone for her sins, was so great to watch, especially with her romance with Dan. Oh, Ella. I've said it before but she was a highlight of season 6, but even before, she just brought so much life to the show and had many instances of depth. Of course Mazikeen as Lucifer's bodyguard, she really becomes her own as she desperately wants a soul and wants to love someone, and finds love in Eve where she can learn to truly open up. This paragraph is long enough, but you get my point. And, even in season 6, with Rory, the consistent characters continued as she was an incredible character too.
I was a big fan of how unique the show felt, despite being a crime buddy cop series for a lot of it, it just had a certain individual charm to it. Especially in the later seasons where the religious stuff and bigger budgets really are put to the forefront. The animated section of season 6 episode 3, or the musical episode in season 5, they all just blend this unique mix into a really consistent show and none of it is ever out of place, because there are always explanations in-world. I mean, the humour specifically is just incredibly written and so much of the show is funnier than some comedy shows I've seen. But what I also love is the unwillingness to hold back on emotional moments. I've laughed ridiculously loud at some parts, and cried more than any other show in others. I was ugly crying for 20 minutes of that finale. It just really knows how to hit both highs in a smart way.
I really do love the Deckerstar ship. I know that's the obsession of the fanbase, but there is good reason. It's such a good relationship that feels so genuine, and was really well handled. The show kept me on my toes waiting for the end results of their relationship. As friends or lovers, their dynamic was really unmatched, and seeing their beautiful ending in season 6, or seeing Lucifer's sacrifice in Heaven as he says he loves Chloe back. It just all is so investing, and I'm glad they spent so much time to develop it. Even going as far as to make a child between them work and not feel rushed.
What a beautiful, funny, epic show. Lucifer isn't without its flaws, but I choose to look past them a lot because they never bother me. The show means so much to me, and I only watched all of it this year. The real ones who were there from the start must feel even more strongly than I do. It will be missed. But the ending was perfect for me, I don't need more of it. I'm content leaving it here and remembering it how it is right now.
We will miss you Lucifer. Thank you Lucifer.
Thanks for reading
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