How good is Netflix’s Lucifer? Should you binge it or skip it?

A familiar premise with a mysterious skin and a touch of the Underworld Lucifer tries to recycle the usual cop detective thrillers with a new twist. We have the Devil himself, Lucifer, who is bored of being stuck in the Underworld for millennia and moves to Los Angeles, where he opens up a nightclub.

When one of his regular patrons gets murdered, he becomes involved with both the investigation and the investigators. Read on for a complete review.

1. Article Summary

The show is Fox’s entry into the weekly cop solving crime genre, but its wonderful premise is its biggest downfall. The show forgets that they have the Devil himself in their hands and can use him to elevate the story in multiple ways. Although interspersed with moments of humor and emotion it gets stuck in a rut.

2. Is It Worth Watching?

Lucifer is based on a character that appeared in the DC Comic The Sandman created by Niel Gaiman and Sam Kieth. He was later given his spin-off comic book series. The show initially received high ratings, which later dipped and led to Fox’s cancellation of the show after season three.

After various petitions and #SaveLucifer campaigns, Netflix picked up the series and gave it a new emotional depth in the fourth season that brought the show back to life.

I. Plot

The protagonist is Lucifer Morningstar, the angel who fell from the heavens and was forced to rule the Underworld. When Lucifer gets bored after being stuck in hell (literally for so long), he decides to move to Los Angeles and opens up a nightclub named Lux.

Official Trailer | Season 1 | LUCIFER

When one of his nightclub regulars gets murdered, Lucifer becomes involved in the LAPD investigation and then becomes a regular consultant. Although he is living among mortals, he retains his powers, which helps him get confessions from suspects.

He is partnered along with the regular female sidekick Detective Chole Becker and Chole’s ex-husband Detective Dan Espinoza. There is also a psychologist Dr. Linda Martin who is interested in studying Lucifer and accepts payment in the form of sex.

II. Cast & Performances

Tom Ellis is the standout star as Lucifer and leaves no doubts that the series is all about him. He is smooth, suave, and sophisticated and plays the handsome devil with ease. The writing isn’t strong, and he is sometimes stuck with cheesy one-liners, but his eye-candy appeal has also generated a massive fan following.

Lauren German and Kevin Alejandro play the tradition estranged couple forced to work together. Lauren’s initial chemistry with Tom is gripping but wears off as the series progresses. Both of them stereotyped cliché characters and hardly anything more.

The fun moments of the show often come from Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Lucifers’ companion and confidante she follows him to L.A. and works in his club. She embraces the quirky underworld side of her characters, something the writers don’t allow Tom to do.

III. Detailed Review

The show could have been great had the writers been more creative and the production team more enthusiastic. The fact that you have a legitimate premise to have the Devil living in L.A. and then make him solve murder and crime in every episode is disappointing. This could easily have been a darker, funnier and crazier show instead of being a run-of-the-mill detective police drama.

It resembles many other shows that came before it, like The Mentalist, Monk, or Castle far too closely. If you’re already watching one of these, you don’t need to start another. Like them, it also has episodes with predictable endings, silly cases, and weak writing, which led to a gradual loss in viewership.

Lucifer | Season 4 Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Chloe, the detective, ticks all the clichés in a female partner of a sexy, male protagonist. She is initially irritated by Lucifer and eventually grows fond of him. Their will-they won’t-they charade continues for three seasons. Also, she is the only person on whom Lucifer’s powers don’t work (eye roll), and so he can’t get her to magically fall in love with him or sleep with him.

She is forced to work with her ex-husband while looking out for her daughter and trying to keep her conflicting feelings about Lucifer in check.

In the season three finale, Lucifer finally reveals his true identity to Chloe and Netflix has done a good job of incorporating certain religious themes in the story, As Chloe tries to find more about Lucifer by doing research she seeks the help of the mysterious Father Kinley who has hidden motives. But much of the show is the same grind, and there is a fifth season incoming, which is rumored to be the last.

4. Final Thoughts

If you’re a person who enjoys police mystery dramas like Castle, then this is a good show for you. The show failed to elevate an interesting premise but features some great acting by Tom Ellis.

Fans of the comic book or the actor will also like the show. The Twitter storms and petitions have brought the show back from the dead, and the fan following it has generated will be happy with season four.

5. Grade

6. Info