I love this pilot. It’s easy to digest, wonderfully witty, and just plain fun.
The premise is simple: the prince of darkness ditches hell and decides to relocate to Los Angeles where can he live life as a gluttonous playboy. The entire weight of the show rests on Tom Ellis’ shoulders, and the actor is thoroughly fantastic as the title character. Although I’ve never see Ellis before on film, he’s ridiculously charming and suave, and he delivers the show’s snappy dialogue with gleeful perfection. Masterful casting right here ladies and gents.
A large portion of the pilot consists of Lucifer bantering with Chloe, a police detective played by the gorgeous Lauren German. The two have bucketloads of chemistry and I’m already rooting for them to get together. German’s character isn’t particularly unique, but there’s the added element of her trying to prove herself to her male peers after having flopped as an actress (who had done nude scenes no less).
The only thing that really worries me at this point is if the show decides to give more focus to its police procedural aspects. Television certainly doesn’t need another cop show, and the main arc with Lucifer’s budding war against the angel Amenadiel is much more interesting. Intriguingly enough, Amenadiel wants Lucifer to stay evil – an interesting foundation to build the show on when your hero is actually quite capable of doing good (as evidenced by this episode). It’s all up to the writers to strike an effective balance between the standalone material and the growing mythology; let’s hope they’re up to the task.
Devilish Bits
– Awesome teaser with Lucifer driving his swanky car around LA and then bribing/hypnotizing the cop out of a ticket.
– Props to director Len Wiseman (of Underworld fame) for crafting a visually-appealing pilot. I particularly enjoyed the scenes at Lux, Lucifer’s club.
– I can already tell that one of the show’s standout characters will be Maze, the bartender at Lux and Lucifer’s hellish sidekick. The character gets an uber sexy moment where it’s revealed that one of the bartenders is pleasuring her under the bar. Who said you can’t get away with stuff on network television?
– It’s weird that they cast AnnaLynne McCord for such a small role asDelilah, the popstar who gets brutally murdered.
– The interaction between Lucifer and Trixie (Chloe’s daughter) was very amusing. I particularly liked him scaring off her bully.
– Apparently Nicholas Gonzalez has been replaced by Kevin Alejandro (of Arrow and True Blood fame) as Chloe’s detective ex-husband.
– Lucifer’s real face (reflected in the mirror) is quite nasty looking. Can’t wait to get a better look.
– So what did Lucifer do to bring Chloe back to life? He must have done something right?
– I quite like the casting of D.B. Woodside as Amenadiel. Plus his wing blades are wicked cool.
– Lucifer’s therapist Linda (whom he sleeps with at the end) is played by Rachael Harris. She was always hilarious on Suits, and her lusty dynamic with Lucy is spot-on.
Lines from Lucy
Maze: Where have you been?
Lucifer: Holed up in a chateau, copulating with a young woman named Faith. It’s ironic, isn’t it?
Amenadiel: Your return to the underworld has been requested.
Lucifer: Oh, right. Okay. Let me just check my calendar. Yeah, here it is. Uh… the “7th of never” through the “15th of ain’t gonna happen”.
Chloe: Like to play cop, do ya?
Lucifer: No I just like to play in general, Detective.
Chloe: You got some balls on you, pal.
Lucifer: Oh, thank you very much, but they’re really quite average.
Butler: Good afternoon, sir.
Lucifer: Yes, I’m here to see the man sadly known as “Too Vile”. Is he in?
Butler: Sorry, sir, he’s unavailable. He’s in mourning, I’m afraid.
Lucifer: Right. I have narcotics for him.
Butler: Right this way, sir.
Lucifer: My name is Lucifer Morningstar.
Too Vile: Lucifer Morningstar? That’s a gay hip-hop name.
Lucifer: Well, that offends me.
Too Vile: What, you don’t like hip-hop?
Lucifer: No, I most certainly do not.
Too Vile: Well, that offends me. You have a problem with black people?
Lucifer: No, not in the slightest. I just hate your music. And when I say your music, I mean “your” music, not the music made by other black people. Without the blues there would be no Devil’s music whatsoever.
Chloe: All right, wait here.
Lucifer: With pleasure. I despise children.
Trixie: My name’s Beatrice but everybody calls me Trixie.
Lucifer: That’s a hooker’s name.
Trixie: What’s a hooker?
Lucifer: Ask your mother.
Detective: I don’t know whether to laugh or shoot you.
Lucifer: Surprise me.
Lucifer: (to Linda) I’m like walking heroine, very habit forming. It never ends well.
Chloe: How long have I been out?
Lucifer: (jokingly) Three years.
Chloe: You saved my life because I’m interesting?
Lucifer: Well, wildly irritating as well, but yes.
Amenadiel: I’ve been watching you Lucifer…
Lucifer: You perv!
Conclusion
A surprisingly clever and funny debut from one of this season’s most promising new shows. Here’s hoping Lucifer can continue to tap into its strengths moving forward.
Nad Rating
A-
The pilot was good, thanks largely due to the Lucifer character who can be charming, devious, and funny while displaying some moments of humanity like his reaction to Delilah's death and his desire to find whomever is responsible. I'm just not entirely won over by the police procedural angle of the show. There's been more than enough shows like that, especially ones that involve unresolved sexual tension between male and female partners. I hope Lucifer can be the kind of show which grows out of the police procedural aspect or turn the concept on its own head instead of the predictable route.
Fingers crossed as well. I really don't want another procedural. I'll lose interest VERY fast.
I still can't get over Annalynne McCord in such a minor role! Why? Like she just guested on an unknown show. Good luck to the show though.
So true. I found that really bizarre. Wish she was a regular on the show!
I had really high hopes after the pilot episode, however, after few episodes they lost me with all of the police investigations stuff. I wish they took it in a different direction, it could have been my new favorite show.
So true. I quit after episode 2. Too much of a procedural. What a shame!!!