This post contains spoilers. Each episode contains spoilers to that episode and any episode before it. In order to avoid spoiling the season, the episode reviews are separated by episode – do not read reviews for episodes you haven’t watched yet unless you don’t mind spoilers.
To read the reviews of episodes 9-11 click here, and to read the reviews of episodes 12-14 click here.
Episode 15 – “Is This Really How It’s Going to End?!”
No. No, no, no, no. Just no. This isn’t bloody fair.
When I’m writing these reviews, I always try to stay impartial. To take a step back and look at the episode as a whole, not to be hit by one thing. But with this episode… it feels almost impossible. Even though there was a lot of beauty in this episode, and even though there were a lot of funny moments and a lot of character development and quite a bit that happened, it still feels like in the end of the day, when I think about this episode, all I can think about is this one dreadful, heartbreaking thing that happened. And the fact it happened, in itself, just isn’t fair.
I didn’t see it coming. I’m not sure anyone could’ve. In television there’s a certain sense of invincibility – when the heroes survive so many things, you almost come to think they’ll always survive everything. Lucifer‘s never really been a typical TV show – it’s always been more realistic, and we’ve experienced some losses already – but somehow, it still seemed like Lucifer, Chloe and the gang are safe. In fact, only in Daniel Espinoza: Naked and Afraid, not so long ago, I was certain they wouldn’t let Dan die. Somehow, that feels awfully naive right now.
That said, before we get to that utterly devastating death and all of its consequences, it seems like a good idea to see how we got there in the first place.
I loved seeing Lucifer trying to gain his siblings’ support. With the first two, for the most part, it was just fun (Lucifer’s reactions make almost anything fun, really. Especially when dealing with Jophiel, who definitely is an idiot.). But fun aside, it was impressive seeing him being the grown up in charge. He was still a bit childish and vague at times, but still, he was surprisingly mature. And he certainly went in the right direction with Saraqael (even though he didn’t fully understand it); a good leader always has to think about the good of those he’s leading, not his own gain. Sure, Lucifer wasn’t exactly saying it for the right reason, but it’s still progress.
His conversation with Zadkiel, though, was an entirely different thing. Where the first two conversations were mostly amusing, that third one was surprisingly deep, honest and emotional. I never thought he’d tell any of his siblings why he wants to be God. I wasn’t even sure how long it’d take him to admit the truth to someone he trusts, let alone telling it to someone who’s hated him for millennia. But then, we’re willing to do amazing things for those we love, aren’t we? And the fact that Lucifer was willing to open up to this extent just to prove to himself that he’s worthy of Chloe… it was absolutely beautiful.
I loved hearing him talk about how he’s changed and grown in his time on Earth. It’s not new he’s evolved – and I think even he doesn’t see just how much he evolved – but it was lovely to see that he’s aware of it, too. It was certainly lovely to see him talk about how much he’s learned. Sure, he started talking about it as means to an end, but as he said himself in his frustration later on, it was all true. And I really loved everything that happened from the moment the conversation turned towards the real reason he’s doing it all. Because, as said, it was beautiful. The way he stood up for her (“her name is Chloe Decker, and she is much more than that!“), his admission about how much her love means to him, that willingness to do anything for her… Beautiful.
But there was something really sad (heartbreaking, almost) about it, too. There was so much bitterness and pain in Lucifer’s words there, and if it was just about his father or his brother, I absolutely would’ve supported him on that. But the way he talked about Chloe and being worthy of her told a different story. Because more than anything, he was talking about himself. And you could feel it. You could feel his desperation and his need to be good enough, and you could definitely feel his love for Chloe, but just as much, you could feel how deeply he still thinks he’s unworthy. How deeply he still hates himself. And that’s just so sad, because he deserves so much better than this. He’s become such an amazing person, and yet he still thinks he doesn’t deserve to be loved for who he is, and that’s always heartbreaking.
Also, I want to point out how realistic that entire scene was. The way Lucifer finally snapped – and in front of the brother who hates him, no less – was just right. You could see things building up to a tipping point within Lucifer, and you could see his desperation taking over him. But the most realistic thing about it was that it all happened in that specific conversation. Not because it was the last one (or at least, not only because it was the last one), but because he was talking to the Angel of Righteousness. The one person whose judgement of Lucifer is probably closest to Lucifer’s judgement of himself. Because in the things he told his brother you could hear that he wasn’t just talking to him – he was also talking to himself. He was also trying to justify his quest to himself. And still he judged himself.
Now, I’m fairly confident Lucifer didn’t understand any of the above, but you could feel it nonetheless. He’d already decided he’s doing it for the wrong reasons (though love is always the best reason for anything), and he’d already decided he doesn’t deserve to succeed (as seen by his constant self-sabotage), and standing in front of the person he knows judges him harshly… well, it was safer. It was safer for him to direct his frustration and anger outwardly. But even if Lucifer himself didn’t realise it, I think it was perfectly clear for us. And to me, that’s what made this scene as brilliant as it was.
On the more Earthly side of things, it was so lovely to see Chloe and Lucifer together throughout the first half of this episode. There aren’t enough words in any language on earth to describe just how adorable and perfect they are together. The way they supported each other and backed each other up through it all was so beautiful. I loved that they were both spiralling over the whole “becoming God” thing (each in their own way), but even more so, I loved the way they really saw each other, even through their fears and worries. Because even while worrying about failing to convince his siblings he should be God, Lucifer tried to calm Chloe down and make sure she doesn’t do something she regrets. And even while worrying about her new life, Chloe tried to remind him how much he’s capable of. Both of which were beautiful.
On a Deckerstar side-note: did Lucifer really call Chloe “future Mrs G“?! I melted when he said it, but now I have to ask, does that mean what I think it means? Please, please, please give us a Deckerstar wedding. Please. (I know it’s Lucifer and it’s likely he was just saying that without any future planning or anything like that, but please.)
I’ll admit, I couldn’t quite believe Chloe would really quit the LAPD. I mean, she said she would, but somehow it felt like one of those things that would never happen (although the same could be said about God retiring so I probably should’ve known better by now). It’s one of the constants of the show, isn’t it? Chloe is a detective, Lucifer is her consultant (or unwelcome shadow, in the first couple of episodes). That’s just how things are. And Chloe loves her job so much that it seems almost impossible to imagine her not doing it. Plus, it’s always been Chloe and Lucifer, together, as partners, right? So the idea of them not solving crimes together… it just doesn’t feel real. I mean, as far as character development goes, it makes sense, and I can imagine Chloe doing that for Lucifer, but as a viewer it seems… wrong.
I’m still not entirely convinced she’ll go ahead with it, by the way. Especially with how things went for Dan (even though it’ll definitely be safer for Trixie if Chloe quits the LAPD). I can definitely see her changing her mind after that, to keep his legacy alive or something like that.
But back to the pre-devastating-death storyline. Chloe’s goodbye speech was so lovely and I couldn’t help but think about the Spoiler Alert speech. I suspect it was set up in exactly the same way for that reason. It was beautiful and it was so very touching. And to me, at least, it was a bit of a reminder of everything we’ve had on Lucifer for the past five years. We’ve been through so much in these (nearly) five seasons, haven’t we? In the LAPD and in Lucifer’s penthouse and at LUX. And in a way, Chloe’s (‘temporary‘) goodbye felt a bit like a goodbye to the show, too. Which makes sense, since this was written and shot before they got a sixth season. But it doesn’t make the knowledge we’ll have to say goodbye to Lucifer any less heartbreaking, at least so me.
It was lovely to see how supportive Dan was, though (have I mentioned how much I love their friendship?). But Ella completely stole the show as soon as she stepped in. I never imagined I could laugh straight after that very emotional goodbye, but it was impossible not to laugh at Ella’s (pretty fair) reaction. The second she started hitting Lucifer, I couldn’t stop laughing. And, you know, “find out if I’m acquitted of your murder after you abandon me“? Ella Lopez, you legend. (Although, to be fair, I think her reaction was surprisingly mild given the fact they were both leaving out of the blue and all that, but never mind that.)
While it’s hardly new, I loved seeing Chloe and Lucifer working the case. If this really is their last time… it feels like something to treasure. And I loved that Chloe felt that way, too. But there was something very bittersweet about it (there always is when it comes to goodbyes, isn’t there?). Her love for the job and her passion for it and her sadness over saying goodbye – they were all so clear in everything she did. Even the way she cherished doing “the grunt work” was so very her and it just made it so sad to watch. It really made that goodbye so much more real.
Especially given how like them this case was. Even Lucifer’s complaints were somehow incredibly typical. Which actually raises an interesting question: why isn’t Lucifer cherishing it? He did when he thought they’re working their final case in Expire Erect. Sure, there wasn’t as much “chasing long shots” in that case, but still, he commented on and enjoyed just about everything. His complaints in this one felt more like they’re continuing as usual. Which would’ve seemed really strange if it wasn’t perfectly clear he doesn’t believe it’ll happen.
We’ve seen it quite a bit through this episode, so it’s hardly a surprise that Lucifer is afraid he can’t become God (hell, he doesn’t even believe he’s worthy of becoming God). And if he doesn’t become God, they can keep solving crime and things will be the same (actually, if he doesn’t become God, they have to keep solving crime; I think the possibility of Chloe quitting for him for nothing is something Lucifer can’t bear to think about at the moment). But I also think there’s a part of him that just doesn’t want to “make her” quit something she loves so much. Of course, it’s Chloe’s choice, and he’s not really making her do anything, but that’s what he feels like. So he doesn’t want her to leave the job she loves, but just as much, he doesn’t want to be the reason she does that.
And I loved that he kept suggesting that she doesn’t quit through most of the episode. Even while talking about how much he wouldn’t miss some parts of the job. And then, it’s not like he didn’t cherish any of it. That beautiful little “You know what I’m gonna miss? That look in your eyes right now” moment was just… perfect. So touching and sweet and loving. And you could tell how much he loves her and wants her to be happy – and how much she wants to be with him. Absolutely perfect.
And because it’s the last case (for now), I also wanted to mention I loved seeing the whole team together. Again, it’s hardly new – we’ve seen Ella, Dan, Lucifer and Chloe working together a lot – but it felt special nonetheless. Not just because of Ella’s (weird but hilarious) attempts to convince Chloe and Lucifer to stay. There was just something about seeing them all working a case together for possibly the last time. There was something in their conversations, in their reactions, that was so them. It was a bit of a reminder of how amazing this team is. And just like I loved seeing them all working together up until now, I absolutely loved it here. Even though it felt somewhat bittersweet this time, especially with all the mentions of it being their last case.
Also, I love that Dan was trying to set Ella up. We haven’t met that friend of his – we’ve only seen him for a moment at the funeral – but somehow I have a feeling he’s a good guy. The sort of guy Ella deserves. I’m so happy that she’s finally found the way to move past everything that’s happened, but now that she has, I think she’s ready for a relationship with someone who’s actually good for her. And I’m really glad Dan kept pressing her on that. He knows her and he sees how amazing she is – and to me, that in itself is enough to want her to give Carol a chance. (Without Dan’s explanations, that is, but those definitely give him some extra points.)
But back to the case. I was so happy that Dan was around to help them, at least at first. It was fun to follow his search a bit, rather than just Chloe and Lucifer’s. And I was happy he was such a good detective, too; it was obvious that woman wasn’t acting naturally and when he stepped away, I really hoped he noticed it. It was a relief that he noticed it, even. But then… everything got so much worse (which in retrospect makes me wish he hadn’t noticed it).
Honestly, all the way through their search for Dan, I kept thinking the same things they did. Dan would be fine. They’d find him before something happens to him. He’ll survive this. He has to survive this, right? They have to find him in time and he has to survive this, because that’s how it is. The good guys win. And Dan may have made some mistakes along the way, but he was definitely one of the good guys. So he’ll be fine, right?
And yet, every second of these seven minutes felt like an hour. I can’t quite believe it was just seven minutes (I went back to the episode to get the number); it felt like eternity. Which comes to show (again) how real and emotional Lucifer is. You could feel everything. Chloe’s and Ella’s and Lucifer’s and Maze’s fear for Dan. Chloe’s and Ella’s guilt over letting him go on his own (I kept wishing I could tell them it’s not their fault). And there were some touching moments, too. It was beautiful to see them all giving everything they could to find him, showing exactly how much they care about him. And it was beautiful to see the way they tried to support one another. But to me these few minutes were mostly filled with worry (that turned into fear) and pain.
Because here’s the thing: watching Dan being tortured like that only made everything significantly worse. It actually hurt to watch him like that. And it really stressed the urgency of the situation – with every minute that passed while he was still held hostage, I was even more afraid. Praying they’d find him in time, yes, but even more afraid they wouldn’t. Which definitely shows exactly how brilliant the people behind Lucifer are. There are probably dozens of ways of showing something like this – how many times have we seen someone being kidnapped and tortured in TV? – but it’s significantly harder to get into the viewer’s mind. To bring the viewer into the show. And Lucifer did just that. To me, at least. I can’t remember the last time I could hardly breathe watching a show, but in those few minutes, it’s exactly what happened.
And it was made even worse by the fact they gave us some hope when Dan managed to break free. It’s not the first time they’ve tortured us by giving us hope only to brutally take it away (usually about Deckerstar), but this has got to be one of the worst moments we’ve ever had. Especially because we know, like Lucifer said, that Dan is more than capable. So it was so wonderful to see him fighting back and even getting away. And I really hoped that’d be the end of it, because surely, surely they’re not going to kill Dan. Surely, he’ll be fine. But then he was shot. And with every shot, it felt like being punched in the gut. Except it was somehow way worse.
I was crying watching Chloe and Dan’s last conversation. It was just so heartbreaking. The way he held on just to tell her what they were looking for, his goodbye to her and to Trixie, his very clear fear… it was absolutely heartbreaking. It was so unfair and so wrong but infuriating as it is to see him go through that, it was impossible to feel anything that wasn’t shock or pain. And Chloe’s and Dan’s pain, their fear – you could actually feel them, too.
Seeing everyone at the hospital, sitting there, shocked and in pain and terrified, waiting, praying for good news… I honestly felt like I was right there with them. Like this wasn’t on TV, but in real life. Like I could somehow feel everything they were feeling. But heartbreaking as it was up until now, it was somehow nothing compared to how it continued. I was already crying, but when Trixie came in asking about her dad, I just broke down. Everything about that scene – again, so expertly written, directed and acted – was just too heartbreaking. From the way they all turned to look at her, through the way she begged them to tell her it’s not true, to the breakdown and that “I want my daddy“. You could just feel the loss and pain and the little girl having to deal with it all. And it was almost too much.
And I could talk about how brilliant Scarlett Estevez was (she was), or how real it all was, but I doubt there’s anything I could say that would show just how heart-shattering it really was. I’m still in tears just writing about it. That’s probably all I can say that would do that scene justice, really.
In all the pain and fear of everything that happened with Dan, I’ll admit I wasn’t thinking. I couldn’t quite make sense of his words about Caleb, either. Which, again, shows just how well the Lucifer team did the whole thing; to manage to control the thoughts and emotions of your audience to the extent they’re missing the obvious… it’s definitely an impressive thing. But with Super Bad Boyfriend being one of my favourite season 4 episodes, as soon as they showed Caleb’s grave, the whole story became clear. We’ve seen Michael had Gabriel bring the other pieces of the Flaming Sword from the other universe in Nothing Lasts Forever; of course he’s now after the key that Amenadiel left with Caleb. And yet somehow, in the emotion of the moment, I didn’t even notice it. Impressive. And just like that, the entire episode suddenly made sense.
But then the only question is, if there’s a Celestial war coming up, who else are we going to lose?
And in Lucifer like in Lucifer, if everything that’s happened so far wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Lucifer and Chloe’s conversation was more than enough to break your heart. And as hard as it was to watch Chloe practically tear him apart like that, I think it was done right. Chloe’s anger and grief, Lucifer’s pain and despair and guilt, they were all spot on. What she said wasn’t fair (knowing she loves him and feeling worthy of her aren’t the same thing), but I can understand how it might look like that from the outside. Not to mention, she’s in pain and she’s grieving – and she has to watch her daughter go through this terrible pain that she can’t help. Of course she’s angry. Who wouldn’t be, in her situation?
But that doesn’t mean it was any easier, watching Lucifer being so honest and open only to be told everything he already thinks of himself. You could see the guilt in his eyes and the realisation that he wasn’t enough on his face. And it was painful. The way he looked, like an innocent little boy, just made it all so much worse. I wish he hadn’t told Chloe the truth then – I feel like it only hurt both of them – but I get why he couldn’t hold it back any longer after everything that’s happened. It was just… human. That entire argument was. As said, it was all spot on. But it didn’t make it any less painful to watch them both suffering so much.
Dan’s funeral was heartbreaking, just as you’d have expected. I’m not sure which part was worse – watching Trixie breaking down or the news about Dan’s whereabouts. Which, I’ll admit, was a bit unexpected. Dan’s been talking about going to Hell from the moment he found it was all real, but somehow, like Lucifer, I believed he’d dealt with his guilt. They certainly made it look like it. The whole Celestial thing rattled him, but after Daniel Espinoza: Naked and Afraid, he seemed to be back on the right track. So the fact that he’s suffering in Hell right now… Lucifer’s right. It’s not fair. Not in the slightest. Dan deserves better than that. (Amenadiel is right, by the way. Guilt is a very complicated thing. And I love that, as usual, Lucifer shows it as is, in the most honest, raw way possible. That’s quality television.)
But heartbreaking as it was, there was some good in it, too. It was so good to see Ella listening to Dan and giving Carol a chance. And it was beautiful to see (again) just how much Dan believed in Amenadiel and cared for him. “Amenadiel the cop” seemed like an insane idea (though they’ve had the Devil solving crime for the past five years so it’s not that insane), and Dan didn’t think Amenadiel was making the right choice, but he supported him anyway. He did what a great friend does: tried to talk him out of it, but believed in him and tried to help him get his goal when he couldn’t convince him to go another way. And that says it all about who Dan was and how strong his friendship with Amenadiel was. Best friends indeed.
Amenadiel’s speech very much reflected that friendship. And it said quite a bit about who Dan was, too. Most of what he said was spot on, at least to the Dan we knew. It was a real, honest, emotional goodbye, and it was absolutely touching. Sad but beautiful. (Just like It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday, but that’s a whole other thing.)
I wasn’t surprised Maze found those mercenaries, and it was really good to watch Maze and Lucifer tear them apart. But the really amazing thing about that scene was that it wasn’t cathartic in any way. Sure, it felt great to see them suffering, but it didn’t bring Dan back, and it couldn’t have made his death any less painful. And it was brilliant that you could tell that neither Lucifer nor Maze felt better after doing that – and not only that, the viewers didn’t feel better, either. It’s the same “being in the moment with the characters”, and that lifelike human emotion and behaviour that Lucifer is so wonderful at, especially in this episode. And I’m sure it’s tempting to have your characters feel better after getting revenge, but the truth is, it’s just not how it works in real life. And it’s beautiful that Lucifer kept it real.
That final conversation between Lucifer and Linda certainly showed all of that. It showed everything we’ve seen throughout the entire episode, mostly under the surface. Lucifer’s pain and guilt, his grief, even the way he insisted his feelings aren’t important, presumably because he doesn’t want to feel any of this… it was all so real and raw. You could even feel them in the way he lashed out at Linda. Because it wasn’t really Linda he was lashing out at, was he? It was his own pain he was lashing out at. His own guilt (even though he wasn’t responsible for Dan’s death) he was trying to talk back to. And as usual, there was something so very painful in watching him suffering like that. It was so emotional and real that it was impossible not to react to it. (Tom Ellis brought it all to life so perfectly.)
Now, Linda was absolutely right about pain and suffering (amazing that she’s trying to teach both Lucifer and Maze that at the same time). Pain is part of life. But I can’t say I disagree with Lucifer, either. The system is broken. Life just isn’t fair (unjust and unfair feel like understatements, really). And it’s something Lucifer is very familiar with, isn’t he? He’s been through quite a few unfair things, but this season, it almost feels like a theme. In Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam, he had to face the unfairness of the fact his father – who “broke” him – can’t fix him. Now, he’s facing the unfairness of Dan’s death. I wonder if that’ll be the next big thing Lucifer learns to deal with. It would be another step forward in the process of letting go of his guilt and self-hatred, too.
I guess we’ll see how that works out in the finale. But as for that conversation: I loved how deeply you could feel Lucifer in that conversation, and I loved seeing him opening up to her like that. It almost felt like a therapy session (which I’ve deeply missed). And even if his goal of eliminating pain is impossible – I don’t think even God can do that – there’s something beautiful in the fact he’s taking all that pain to a good place. To try to make things better. It says so much about the man Lucifer has become. (I still don’t think love is the wrong reason to do it all, by the way, but I admit, wanting to make things better for everyone in the universe is probably a better reason. Even if it’s still partially driven by his own feelings.)
And hey, after everything Michael’s done, I think it’s safe to say practically anyone watching the show would love to see Lucifer beating the hell out of him (pun intended). He bloody deserves it.
Bonus: Dan and Trixie making unicorn armies. That scene was just too adorable. Also Tom Ellis and Aimee Garcia singing; how don’t we have that duet in a proper recording?! (Not much of a bonus, but I loved that dig at Fox when they went to see that charlatan. Brilliant.)
Questions: Is this really how it’s going to end?!
Final Score: 9.5/10.
Episode 16 – “A Chance at a Happy Ending”
Oh my Lucifer. What? How? What?!
You would think that after five whole seasons of Lucifer, we’d get used to the emotional rollercoasters and the action packed, fast-paced, “DID THIS SERIOUSLY JUST HAPPEN” finales, but… even for Lucifer, A Chance at a Happy Ending was… extraordinary. Insane, even. So much so that even now, a couple of weeks later, I’m still trying to understand what on earth happened here. (I’m fairly confident I’ve said the exact same thing after Spoiler Alert and Who’s da New King of Hell? but Lucifer never stops outdoing itself.)
So, to quickly round up this episode’s events before we dive in: Michael apparently murdered both Dan and Remy; Maze discovered that pain and loss are part of life and finally got together with Eve; Zadkiel showed himself to truly be an angel of principles and righteousness; the Angels’ vote turned into a battle; and we got to go through the most extreme and insane emotional rollercoaster when Michael murdered Chloe, Lucifer flew to Heaven to get her back and practically exploded in front of our eyes but finally told Chloe he loves her, and somehow he came back alive and became God. And if that’s not insane and super emotional, even by Lucifer standards, then I don’t know what is.
But let’s start at the beginning. (Well, sort of. The opening scene was just weird and didn’t make any sense until the second half of the episode, so I feel like there’s no point talking about it now.)
It’s no surprise everyone is still trying to survive in the aftermath of Is This Really How it’s Going to End?!. But I’m glad we got to see it, nonetheless. It was painful, watching them go through that pain, watching them grieve, but… Linda and Amenadiel are right. Pain and loss are part of life. And the truth is, we wouldn’t have wanted not to know Dan, even with everything that’s happened. It doesn’t make the loss any less painful, but at least we still have the good memories, right?
It was lovely to see Amenadiel’s and Linda’s reactions going over Dan’s stuff. There was a real, deep sense of friendship there, and it was beautiful (if really sad) to see some of their memories and how much they both miss him. And I’m glad they’re trying to remember the good rather than be crashed by the fact he’s (I still can’t believe I’m writing this) gone; like they said, it’s the good memories that help us live on. It’s very like them to accept their grief and try to live on with it, too. Just like it was very like Maze to try to avoid feeling that same grief (I’ll get to it in a second). And yet, even she broke down.
There was something about seeing Maze breaking down that was really difficult to watch. We haven’t seen Maze cry much, let alone breaking down like that, and it just… hurt. Between her breakdown and the season 1 memories (it feels so long ago now), I was crying all the way through that scene. It feels like it was impossible not to cry watching it, really; it was so raw and deep that it actually felt like being in Maze’s emotions. You could feel her pain and how much she misses him (as do we all). And it all just… hurt.
Heartbreaking as it was, there was also something beautiful in seeing Maze’s processing. The fact her grief started out as anger, the process that she’s gone through to be able to admit that she’s in pain and misses Dan, even the way she broke down over the tiniest thing… it was all very honest and real. And there was something very human about it all; I think anyone who’s gone through grief (of any sort) would find at least some of her behaviour familiar. And just as importantly, it was true to Maze, especially with her character arc this season.
Because in the first half of this season, we’ve seen Maze trying to deal with her mother’s abandonment and Eve’s departure, both of which involved a lot of pain. Then, she insisted she can’t connect because she doesn’t have a soul (a way to protect herself from pain, of course). But when she found out she has a soul and Eve came back in A Little Harmless Stalking, Maze discovered a new type of loss: death. She thought she couldn’t take that pain, so she tried to eliminate it, and she’s been telling herself she made the right choice running away ever since then (We saw it in Nothing Lasts Forever, and in her conversation with Linda in Is This Really How it’s Going to End?!). And then Dan died. And she saw it’s every bit as painful and awful as she thought it would be.
So because a lot of Maze’s storyline in this season is about avoiding loss, her initial angry, trying-to-be-detached reaction was perfect. It was almost like a proof of how right she was earlier on – losing someone to death is too painful for her to handle. And because she’s been trying to avoid exactly that pain, it’s no surprise she’s been doing everything she could not to feel it in Dan’s case. Since Maze’s default tends to be anger, at least as far as we’ve seen so far on Lucifer, that avoidance (as well as her anger over Dan’s death) came out as anger. And of course it was directed to the wrong place (though it is unfair and there’s hardly a right place for loss) – in this case, it was Linda and Amenadiel that got the most of it. Again, perfectly like Maze and perfectly human.
But the thing that really made it perfect wasn’t that anger – it was the breakdown that followed. Because denial and anger only get you so far, and Maze has grown far too much in the last five seasons to be able to stick to those indefinitely. So yes, she tried her hardest to deny it affects her at all, resorting to her (safer) anger, but as soon as she saw something that reminded her of Dan, of their shared memories… that denial melted away. And that’s just so perfectly accurate for dealing with grief, especially unexpected one. Even just the way that she punched the wall – while wrapping Dan’s/Chloe’s shirt around her fist as if punching away the memories – was perfect. And it was heartbreaking, but also beautiful in a way.
Not to mention, I loved the way Amenadiel and Linda instantly came over to support her. Everyone’s still dealing with that loss – some better than others, probably – but they put their own pain aside to try to help and support Maze. And that’s family for you. Supporting each other no matter what. And it’s just beautiful.
And I think I’ve said it already, but Linda and Amenadiel are absolutely right. Loss is part of life; you can’t live or love without losing. I’ve been saying that Maze needs to understand that, but I have to admit, I didn’t think it’d take something so drastic for her to find that out. That said, I’m glad it at least helped her see that the love and happiness and memories are worth the pain (a valuable life lesson, by the way). As much as it hurt, at least this one good thing – this one good lesson – came out of it. And that’s something. And I’m glad she at least has all of these memories of Dan to help her through this pain. (On a side note, Amenadiel’s and Linda’s faces when she talked about destroying Los X were hilarious.)
I love that you could see that realisation on her face as soon as Linda said that “never loving anyone is far worse than loss“. She saw how losing Dan was, and she knew she wouldn’t have had it any other way – and she understood that it’s true for the one person she loves but has pushed away. And I was so happy to see that she acted on that insight almost instantly. Again, it shows how much Maze has grown. And that little scene of the two of them at LUX was so heartwarming and lovely. It started off a bit awkward (though not for us, because we knew why Maze was there), but from the moment Maze said she doesn’t care if Eve dies (which sounds awful out of context)… it was just beautiful. And I’m just so happy they get to be happy together. They deserve that.
With Maze accepting the pain of loss and getting together with Eve, Maze’s character arc for the season feels more-or-less complete. And I have to say, that character arc is beautiful. Really. It seemed very unclear at times, but when you’re looking back through the season as a whole, it all makes perfect sense. We got to see so much more of Maze’s evolution and it was all so true to her character as we’ve seen her so far. And that’s just incredible storytelling. Absolutely beautifully done.
But Maze wasn’t the only one who’s been struggling to deal with that loss. Lucifer has also been struggling. We’ve seen a bit of it in the end of Is This Really How it’s Going to End?!, in a painful, almost heartbreaking conversation between him and Linda. We got to see quite a bit of his anger and pain in that scene. But we also got to see at least a bit of them in his first scene at LUX.
I loved that we found Lucifer drinking at LUX after everything that’s happened. It’s really sort of his safe place; whenever something happened, he always ended up at LUX. But interestingly, this time, he wasn’t drinking nonstop (or at least, we didn’t see it). Up until now, every time something big happened – when Uriel died, when Chloe betrayed him, even when his father showed up – Lucifer ran straight back to the “let’s see if there’s enough alcohol on Earth to finally get me drunk” extreme. He did everything he could to avoid feeling his guilt or his pain (very much like Maze, by the way). But this time was different. He was just… quiet. Deep in thought and clearly still busy with everything that’s happened, but quiet. Which is interesting.
It could be because he’d already come up with a plan to “make things right”. Makes sense that he’d be busy with how he’s going to become God and all that. But I think he’s also processing at least some of what’s happened. Yes, when Linda asked him about it in Is This Really How it’s Going to End?!, he said his feelings don’t matter. But he was clearly feeling them nonetheless. And we’ve seen Lucifer when he has a goal or a plan – he starts moving. As soon as he can and as quickly as he can. And yet, when we found him, he was just drinking quietly at LUX. Looking very much like he’s still going over everything that’s happened (and everything he needs to do to become God). Which is new.
But it was in his argument with Michael that his grief and his struggle took centre stage. Except in that case, it came out mostly as anger (which was definitely directed to the right target). And it was absolutely fantastic to watch, because Michael sure as hell deserves it, and I think it’s safe to say we really, really wanted it.
Now, admittedly, there was something disappointing about not getting to watch Michael get his head torn off and all that. But I loved it nonetheless. It was beautiful to see Lucifer keeping his anger in check to avoid hurting those in LUX; it’s not the first time we’ve seen him trying to protect those around him, but it’s still beautiful. But it’s not just that – it’s the fact it was the right thing to do for Lucifer’s character. Because Lucifer is (mostly) really mature at this point; he’s responsible, and calmer (or at least, better at keeping his anger in check), and he’s shown he can be the bigger person (see Nothing Lasts Forever). And as cathartic as it would’ve been to finally get rid of Michael, it just wouldn’t have been true to Lucifer as he is now. And Lucifer chose authenticity – a choice I’ll always agree with.
That said, it was still great to watch him tear Michael apart with words (and that punch felt so good). His scoffs, expressions and words were more than enough to show Michael exactly how he feels about him (it’s worth noting, again, just how wonderful an actor Tom Ellis is. Successfully delivering the depth of contempt and hatred Lucifer has for his brother mostly with words and nonverbal reactions… it’s not easy). And quite possibly the best part about it was how perfectly it felt like Lucifer represented us, the viewers. A lot of the time it’s easy to see or feel Lucifer’s feelings, but in this case, it seems safe to say that Lucifer’s disbelief, anger and contempt were exactly the same things we felt anyway. We know Michael can’t be trusted and he only cares for himself. And after what he’s done to Dan and Chloe… I, for one, was furious.
Analysing this episode in retrospect, it feels like it was blindingly obvious that Michael didn’t really have the Flaming Sword. If he did, he wouldn’t have bothered to try to “make peace” with Lucifer. We know he only cares about himself; I suspect he doesn’t really care about whether or not his siblings live. And since he repeatedly insisted that Lucifer is the reason he’s been acting out, it seems unlikely that Michael would ever want to keep Lucifer around. True, leaving him in Hell is hardly keeping him around – but it’s still not safe. Lucifer left Hell more times than we can count; even if by some horrible accident Chloe did end up in Hell, he wouldn’t have been happy there. And when he’s unhappy… well, we’ve seen what he does. So as long as he’s alive, he’s still a threat to Michael. Seems obvious, doesn’t it?
But that’s one of the beauties of Is This Really How it’s Going to End?! and A Chance at a Happy Ending. It’s so obvious that Michael was lying. It’s so obvious that he has no interest in peace and he doesn’t care what happens to Lucifer or Chloe or anyone other than himself. But it was so easy to get lost in the hatred and anger of the moment – over what he did to Dan, over what he was trying to do to Chloe, over the casualness with which he spoke about it – and not think about his motives. And because it was so easy to be fully in the emotion, it didn’t make the revelation that he hasn’t assembled the Sword boring or completely predictable. It was a “how didn’t we realise that” sort of a moment instead. And it takes an incredibly compelling storytelling to do that.
On a side note, I’m amazed that every time we think we’ve seen exactly how bad Michael is (#MichaelIsADick), he somehow manages to surprise and show he’s even worse than it seemed before. When this season started, he seemed like a twat. At this point, though, it’s quite clear he’s a psychopath. And possibly the worst kind of psychopath, too. Isn’t it interesting that while Lucifer spent this season growing and discovering more of the light within him, Michael spent this season showing how dark he is? We’ve known the twins are the exact opposite of one another going into this season, but it’s not just their personality – it’s also their journeys that are going the opposite ways. Which makes a lot of sense (I think it would’ve been unbelievable had Michael suddenly saw the light or anything ridiculous like that), but is still interesting nonetheless.
And of course, continuing with his pattern, Michael has shown exactly how horrible he is when he murdered Remy. Which I have to admit was still surprising. I mean, killing Dan is one thing – we saw how little Angels care about humans, I get why he wouldn’t care – but his own sister? And he didn’t even care. He admitted it with the same casualness and zero caring you’d have when talking about doing the groceries. If that’s not a psychopath, I don’t know what is. (It’s infuriating that none of their siblings even cared, though. It’s your sister he murdered. And you’re, what, just accepting it and moving on? Infuriating.)
But enough about Michael (for now, at least). Back to the sibling we like. It was lovely to see that even with his (very justified) anger towards Michael, Lucifer did manage to take a step back to think about the future. And it was absolutely beautiful to see that his immediate reaction was to try to protect Chloe from the future Michael was aiming for.
I was really glad to see that Chloe calmed down a bit, too. As I said after Is This Really How it’s Going to End?!, it was clear that Chloe didn’t really mean a lot of what she said. In the emotion of the moment, we all make mistakes – and I was glad to see that Chloe knew that, too. I still disagree with Lucifer about his motives being wrong (I’m with Zadkiel, love is the best reason), but it was good to see them talking about that fight (and everything that’s happened around it) quietly and calmly. It says a lot about their relationship that they can both admit when they’ve been wrong, and while it’s not the first time we’ve seen it this season, I still enjoyed it. Especially since, as said, Lucifer didn’t really deserve her lashing out at him like that and she didn’t mean it.
I loved that Lucifer tried to do everything he could to protect Chloe. His hesitance when he told her the truth about Dan was absolutely perfect; you could feel how torn he was between his desires to protect Chloe from the truth about Dan and from going to Hell. That said, while it was clear he was telling her to stop herself from feeling guilty because he was terrified of the possibility of her going to Hell, it was a bit… off, even for him. Possibly because of the simplicity with which he said it, which made it sound (almost) like he actually believed his own words. Given all that, it’s no wonder Chloe reacted as she did. Her reaction was pretty perfect, really (especially the “make yourself vulnerable” bit, so accurate).
But then, for anyone watching from the outside (like us), I think it was perfectly clear he was only clinging to the hope it was all possible because he’s that scared. There was something in his expression and in the urgency in his tone that made it clear that he’s terrified, and that he’s desperately trying to sell the whole “stop feeling guilty” to himself just as much. Which, again, shows exactly how he feels about Chloe. And if she wasn’t already reeling following the revelation that Michael killed Dan to send her to Hell, I think Chloe would’ve picked up on it, too. But after what she’s been through recently, it actually seems pretty incredible that she didn’t completely panic. Her strength never stops being amazing. (I wish Lucifer allowed himself to show his fear, but then, he’s very good at denial, isn’t he?)
It was no surprise that in the heat of the moment, in his fear and desperation, he accidentally revealed the truth about Dan’s current location. I really wish he hadn’t – Chloe’s been through enough right now as it is – but the truth is, it was just a question of time. Lucifer never lies; she would’ve said something about it sooner or later and he’d have had to tell her the truth. But I loved that he, too, knew it wasn’t the right time. You could see it on his face that he knew he made a mistake revealing the truth as soon as that “you can’t end up like Dan” came out of his mouth. And it was beautiful to see him desperately trying not to tell her the truth, desperately trying to protect her from it, even as the truth became crystal clear. That’s true love right there.
That entire moment was somehow both heartbreaking and lovely at the same time, by the way. Chloe’s pain was heartbreaking, especially once she put it all together to understand where Dan was. But the way you could see the creeping realisation on her face, the way you could see that wordless conversation between her and Lucifer, the way you could feel just how much Lucifer wants to protect her, his compassion and his love… those were all so lovely. It was just… Deckerstar. And I wonder what would’ve happened had Remiel not showed up. I wouldn’t put it past Lucifer to try to postpone this conversation until they’ve both processed Dan’s death, but I wonder if Chloe would’ve let him. The way we know her, it’s entirely possible she’d have kept pressing him. (I wonder if they talked about it after he became God; hopefully we’ll see in season 6).
Still, it was probably a good thing that Remy stopped that conversation, because they really didn’t have time for it. And speaking of Remy… I understand why she “had” to die – it’s very like Michael to get rid of anyone getting in his way – but it was disappointing nonetheless. I was really looking forward to seeing her working with Lucifer, despite their mutual dislike. We didn’t really get to see much of it; she chose to support him in Nothing Lasts Forever, and Amenadiel said she told him Michael is still in Heaven in Is This Really How it’s Going to End?!, but other than that, we barely saw her. Which is disappointing. It was such an interesting opportunity for character development. (That said, I loved that even though they didn’t like each other, you could tell Lucifer was rattled by her death; he did love her, despite their issues.)
Somehow I wasn’t surprised Chloe was the one who realised Michael doesn’t have the Flaming Sword yet (but as I’ve said already, I loved that in the moment, it was so obvious and yet somehow still a bit of a surprise). But it was lovely to watch them working together to figure something out again, even if it wasn’t about a case. And it was absolutely beautiful to see how attuned to her feelings Lucifer was (“I know it’s asking a lot, but I need the Detective one more time”. I can’t.) and Chloe’s willingness to help him (her “of course” was just…). Not to mention the way she gave him strength – you could see on his face that he was bracing himself for the future, gathering strength from her words. And it’s just beautiful how deep and real their feelings are and how connected they are.
Up until that point, the only one we haven’t seen after Dan’s death was Ella. And while everything she said to “God” was heartbreaking (but also completely accurate, especially the “it’s extra dark right now” and the “it almost feels like you’re not even up there anymore” bits), I’m still glad we got to see it. I hate seeing her suffering, but I love seeing what she’s going through; she’s such a fascinating character that I feel like we don’t see enough of. And it’s no different in this case – her single scene still felt too short. She and Dan have so much history; surely the whole thing affected her even more than what we saw, and I think it would’ve been lovely to see it.
That said, I loved that while some of the things she said sounded a bit like her words after Charlotte’s death, she still held on to her realisations from the end of season 4. Facing all this pain isn’t easy; someone weaker might’ve wavered (a perfectly reasonable reaction). But not Ella. Even though she feels that God isn’t there anymore, she still has faith in Him. And that’s pretty amazing and beautiful, and I wish she could see how extraordinary she is in doing that. Just as importantly, it’s very true to Ella’s growth and the changes she’s gone through in the past couple of seasons. And it was absolutely wonderful to see her getting the sign she needed, even though we know it didn’t really come from God (unless this was also part of his plan somehow? Doubtful). She deserves that bit of strength and certainty, especially right now.
I’m not sure what I enjoyed more about Ella helping Chloe and Lucifer figure out where the final piece was: seeing the three of them working together (supposedly one last time), or the highly needed comic relief. It really feels like it should’ve been obvious she doesn’t know the truth – every time Ella said she understood the truth about Lucifer she was way off – but it was still a bit of a surprise, and a hilarious one at that. Seriously, between the seriousness of her setup and his expression when she started telling him off about hitting the (nonexistent) Emu… it was hysterical. Absolutely brilliant comedy. And it was so needed after this episode’s heaviness so far, which was mostly heavy and painful. Which, again, feels like really good storytelling. And it’s very like Lucifer, too; it’s a show that constantly balances comedy and drama, and it does it beautifully.
On a side note, Ella was just too adorable. I mean, the way she hurried in the instant they said her name (I love that she was listening), her willingness to do anything they need… so adorable and so beautiful. How can she not see the light in her? She’s so wonderful. I really hope she’ll get to be happy next season.
Full disclosure: until he started hesitating about killing TJ, I actually thought Lucifer was Michael. I know he said he’s not as good at subterfuge as Michael, but he’s certainly not bad at it, either. That said, it’s true that Michael is better at it, and it’s hardly surprising. Lucifer always tells the truth, which makes any sort of deceit trickier and more complicated. Michael, on the other hand, has no such “limitations”, and he’s clearly taken a long time to perfect his manipulation skills (as we’ve seen in the previous episodes). All of which really supports Michael’s diagnosis as a psychopath, but that’s a whole other story.
Anyway, it was beautiful to see the way Lucifer couldn’t hurt that thief, even though he was then killed by Michael. Yes, it helped Michael assemble the Flaming Sword, and yes, things got really bad following that decision, but I think Lucifer made the right decision. It was beautiful to see – again – the way that he just can’t bring himself to deliberately hurt or kill others. It’s not new that Lucifer tries not to hurt those around him, but we’ve seen the fact he can’t kill in cold blood, too – remember season 3’s The Sin Bin? So it was really perfectly Lucifer. And it felt a bit like a continuation of the realisation I had back then, too, which is always lovely to see.
Now, while Lucifer clearly did the right thing not killing TJ, it was also clear he wouldn’t feel the same way. And it was a really good touch (the same goes for his guilt over Dan’s death, by the way). It’s a lot like Chloe said in Save Lucifer: Lucifer tends to take responsibility and blame himself for things that are out of his control. We didn’t spend a lot of time on it this season (we’ve been focusing on Deckerstar and the cause of his self-hatred, aka his father), but it was still there, under the surface, throughout most of it. And because it was obvious that Lucifer didn’t just instantly let go of that self-hatred like he thought he did, it wasn’t surprising that it showed up again. Repeatedly.
We’ve seen it in his constant worries about disappointing Chloe. We’ve seen it in his feeling of unworthiness and in his quest to become worthy. But in the last two episodes, it came up as Lucifer’s tendency to blame himself for everything that goes wrong. Which makes sense, really. That tendency to make everything his responsibility feeds into his self-hatred. And neither of those things are easy to let go of. Especially when something you do causes other – bad – things later on. So the fact that Lucifer’s immediate reaction was to blame himself and then beat himself up for it was just right. Even the way that you could tell he hasn’t let go of it after Chloe’s words was right. It’ll take some time for Lucifer to stop beating himself up over everything – assuming he ever acknowledges he still hates himself, that is.
That said, it was lovely to see that Chloe knows how to get to him. And even if she couldn’t relieve all of his guilt, at least she managed to help with some of it. He certainly listened to her; what he told Maze showed as much. As said, I don’t think he let go of the idea it was all his fault, but… he listened. And he took her words in. Which is progress. And I absolutely agree with Chloe, by the way. It’s not cowardly to save a life. A single life is always worth the effort. No matter what.
I loved the way that Lucifer was trying to stop Chloe from joining the battle, too. It’s always lovely to see how much he’s trying to protect her (as it happens, he was right to). But I’m glad that Maze figured out a way to get her in (making bullets out of her Demon knives? Brilliant). It just wouldn’t have been the same without her. Especially since right now, she needs to take Michael down. So even though things got really bad in that battle, it was good to have her there with Lucifer. (That said, I’m not sure how good it would’ve been had Lucifer not been able to bring her back. But he did, so let’s not dwell on painful thoughts.)
Also, I want to take a moment to talk about Amenadiel’s realisations. I loved hearing it, and I think he’s absolutely right – you have to risk falling if you want to fly. I’ve said it before, but being a father really brings so much out of him. He’s learned and grown so much since he found out he’s having a baby. And we’ve seen how good it was for him to fall, too; he didn’t appreciate it at the time, but a lot of his transformation in these four seasons (if not all of it) was thanks to it. That said, I still think he was a bit overly forgiving towards their father.
Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely see why God let them find their own path. And I see Amenadiel’s point, too; if we don’t take a risk, nothing bad will ever happen, but nothing good will, either. And that’s fine. But there’s still a difference between “letting them find their own way” and “letting them kill each other”. And it’s not the first time God let something like this happen, either (By the way, did they bury Remy where Amenadiel buried Uriel or was it just me?).
The point is, It just feels a bit wrong for Amenadiel to be quite so understanding about it. Especially since we’ve seen how much better a parent he is than his father ever was. And he knows it too. He wouldn’t have let Charlie kill someone, would he? Let alone another child of his (if he had one). So why is he instantly taking God’s side? I mean, I’m glad he’s accepted everything that’s happened, but you can still accept and criticise. (With their father’s parenting so far, you probably should criticise, but that’s a whole other story.)
But with the fast pace of this episode, there wasn’t a lot of time to dwell on it. There were bigger issues to deal with in the present. Primarily stopping Michael from becoming God.
There was something really cool about seeing so many of Lucifer’s siblings together in one place. It’s not something we’ve spent a lot of time on; we’ve mostly seen specific siblings (Uriel, Azrael, Remiel and Michael) or glimpses of them (in Nothing Lasts Forever). To be fair, this wasn’t that different from God’s retirement party, but it still felt different. Something about the shots, about seeing them reacting or moving or even fighting, made it feel different. I still think it’s a bit weird that there were so few of them, though; Lucifer’s and Amenadiel’s descriptions always made it seem like they have dozens of siblings. Still, it was really cool, seeing them all together (not to mention, it created some really beautiful shots).
It was very like Lucifer to somehow manage to make this very solemn, serious moment utterly hilarious. Sure, it was obvious Amenadiel was lying, and even as Lucifer started bowing down, it was more of a question of “what is he planning” than “is he really doing it”, but it was hilarious nonetheless. But hilarious as his mocking of his twin was, it wasn’t all about fun. Because Lucifer’s response to Michael’s question – “why do you have to fight the inevitable?” – was very serious, and told a great deal about Lucifer.
“It’s the only way I know how to fight.”
Such simple words with so much meaning and depth. Lucifer is the boy who was cast out of Heaven for daring to rebel his father. For daring to stand up to his father. And he’s been punished for it, repeatedly, but he never stopped. Even when it seemed like there’s no hope, even when the result was inevitable, Lucifer still kept fighting. Whether he was fighting his father, or fighting to protect Chloe and those he cares about, or even just fighting himself to do the right thing – Lucifer never stopped fighting.
Back in Family Dinner, Michael kept talking about how he was always stuck in Lucifer’s shadow. But the truth is, Lucifer is the one who’s on the “weaker” side time after time. To so many people and Angels, he’s the essence of evil. Even he sees himself that way. And he could’ve easily done what Michael did – or what everyone thought Lucifer did – and turned the wrong way. It would’ve been so easy to let go and spiral downwards. But Lucifer never let himself go down that road. The closest he got was in Devil Is As Devil Does and What Would Lucifer Do?, and even in those, he wasn’t really heading towards evil. It probably seemed inevitable to Michael that Lucifer would turn evil (we saw bits of it in Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!). But here he is, even better than he ever was. And that says a lot.
And in a way, it also ties the whole season together. Remember back in Really Sad Devil Guy, when Lucifer was tormenting Lee, he told him that, “…it is inevitable! Sooner or later, you are going to disappoint them all over again! So you would rather stay away for all eternity“? Back then, it was obvious Lucifer was actually talking about himself – and it was obvious he knew it, too. Since then, he managed to admit it, but he also managed to be in a relationship with Chloe. Despite his certainty that disappointing her was inevitable, and despite his certainty that his rejection was inevitable. And I can’t imagine how much strength and bravery it took for Lucifer to do it, although we’ve seen some of it. But even though it seemed inevitable, Lucifer still fought that fight. And I think that so far, he’s winning it.
It’s a beautiful character arc Lucifer has this season, isn’t it?
I loved Lucifer’s speech to his siblings. I think, more than anything, it shows how ready he is to lead. He knows his siblings, and he certainly knows his twin, and he knows how to make things right for everyone, not just himself (as opposed to Michael). And despite the idea seeming to backfire at first (Zadkiel playing tricks on us), I loved the idea of convincing his siblings with the truth. The truth is such a sight in politics these days. Not to mention, it highlighted the difference between the twins’ focus. Michael’s all about fear, but Lucifer is about love and truth. Beautiful.
And of course, it got him Zadkiel’s support, which was surprising, to say the least. As said, I completely agree with him that love is the best reason and that Lucifer is worthy, but… I did not see that coming. Still, I loved that he chose Lucifer’s side (proving he’s indeed the Angel of Righteousness), and I loved that he cooperated with them when they started doing U Can’t Touch This.
And speaking of that (much needed) comic relief, everything that happened from the moment the votes were cast to Maze’s arrival was absolutely hilarious. And it was very Lucifer, too. As a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Lucifer loves having these dramatic-turned-comical moments. And it’s brilliant at it. So the dramatic pause that ended with Lucifer turning it back to comedy (“really thought there was gonna be a whole thing“, so did we); the absolutely nothing that happened when Michael declared himself God (brilliant camera work and acting); and the way things got really dark as Michael basically said he’d kill them, only to get hysterical as they started Hammer Time… perfectly Lucifer and absolutely brilliant storytelling. I think it might just be one of my favourite moments from the entire show; that’s how brilliant it was.
Of course, as soon as Maze showed up, things got really serious again. I loved seeing Michael when he realised they have a way to fight him; there was something really satisfying about his shock and the hints of his fear. But even more so, I loved Lucifer’s suggestion that he and Michael fight each other, rather than involve all of their siblings. For starters, because it got us another incredible, beautiful sequence of Lucifer vs Michael, which is even more magnificent considering the fact Tom Ellis is playing both parts. I mean, the way he somehow manages to nail both of these characters, especially in a fighting sequence… just wow. That’s an incredible actor right there. But there’s also the other reason I loved it: it says so much about Lucifer and his unwillingness to let anyone get hurt because of him. Always beautiful to see.
On a side note, I wonder if it was done on purpose. Lucifer’s suggestion was very like him, and Michael’s lies about not wanting their siblings to get hurt were very like him, too. But it’s also interesting that we got to see both of these in the same episode. It almost feels a bit like another way to stress the differences between Lucifer and Michael. Which makes me wonder whether or not it was deliberate.
Between Amenadiel’s comments and Maze’s and Chloe’s reactions, it was clear there was some sort of a plan, but admittedly, I couldn’t figure out what it was, not in the moment. And to be fair, it was just too compelling to care. It was impossible to look away from the screen, practically all you could think about was Lucifer and the danger of Michael hurting him. And it was such a fantastic moment when they managed to break the Sword apart again – things were finally working out. We could win this. The end of this battle was within Lucifer’s grasp at last. And then Azrael showed up.
I was thrilled when I saw Charlyne Yi’s name in the credits in the beginning of the episode. We’ve only ever seen Azrael once before, in Boo Normal, but it was such a great episode, and I loved the dynamics between her and Ella and her and Lucifer. So I was excited to have her back in the show – and maybe even taking Lucifer’s side in the upcoming battle. But as soon as she said her line (still calling him “Lu”, adorable)… there was the familiar feeling of dread we’ve come to know so well on Lucifer. Which we probably should’ve been used to by now, shouldn’t we? Somehow, with Lucifer, every time it seems like everything is going the right way, something really bad happens. We’ve even had the same thing in the previous episode. But this time it was way, way worse than anything we could imagine.
Even now, I’m still struggling to find words to describe just how watching that scene felt. In the moment, all I could think was ‘NO’, over and over again. It was utterly heartbreaking, watching Chloe dying. And it was a complete shock, too, especially because Lucifer was right, it wasn’t her time yet. Chloe couldn’t die. It’s just not how it works in TV, right? But there she was, dying, and somehow trying to help Lucifer even in while she’s dying, because she’s that amazing, and it was just… too painful.
And even if by some unlikely chance you didn’t care about Chloe’s death, it was impossible not to feel Lucifer’s pain and horror. His pain and his grief were so deep and raw that you could feel them. Deeply. Honestly, I still don’t know how much of the pain and grief I was feeling at the moment was mine and how much of it was Lucifer’s. His breakdown was just real. Almost everything about that horrible moment was real. And it was absolutely heart-shattering.
The only thing that bothered me about that scene was the way Chloe “suddenly” saw Dan’s death wasn’t her fault. It just didn’t make sense. These things take time, and they’re a lot more complicated than just “this isn’t my fault”. It’s clear that she was trying to make sure Lucifer doesn’t blame himself for her death, and that bit is beautiful, but she still believed it, or she wouldn’t have ended up in Heaven. So where did it come from, exactly? The day before she told Lucifer it’s not that easy to stop feeling guilty, and now that’s exactly what happens? It felt weird in the moment. (I get that they needed Chloe to go to Heaven but it was just too sudden. Even if she suddenly saw the two cases were the same and like it’s not Lucifer’s fault it wasn’t her fault either, it’s still too fast.)
I’ll admit I really wanted Lucifer (or Maze) to tear Michael apart after his comments. But it was so beautiful to watch Lucifer (as much as I could see with the tears, anyway) turning that pain into resolution. Refusing to give up, as ever. I loved that you could actually see it on his face; the pain, the denial, the horror – all turning into strength and fighting. All turning into a single decision: to bring back the woman he loves, whatever happens to him. Even if he has to die for her to live. And it’s hardly the first time Lucifer put himself on the line for Chloe, but it’s probably the time with the highest stakes. And it was absolutely beautiful.
Heartbreaking as the whole thing was, it was lovely to see Chloe getting to spend some time with her father. It was heartwarming and sweet and Chloe deserved that bit of peace, especially after everything she’s been through recently. (It also reminded me of Expire Erect, when Amenadiel told her he’s proud of her.) Of course, she didn’t get to have a lot of time, and neither did we, as it was obvious the falling star was, in fact, Lucifer.
I’ll admit, at this point, I was terrified they’d kill Lucifer, too. They’ve killed Chloe; there’s clearly no limit to what they can and can’t do. (In this, Lucifer is very life-like, but that’s a whole other story.) But it was such a relief that he survived, and it was absolutely wonderful to see that the person greeting him was, in fact, our old friend, Lee (is that how he’ll show up in the season 6 premiere? Because we know he has to be there, he’s the premieres’ recurring character). And their conversation, despite being short, has some interesting implications to Lucifer – and might even hold the key to Lucifer’s survival in Heaven. (Lee’s willingness to help him was lovely, too, by the way.)
But Deckerstar first. Chloe and Lucifer’s reunion in Heaven was so beautiful. There’s so much that I could say about it, about how beautiful they are together and about their willingness to do whatever it takes for one another, but I won’t. Nothing I say will do that scene justice anyway. But there were a couple of particularly noteworthy moments in it. For instance, it was beautiful to see Chloe’s father giving her strength and encouraging her to go back (and it’s fantastic parenting, might I add). And then there was his admission that we’ve been waiting for the entire season.
I know I’ve said it already, but it’s so like Lucifer to give us exactly what we’ve been waiting for only to brutally take it away seconds later. “Beautiful” doesn’t even begin to describe just how beautiful Lucifer’s love declaration was. But it was so painful to watch him in pain like that, even though he was finally at peace with his actions, even though he himself was happy with his choice. It was good to see him in that state. He’s spent so much time second-guessing and hating himself; he deserves some peace. But it was impossible not to cry through it all. Watching him in pain, and then burning entirely, remembering that everyone said he’ll die if he goes back to Heaven… It was too much. (Just like saying goodbye to Lucifer, which is what this episode was originally supposed to be. Sweet and painful; sounds about right.)
And because of how it all turned out, it was brilliant to see Chloe taking on Michael. Seriously. With everything that’s happened – in the emotion of the moment – I didn’t even remember she still had Amenadiel’s necklace; it was another wonderful “how didn’t I remember this?!” moment. Which (again, I know I keep saying it but it’s true) shows the incredible storytelling of the Lucifer team. Immersing us in the show and its emotions enough to make us forget the obvious… very impressive. And it felt really, really good to watch her beating him up like that. Honestly, at this point, the only thing I wanted was for someone (anyone) to kill the bastard. Preferably with Azrael’s blade so he’d never come back to bother us.
That said, I’m glad Lucifer showed up to stop her (though I’m still not entirely sure how). He was right; it wasn’t like her. She wouldn’t kill anyone. And it would’ve made things so much worse for her had she killed Michael (as much as he deserves it). She definitely looked like we felt, though. You could practically hear her thoughts asking how it’s even possible. And while it was really anticlimactic and somewhat disappointing to watch Lucifer not killing Michael, I’m glad he didn’t do it, either. It just wouldn’t have been like Lucifer. It’s not who he is. Lucifer hates hurting people for nothing; killing someone, especially his brother, is just not something he’s capable of. The two times he did kill – Uriel and Cain – tore him apart. So it would’ve been a very Hollywood-like climax if Lucifer chose to execute his brother, but it would’ve been wrong.
And in the end of the day, Lucifer is a show about people. For five years, the people behind Lucifer stayed true to the characters and to real life (funny as that sounds when the show is about the Devil solving crime in L.A.), and they never once forgot what story they’re trying to tell. Even when the choices they made weren’t the ones we wanted, they were the right ones for the characters – and that’s always better than the alternative.
Also, I loved hearing Lucifer talk about how he learned that everyone deserves a second chance. It’s one of the very first things we’ve seen on Lucifer, and it’s one of these beautiful Lucifer moments that really stuck with me, because you can see exactly what he realises. It’s the first time that Lucifer – who was cast out because he acted out, because he wasn’t exactly what his father wanted – encountered forgiveness. And you can see it on his face – the amazement, the realisations, the thought that maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t have to be perfect. The thought that maybe he can have a second chance, even though he completely screwed up the first (in his mind). And that second chance certainly did him good, didn’t it? Look how he’s grown over the past five seasons. Isn’t that a beautiful closure?
So how did Lucifer survive his trip to Heaven?
Obviously, I don’t know. But I think between Lucifer’s conversation with Lee, his words to Michael and the way God operated so far, we already have the beginning of the explanation.
When Lucifer was cast to Hell, he gave himself his Devil face. He didn’t realise it until much later on, but he felt like a monster. Unworthy. It seems pretty clear now that he felt like he should’ve been cast out, like he shouldn’t be allowed to go back to Heaven. (Not that he wanted to, anyway; he always talked about how much he hated it there. But still, it seems that he didn’t feel like he’s worthy of being there.)
Now, we don’t really know what happened there. Obviously, we weren’t there. The way God talked about it in Resting Devil Face and in Nothing Lasts Forever makes it seem like he mostly thought Lucifer’s rebellion was childish acting out. I believe he used the word “adorable”, even. Of course, Lucifer takes place thousands of years afterwards, so it’s entirely possible he’d let go of his anger since, and we’ve seen how vengeful he can be, so I definitely wouldn’t put it past him to kick his son out after his rebellion and forbid him from coming back, at least for a while. But even if he did, I can hardly see God making sure Lucifer dies if he tries to come back. I’m not even sure it’s possible without someone actively killing Lucifer; we really don’t know enough about the rules of Heaven. Which makes me wonder.
As said, we don’t know what exactly God said after the rebellion to make everyone (including Lucifer) believe Lucifer dies if he shows up in Heaven. But there’s one thing we do know. God made his children self-actualise. We’ve seen it in Lucifer’s face and wings and we’ve seen it in Amenadiel’s wings and his powers. So is it possible that it’s not God who’s been keeping Lucifer out, but Lucifer himself?
Lucifer’s conversation with Lee, as said, seems to support that theory. When Lee explained how he ended up in Heaven, Lucifer was amazed. He’d been watching over Hell for millennia, and he’s never seen anyone pull himself out of there (despite saying repeatedly that it’s theoretically possible). Except that’s not entirely accurate, is it? Lucifer was in Hell, too. Ruling it, yes, but in Hell nonetheless. He spent years torturing himself, treating himself like a monster, doing so much worse than any Demon could ever have done to him. Especially when he came back in the end of season 4; we’ve seen how tormented he was in Really Sad Devil Guy. Forcing yourself to stay away from the person you love because you’re terrified you’d lose them… Sounds like proper Hell-style torture to me.
As I wrote before, it was clear that Lucifer was torturing himself just as much as he was torturing Lee in that scene. But… Lee listened. He admitted that Lucifer was right about his avoidance, and he tried to make it right. Which got him to Heaven. But he wasn’t the only one facing his fears and his guilt, was he? Lucifer went back to Earth, despite being terrified of disappointing Chloe. They even got together. And he’s proven, time and time again, that he is good enough. He’s proven that he is worthy. The only one who couldn’t see it – the only one who repeatedly insisted it’s not true – was himself.
When Lucifer flew to Heaven, he knew he’s choosing Chloe over himself. He knew he’s sacrificing himself, and he was more than willing to do that. Is it possible that Lee’s words about facing his fears and the decision Lucifer made were enough for him to finally see himself as worthy? I think so. But if he’s the one who prevented himself from going back to Heaven, does it mean that Lucifer seeing himself as worthy is the reason he survived Heaven?
I suppose we’ll see in season 6, won’t we?
Bonus: That final “Oh my… me“. Absolutely perfect.
Questions: Is Lucifer God? How did he survive Heaven? What’s going on with Dan? Can he get out of Hell, the way Lee did and the way he really deserves? Is Chloe alright? Is she really retiring? What on earth is happening?
Final Score: 9.5/10.
A Word About The Season
I’ve done most of the seasonal-arc reviews already, so I’ll keep this short.
We’ve been through quite a lot this season, and there have been some magnificent character arcs. I loved how much deeper into the minds and lives of almost all of our main characters we got to go. I loved seeing Amenadiel discovering fatherhood and his place in life; Ella finding the light in her and finally giving herself some credit; Linda facing her past and reuniting with her daughter; and Maze coming to terms with her losses and accepting the vulnerability and pain love brings with it. I even found Dan’s process for dealing with the Celestial world interesting, despite the fact he shot Lucifer, and it was certainly wonderful to see where he started this season. I’m deeply worried about his future, though, but that’s a whole other thing.
And as for Lucifer and Chloe… well, I’m not even sure where to begin. In a way, they both discovered their own insecurities and fears – but also each other this season. And it was beautiful. I loved seeing Chloe’s journey, learning about her origin, about putting herself first, and about being strong. Her insecurities and fears were so very real and it was beautiful, seeing her learning to acknowledge and deal with them. And I loved seeing Lucifer’s journey, too. From his denial and avoidance, through seeing his Deckerstar self-sabotage, and all the way to finally acknowledging how unworthy he feels. I loved seeing him dealing with his father and trying to come to terms with the rejection in the origin of his self-hatred; it was all so very real and accurate to life. And it was beautiful.
So on the whole I very much enjoyed this season. For the most part, it was magnificent.
I do worry about season 6, though. I’m not entirely sure how they can continue from here, although I have faith in the writers – they’ve shown they know what they’re doing. But to be honest, I’m more worried about Lucifer’s final transformation. Even if he finally saw himself as worthy, he still hates himself, and I’m worried that that fact might be forgotten. Especially with how quickly Chloe seems to have let go of her guilt in the finale. I don’t want to see the same thing happening with Lucifer, especially since the first five seasons were very true to real life as far as his journey was concerned.
And of course, I don’t want to have to say goodbye to this beautiful, incredible show. But that’s not really a worry. So season 6 aside, I loved most of season 5. It was brilliant. And I can’t wait to see what they bring us in season 6.