The devil gets his due in Lucifer’s satisfying final—for real this time—season
Tom Ellis completes his compelling run as the nicest devil you’ll ever meet.
TV Reviews Lucifer
Lucifer is ending, for real this the time, after six seasons that consistently exceeded expectations even if they weren’t always consistent. Season six delivers what is unquestionably the best of the show’s three endings. Fox first pulled the plug in 2018, just when Los Angeles homicide detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) realized her eccentric consultant (Tom Ellis) was the devil in not much of a disguise. If you are a longtime fan of fantasy or sci-fi series (especially those unfortunate enough to air on Fox), you’re used to a favorite show ending abruptly with more unresolved questions than closure. The third season cliffhanger could’ve been the series’ last word, but Lucifer enjoyed an extended afterlife on Netflix, where it quickly became the best version of itself.
The season-five finale, “A Chance At A Happy Ending,” was originally conceived as the series finale, and while it was suitably epic, with a battle among angels for the fate of the universe, Lucifer becoming God just felt wrong somehow. After all, desiring his father’s throne is what led to Lucifer’s fall in the first place.
So, it’s encouraging that the sixth (what an appropriate number) and final season would start with Lucifer questioning that choice, or, more precisely, putting it off for another day. It’s a nice callback to how the series began, when Lucifer abandoned his duties as Hell’s keeper to run a Los Angeles nightclub, Lux. Through Chloe, he was called to a higher purpose, tracking down earthly sinners, but Chloe is no longer a cop and also lacks direction. Showrunners Ildy Modrovich and Joe Henderson understand that Lucifer as God isn’t as interesting as Lucifer and Chloe, finally together as a couple and trying to figure out the rest of their lives.
This season elegantly answers how “quintessential Deckerstar” would function once the sexual tension is removed and the will-they/won’t-they finally answered. Lucifer and Chloe are great together, and not just as lovers (although there is a lot of sex) but as friends and partners. Chloe doesn’t become less badass because she’s happily in love, nor do idiotic plots and contrivances artificially keep them apart (too often the case during the Fox run). They have a realistic, mature relationship where each party is aware of the other’s strengths and weaknesses, and helps them become better people. The fact that one of them is a supernatural being never gets in the way. The course of their love doesn’t always run smooth, of course, and this season’s “antagonist” strikes at the heart of Chloe and Lucifer’s relationship.
While Michael (also Tom Ellis) was a more traditional villain, literally an “evil” twin, the sixth season introduces the mysterious angel, Rory (Brianna Hildebrand), who, as the trailers have already revealed, wants nothing less than Lucifer’s destruction. She barely knows him and hates him all the more for it. Rory connects with Dan (Kevin Alejandro), who’s been stuck in Hell for millennia. Death is obviously not the end of the line on a series where both Heaven and Hell are travel destinations ,but Dan’s return is still a pleasant surprise. Even when he was Lucifer’s douchey foil, you couldn’t help but like him and his unwavering devotion to pudding cups.
The second series episode, “A Good Day to Die,” introduced us to Lucifer’s compelling take on damnation: Souls are trapped in an eternal torturous loop fueled by their own guilt. This hell isn’t other people; it’s us. In one of the best episodes from the third season, “Off the Record,” Lucifer chillingly reveals that Hell has no locked doors. Everyone’s free to leave, but their own guilt prevents them. This led to much debate about how actual psychopaths and/or members of Congress might feel no guilt, but Lucifer contends that even the worst of us, deep down, feels regret. However, if that’s true, then isn’t there also potential for redemption?
You wouldn’t think of the devil as a saver of lost souls, but last season, Lucifer helped recurring goon Lee a.k.a. “Mr. Said Out Bitch” (Jeremiah Wayne Birkett) come to terms with his mistakes and escape his own hell loop. Both damned souls were reunited in Heaven during “A Chance At A Happy Ending,” and Modrovich and Henderson seize on this thread to tie up the entire series.
The first trailer for the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Lucifer stories felt smug and slick, a not-very-subtle rehash of such procedural dramas as Bones and Castle. The devil even goes to therapy, which was just so LA, but thanks to Ellis and Rachel Harris, who plays Dr. Linda Martin, Lucifer’s therapy sessions became the emotional backbone of the series. That’s reinforced even more as the procedural aspect is downplayed in favor of intimate scenes where characters share their feelings instead of just advancing the plot.
Sometimes a cult series gaining a new life isn’t always ideal. Netflix revived Arrested Development, which Fox also canceled after three seasons, but as the title implies, there’s only so far you can take characters who are irredeemably awful. The point was to laugh at their self-inflicted misery. Lucifer’s damaged characters were all people we could root for, and it stings a little to finally say goodbye to Linda, Ella (Aimee Garcia), Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside), and Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt), the latter of whom still deserves her demon bounty hunter spin-off. Everyone’s story is wrapped up in a manner that will generate big, messy tears unless you’re dead inside.
Lucifer escaped Hell because he hated his job, which he considered a curse, and viewed Earth as nothing more than his playground. While he eagerly partied with an assortment of well-toned humans, he originally didn’t think much of us as a species (the job will do that to you). But throughout the series, he grew to respect humanity, even care for us. It’s to Lucifer’s credit that we could ever imagine the devil as our friend. What’s most impressive about this final season is how it redeems every misstep along the way (this writer’s still steaming over Maze’s pointless heel turn in season three). That’s perhaps fitting for the show’s ultimate premise, that we are never just our worst moments, nor are we exclusively our best.
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Okay, this is a very nit-picky comment, but the show wasn’t based on Neil Gaiman’s Lucifer stories, but on the Mike Cary comic that was spun out of the Neil Gaiman’s Sandman storyline. I recall the showrunners being pretty specific about that when the series started.It was also a source frustration for me as the show has absolutely nothing to do with that Carey series, even its take on the core character is fundamentally different. Nor does it even connect to the character in Gaiman’s story, to be honest. This isn’t a complaint about the show, you do your own story, but it just vexed me as it was such an unnecessary comparison.
IMHO, the TV show is Bones with character names from Cary’s comic arcs slapped in to the series. Heck, the entire drive of Cary’s Lucifer was gain total freedom God, and any relationship to God’s creation, not bone a hot lady detective and hang out in swanky places.Cary’s Lucifer notedly hated psycho analysis and would never sit for a therapists – ever. He was a more of a you-did-this-so-that-was-what-you-really-wanted-anyways kind of guy. Lucifer was very transparent on hypocrites and personal dishonesty.That said, the TV show was great, but I learned to kill my inner fan boy along the way.
Your inner fan boy must’ve been easy to kill, seeing as how you omitted the ‘e’ in Mike Carey’s name.
Well, Neil Gaiman came up with the idea that Lucifer ditched hell to play piano in a night club, so it’s at least as based on that as it is Carey’s. And this show had no relation to Carey’s quiet meditation on the nature of free will (which I loved), either.So, as a show, I thought Lucifer was great. As an adaptation of either set of source material, it sucked balls.
Man, where is Mike Carey these days? Last time he got a big time comic book gig was his really fun X-Men run, which… ended almost 10 years ago, WHAT THE HELL.I don’t think he’s been back in the big two since then.
Mike Carey had a very successful Image Comics run with “The Unwritten”, that’s where he was after X-Men.
Oh, yeah, I remember that book, thanks to a Fables crossover it had, IIRC. But I think it only ran for some years. Looked it up and it ended in 2015, which means Carey hasn’t really been writing any major comics stuff since then. He has some novels in his credits, but nothing past a 2018 release that I could see.
Yeah, seems like he left comics for novels recently. He probably makes more money that way.
He writes ‘proper’ acclaimed books now ( like the Girl with all the gifts) as M.R. Carey* ) which is a pity as the Felix( Constantine who?) Crastor books he wrote as Mike Carey are great, but probably finished now.(* which are all worth reading anyway)
Mike Carey’s X-Men/X-Men Legacy run is criminally underrated, and was the best of the three main books at the time.
That it was! Underrated is the right word. Even I was dismissive of it when it was ongoing, but going back to it years later made me really appreciate how “classic X-Men” it felt.
That it was! Underrated is the right word. Even I was dismissive of it when it was ongoing, but going back to it years later made me really appreciate how “classic X-Men” it felt.
He wrote a mini called The Dollhouse Family last year for DC, he wrote a sadly cancelled IDW fantasy book called Highest House, and his latest trilogy of novels is great fun. I miss getting more comics but he’s doing the work he wants to.
The show had one more direct line to Gaiman, besides the leaving hell and opening Lux premise:Episode 6 quoted Lucifer’s speech from Seasons of Mist nearly verbatim in one of his sessions with Dr Linda (the whole “The Devil made me do it” line of thinking).
As charismatic & charming as Ellis was in the role, to me his performance will always be outshined by this epic portrayal of the Prince of the East:https://giphy.com/gifs/asaTK3WqFWJMI
I can’t wait to watch this.
And yes, Maze needs a spin off.
I don’t think she can carry a whole show, she’s a great sidekick but not that great as a main lead actress / character imo.
Kinja sucks since I can’t see this pending reply
menage:I think if it had a good show runner, then a spin off with Maze could work. But finding a good show runner is an art.
Plus something else I thought of is if there was a spin off, people would be asking “Where’s Lucifer? Where’s Chloe?” and that would kill the vibe I’m sure.
Kinja sucks since I can’t see this pending reply
Yes, Kinja utterly sucks these days — it’s all but unusable. You have to search though an entire article’s conversations to get to a response to a comment you made — that Kinja was already linked to! WTF?
something else I thought of is if there was a spin off, people would be asking “Where’s Lucifer? Where’s Chloe?” and that would kill the vibe I’m sure.
It didn’t hurt FRASIER, which ran for longer than CHEERS did (12 seasons vs. 11 seasons), nor did it hurt NCIS (19 seasons and counting, plus two spinoffs), which started out as a spinoff of the inexplicably-popular JAG (which ran for ten seasons!). LOU GRANT, a drama series that spun off THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW’s lovably cranky boss, may not have topped the original show’s longevity (five years versus MTMS’s seven), but was a successful series that managed the impressive feat of moving Ed Asner’s Grant from comedy to an issued-oriented newsroom show, and moved Mary Tyler Moore’s production company into hour-long dramas (HILL STREET BLUES, REMINGTON STEELE, ST. ELSEWHERE).
It also didn’t hurt STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE, STAR TREK: DISOVERY or ENTERPRISE that they were STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION spinoffs, which was itself a 18-years later spinoff of the original STAR TREK. It didn’t even hurt STAR TREK: DISCOVERY or STAR TREK: PICARD — they’ve done that on their own!There are a ton of failed spinoffs like JOEY, AFTERMASH, and BEVERLY HILLS BUNTZ. But when a spinoff’s successful, it can run for…decades, apparently (side-eyes NCIS and LAW&ORDER: SVU).
I’m just two episodes in but I’m all for a spinoff to keep the Luciverse going in some fashion. It all depends on things end. There could also be Linda and Amenidiel or Ella and Rey-Rey(atm I’m not too hot on Carol as a main part of that spinoff). In a way I think a show focused on Ella could keep the adventures going with the old cast making cameos here and there. She’s still haunted by her “ghost” while she helps solve crimes. Something like that. But, I won’t complain about a Maze spinoff.
Goodbye, you weird show that should never have worked for me as a fan of Cary’s “Lucifer” run but totally did. I will miss you dearly, but I can’t wait to spend these final hours with you.
Oh, this is the Bad Place. No seriously, what the hell am I going to do without Lucifer to look forward to? And I’m not saying I’m not eager to see series 6, but I wished we’d had longer than 3 and a half months’ wait after series 5 – those final episodes needed to simmer a bit more, I reckon.This show, man. I’ve liked it right from its beginning, I’ve loved it since at least series 1 episode 9 (Colman Domingo’s outstanding guest appearance), and I even enjoyed it in its slightly less great moments, like Chloe and PierceCain’s rushed and implausible relationship and (as you mentioned) Maze’s betrayal(s). I starting watching because I was already a fan of Tom Ellis (from Doctor Who, Merlin and Miranda) and DB Woodside (Buffy), but the rest of the cast are fantastic as well. Even weaker episodes are bolstered by their performances. Looking forward to another brilliant addition next series in the form of Brianna Hildebrand.On that note, I have a theory which has only been reinforced by your line, “She barely knows him and hates him all the more for it”. Perhaps Rory (cool and unusual angel name) is not, as one might imagine, Lucifer’s sister. Perhaps she’s his… daughter? It would cast a very different, and rather ugly, complexion on all Lucifer’s anger at his absent father if he turns out to be one himself. I’m not sure how I’d feel about it though. (I’d like to say I’m pleased at possibly figuring this out, but I suspect I’m not the only one thinking it…)
I am intrigued to know what you thought of season 6, now it is out.
I am intrigued to know what you thought of season 6, now it is out.
I totally did not recognise Brianna Hildebrand with long hair.
To echo others, Mike Carey is responsible for the actual Lucifer comic run, Neil Gaiman created this version, Mazikeen, and Lux for Sandman though, and this being so very different from either I think it’d be fair to credit both
Hell Yeah!
I have so many things to say about this final season of Lucifer that I can’t (at least, right now) say. But please know it’s a fitting end, and I have loved being able to review every previous season (for the most part) of the series. I’m sorry that I couldn’t review this final season, but I’m very happy it’s preair review came from someone who appreciated it. (I probably would’ve marked it down, slightly, had I done the preair, but y’all know me and how intense I get about my criticism.)Okay, love you all. Bye.
Do you happen to know if anyone will be covering the reviews on a per episode basis once the season is released?You’ve been missed, LaToya! 2 of my favorite show in the past decade ending, and you bowed out right before their final seasons…
I’ll miss your reviews! They’re a huge part of my Lucifer-watching process.
Finding out you won’t be doing this season’s reviews is the worst Lucifer news of this final outing!
Wait. The Avclub can waste countless articles and words on bullshit like The Masked Singer but won’t let you cover the final season of Lucifer? That’s like announcing the final season of Better Call Saul won’t be covered by Donna Bowman. What the fuck?
She got another job, but yes, it would be nice for a per episode recap by at least somebody on the AV club team, but this will have to do.
Oh, I didn’t know that. Congratulations to LaToya, I hope it’s a job that deserves her.
AV Club is a shadow of what it used to be. There’s not much content left here that I enjoy, but LaToya’s reviews of Lucifer were at the top of that list. I’ll never understand why the AvClub was destroyed over the past few years.
LaToya, you are NOT helping the abandonment issues. Did you learn NOTHING from the last two seasons?
I demand a heartfelt duet of a popular song.
(Seriously, glad you are following your purpose, but you are still missed, and without episode reviews it is really hard to explain why I feel cheated of not having a scene of angels working at LUX as teased without getting too spoilery. And as we all know….too many spoilers can change our choices.)
Good luck on everything! I wish you could just finish this and B99’s final season but beggars can’t be choosers. You gave us recap bluballz.
Oh man, I didn’t know we wouldn’t be getting episode reviews from you for this season! That sucks! I have always enjoyed watching the eps and then reading your always insightful thoughts.
<3
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Dr Linda should become queen of hell at the end of this season
I didn’t much enjoy season 05, but this one felt perfect.Episode 6 especially was a stand-out but, overall as well, can’t think of any significant gripes or faults for any of it.I always felt hesitant about Netflix thumbs upping a sympathy for the devil story (religious upbringing), but it definitely earned it here.
Sorry, I meant “Netflix-thumbs-upping” , as in giving it a like for the recommendations algorithm and what not.
Um, Lucifer is CLEARLY team Bones.
And just wait for the reboot ….
I’m two episodes in, taking my time watching them and enjoying each episode slowly instead of binging all at once. Plus being very busy this weekend helps in that case. But I will miss this show. It was a nice escape and with filming on location in L.A., I got to see places I’ve been to in many scenes so it was neat since I live not to far. When it came out it was intriguing but not spectacular but kept getting better and more interesting. The lowest point for me in the show was the first half of S3 due to what I did not know at the time was that some S2 holdovers were dropped in, pausing the overall storyline that got me frustrated and also The “Sinnerman”angle was not that great anyway. But it was still enjoyable overall. I do hope there is a spinoff if the showrunners and actors agree to that. My best bet would be for Ella. It can kind of keep the same tone but from her angle and get Rey-Rey/Azrael to come back and “haunt” her. Boo Normal is almost like a backdoor pilot for that. I would check that out.
Add: The final Maze-Lucifer scene was right in front of the building I worked at for a few months. A lot of productions film there and it was always annoying getting around all the production vehicles in the already-crammed DTLA but I kind of wish I still worked there while Lucifer was filming.
Not a solid A, but emotionally it was a perfect ending. Not going to spoil anything, other than to say I wouldn’t mind watching “More Bones” for a season or two after this.
“Crazy, that the killer was the first person we met.”I love this show, and it’s tempting to say season 6 is the most solid set of episodes of the entire run. Definitely the most satisfying (and emotionally wrenching) ending I could imagine. Much, much better than the clumsy season 5 finale.At this point, Lucifer is pretty much the only reason I have Netflix, and it’s good enough I might keep it active just to rewatch.
If the entire show to date had existed just to set up Lucifer saying “This is the voice of God” while Replacement Dan is trying to interrogate a suspect, it would still have been worth it.
While I definitely have a soft spot for the show, it could never escape it’s worst instincts. Minor key renditions of champagne supernova? Overly wrought speeches? People acting like idiots *just* long enough to create dramatic tension?
Mistakes that knock this down into B territory.
Spent the month trying to pace myself through this final batch of episodes. Finally watched the finale, and, aw beans, they just nailed it. The epilogue was so satisfying.