Season One Episode Twelve – “#TeamLucifer”
© Copyright 2016, Fox Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.
By Shay Revolver. So Chloe is Lucifer’s kryptonite — that much is clear by now. But what’s interesting about this week’s episode is that this fact comes with forbearing: Lucifer’s battle to come is going to be harder to fight because of it. This week sees Lucifer coming to terms with the revelations of his semi-permanent humanity and figuring out what to do about it. And because of this I can honestly say: this is the best damn episode of the entire season so far.
We find our anti-hero encountering a staged satanic sacrifice of a college student named Rose. What seemed like foreplay quickly turns into a real murder, which naturally kicks off this week’s case. Lucifer feels personally responsible (and downright annoyed) at the way humans perceive him, and naturally sets out to punish whoever killed the young woman in his name.
“#TeamLucifer” was a perfect episode that not only kept me on the edge of my seat but, left me hanging and counting down the days until next Monday night. (Cliffhangers!) What a sinful way to end an episode; as if the angel fight wasn’t enough.
WHAT WORKED: A lot worked in this episode but, if I had to pick my top three…
– Lucifer is on a roll in this episode. Not only does he punish the wicked, he gives his “true believers” one hell of a tongue lashing. He acts exactly as you would expect a prideful angel to act when he discovers the low and/or incorrect opinion most humans have of him.
– Malcolm as a psychopathic sycophant . Something has been very off ever since Malcolm was revived, and this episode shows just how off he is. He turns into a serial killer as an attempt to show Lucifer his eternal devotion, presumably securing him either a seat at the satanic table or an easy out when he returns to Hell. Everything from his reactions to his reasoning ring pretty darn true.
– Maze and her crisis of “faith”. Maze seems to actually like her time with Amenadiel, even if it is getting in the way of her mission. A seasoned warrior and bonafide badass would not have gotten caught by Amenadiel, at least not like that. It wasn’t a moment of weakness for Maze; no, it was more like a moment a clarity. I think she’s finally realized that just because Lucifer has been all she knows doesn’t mean that he has to be all she knows.
WHAT DIDN’T: The return of the street preacher. It was a bit out of place and underdeveloped. If this was where they were going with that character they shouldn’t have waited ten episodes to bring him back. Obviously he’s been around and Lux is pretty easy to find, so why wait until now to protest Lucifer? There should have been more development on that front. He should have at least been shown lurking over the past ten weeks. If the timeline that they’ve set up in this episode holds true (that each episode happens with a three week gap), then Lucifer has been unfolding for almost a year. So… where has the street preacher been?
BEST LINE(s):
“Demon daggers forged in Hell don’t count. We both know those prick.” – Lucifer to Maze as she tries to kill him.
“It’s the wink with the pornstache sending the wrong message.” – Lucifer, to Malcolm.
“Oh, lovely. Very mid-century rapist.” – Lucifer, discovering Rose’s secret lair.
“Is that supposed to be an offering for me? Well, I decline in the grounds of salmonella.” – Lucifer, on the animal innards in Rose’s satan cave.
“Unless you’ve got a better HASHTAG, Team Lucifer.” – Malcolm, resigning from his Amenadiel gig.
“Why do they always associate me with goats? I don’t even like their cheese!” – Lucifer, after deciphering a clue.
BEST MOMENT: It’s been a long time coming and it was EPIC. Lucifer and Amenadiel just had a fight. A real fight. A sibling fight. They destroyed Lux and came to terms with each of their roles in things. Sibling rivalry and daddy issues means they go all the way in with a no-holds-barred, knock-down, drag-out, WWE-style battle. It needed to happen and the writers made it watchable and realistic.
EPISODE’S MVP: Maze takes the honor this week. She’s become a real person and it shows. Everything she did this week — from her anger toss of the weapon that could actually hurt Lucifer, to her reluctant (and possibly self-sabotaged) murder attempt on Amenadiel — was a testament to Maze’s understanding of what she wants, and how she’ll exercise her free will from this point on. Lucifer has gotten to explore his new freedom since the series began, but this week Maze got her turn. She proves that she is the grand dame of badassery!
© Copyright 2016, Fox Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.
THE DEVIL’S DUE:
– I loved how Lucifer’s ID card made his purported follower run like hell.
– ANGEL SIBLING BATTLE ROYALE!!! Probably the most cathartic moment of the season thus far.
9 out of 10
Next: “Take Me Back To Hell”, soon.
Before: “St. Lucifer”, here.
