Lucifer: Lucifer, Stay. Good Devil
February 3, 2016 5:31 PM - Season 1, Episode 2 - Subscribe
Lucifer helps Chloe investigate when a movie star's son is killed after being pursued by the paparazzi; Maze and Amenadiel try to persuade Lucifer to come back to hell.
I hated the pilot. I think this episode was great in that particular version of great unique to genre shows:
-They're really making it seem like the detective will know his open secret within a few episodes, which would be such a relief from the flash/arrow/endless litany of shows dragging their secrets out far too long.
-Did a good job of deflating daughter learning mom's past drama
-Any show that has Jeremy Davies on it knows whats what.
posted by humans are superior! at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
-They're really making it seem like the detective will know his open secret within a few episodes, which would be such a relief from the flash/arrow/endless litany of shows dragging their secrets out far too long.
-Did a good job of deflating daughter learning mom's past drama
-Any show that has Jeremy Davies on it knows whats what.
posted by humans are superior! at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's good dumb fun. I agree this was much better than the pilot. The "shootout" was nicely played. And, yeah, daughter revealing she knows about mommy' past was a good touch.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:06 PM on February 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:06 PM on February 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
The show is intriguing at this point, what with the detective finding out about Lucifer and the big L getting into being human. Plus, there's jokes like the Eiffel Tower. As something to watch on Monday nights, it's perfect. It'll probably take the network at least half a season to fuck this up.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:17 PM on February 3, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:17 PM on February 3, 2016
The detective's ex having her back was nice was a nice change. I thought their relationship was going to be more adversarial and it was refreshing to just have him buck that expectation.
Not a big fan of the glorification of circumventing the law/ethics to get the "bad guy", but it's a cop show, so what do I expect, I guess, right?
posted by ODiV at 8:01 PM on February 3, 2016
Not a big fan of the glorification of circumventing the law/ethics to get the "bad guy", but it's a cop show, so what do I expect, I guess, right?
posted by ODiV at 8:01 PM on February 3, 2016
Not sure what I think about the threesome throwaway during the credits. On the one hand, I thought they went pretty heavy on the heteronormativity in the pilot -- when Lucifer mentioned his effect on women during the first scene with the therapist, I was thinking "Is he supposed to be irresistible to all women? What about lesbians? What about gay/bi men?". And the of the irony of the idea of the network being ok with having a show about the Devil, but then being all 'but no homo.' So, on the one hand, I'm glad there was a guy in the bed, but on the other hand, it was kind of funny/sad that he was on the other side of the woman rather than Lucifer being in the middle of that sandwich. Like, they don't want to offend the viewers by implying that there was any male/male action in that threeway with Satan.
posted by oh yeah! at 8:27 PM on February 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by oh yeah! at 8:27 PM on February 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
"They're really making it seem like the detective will know his open secret within a few episodes, which would be such a relief from the flash/arrow/endless litany of shows dragging their secrets out far too long."
So true. I find the idea of Chloe knowing and struggling to understand it and what it means to be much, much more interesting than the typical secret crap. I am so tired of that trope -- which I mention in a lot of the threads about these shows.
I understand why the people familiar with the source material are unhappy with the show and I share the annoyance that basically everyone has with how the show is so very network formulaic/procedural. It drips of that conventionality. But, weirdly, about one-third of the show is actually contrary to that -- like how the show dealt with the whole thing about the daughter and the movie. That has been bugging me, as if a minor actress doing a topless scene is really something that would be such a big deal. But the resolution of it with the daughter completely satisfied me about this -- it was kind of a repudiation of the contrived vibe about "scandals" that a network show often has.
And, frankly, the lead actor is very good in this role. I probably like the show mostly just because of him. If only they could take that part of the show that is a bit weird pushing the boundaries and make that all the show and mostly jetison the procedural stuff (or, even better, subvert the procedural format), that would be great. I don't expect that, so it will most likely remain a trifling, guilty pleasure. But a pleasure, nonetheless.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 8:54 PM on February 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
So true. I find the idea of Chloe knowing and struggling to understand it and what it means to be much, much more interesting than the typical secret crap. I am so tired of that trope -- which I mention in a lot of the threads about these shows.
I understand why the people familiar with the source material are unhappy with the show and I share the annoyance that basically everyone has with how the show is so very network formulaic/procedural. It drips of that conventionality. But, weirdly, about one-third of the show is actually contrary to that -- like how the show dealt with the whole thing about the daughter and the movie. That has been bugging me, as if a minor actress doing a topless scene is really something that would be such a big deal. But the resolution of it with the daughter completely satisfied me about this -- it was kind of a repudiation of the contrived vibe about "scandals" that a network show often has.
And, frankly, the lead actor is very good in this role. I probably like the show mostly just because of him. If only they could take that part of the show that is a bit weird pushing the boundaries and make that all the show and mostly jetison the procedural stuff (or, even better, subvert the procedural format), that would be great. I don't expect that, so it will most likely remain a trifling, guilty pleasure. But a pleasure, nonetheless.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 8:54 PM on February 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
New play idea : Ioan Gruffydd, Tom Ellis, Matt Ryan, Craig Roberts, Matthew Rhys and Iwan Rheon spend a weekend in LA trying to find someone showing the final match of the 2016 Grand Slam. Obviously they'd have to draw lots because everyone will want to play Maldwyn.
posted by fullerine at 10:45 PM on February 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by fullerine at 10:45 PM on February 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I am watching this out of sheer morbid curiosity as to how long they can sustain a police procedural in which Satan, the Prince of Lies, and an ex teen-sexploitation flick actress get together and fight crime.
posted by Justinian at 1:20 AM on February 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:20 AM on February 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
What would be interesting is if the procedural stuff morphs from the real world to investigating events in Hell (or, elsewhere not in our plane of existence.)
posted by Thorzdad at 5:31 AM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 5:31 AM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm calling the daughter as a divine being right now.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:33 AM on February 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:33 AM on February 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
There's a lot of franchise potential here. What if Jesus came back as short order cook at a diner and young, but feisty lawyer frequents? The Virgin is sassy, but smart nurse that helps a young and handsome doctor find his way!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:56 AM on February 4, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:56 AM on February 4, 2016
The cheerful bluntness of Chloe's daughter has already endeared her to me, between her matter-of-fact response to Chloe's acting confession and her adoption of Lucifer as her new BFF against his will. I'm enjoying Lucifer most as a character when his devilish suaveness falters and he goes full Castiel "wtf humanity help help does not compute," and Chloe's daughter is great for that. I need a blatant contrived excuse that forces Lucifer to babysit for an episode, please!
The psychiatrist-friend-with-benefits schtick may get old quick, but for now I'm weirdly enjoying the character for being 100% willing to screw Lucifer and screw with his head without catching feelings.
I wish they'd used the same actor as Manny the angel who kept showing up to pester John on Constantine to play the Angel who keeps showing up to pester Lucifer, so we really could make-believe there's a shared Vertigoverse.
posted by nicebookrack at 7:28 AM on February 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
The psychiatrist-friend-with-benefits schtick may get old quick, but for now I'm weirdly enjoying the character for being 100% willing to screw Lucifer and screw with his head without catching feelings.
I wish they'd used the same actor as Manny the angel who kept showing up to pester John on Constantine to play the Angel who keeps showing up to pester Lucifer, so we really could make-believe there's a shared Vertigoverse.
posted by nicebookrack at 7:28 AM on February 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
What if Jesus came back as short order cook at a diner and young, but feisty lawyer frequents?
Would you settle for Jesus and Buddha living as roommates in modern Japan?
I suspect a lot of my instant fondness for Lucifer comes from how it hits the same casual SURE WHY NOT excuse plots in manga that I love because they don't even bother trying to justify themselves. If there isn't already a J-drama or ten about Satan opening a bar in downtown Tokyo so he can solve mysteries, someone is writing that adaption right now.
posted by nicebookrack at 7:42 AM on February 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Would you settle for Jesus and Buddha living as roommates in modern Japan?
I suspect a lot of my instant fondness for Lucifer comes from how it hits the same casual SURE WHY NOT excuse plots in manga that I love because they don't even bother trying to justify themselves. If there isn't already a J-drama or ten about Satan opening a bar in downtown Tokyo so he can solve mysteries, someone is writing that adaption right now.
posted by nicebookrack at 7:42 AM on February 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I'm calling the daughter as a divine being right now."
Yeah, they've been hinting at something with her immunity to his infernal charms. I think that would actually make her less interesting to me, not more. And the alternative explanation -- that's she's like Job, or something -- is even more boring. But they really had no choice in this -- if she were just as vulnerable as anyone else, then that would gum up their ability to be a crime-fighting duo.
The explanation and twist that I'd propose would not be that she's inherently special, but that God's granted her the grace of this immunity for inscrutable reasons. And that the angel that keeps bothering Lucifer is really testing him, like some analog of Lucifer tempting Christ in the Wilderness. "Surely you want to go back and reign in Hell? Why would you want a lowly life among humans?" This is all part of some divine plan for God's first angel, except Lucifer doesn't realize this. And, if I were writing this show, the purpose and goal would never be revealed to the audience, either.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:28 AM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, they've been hinting at something with her immunity to his infernal charms. I think that would actually make her less interesting to me, not more. And the alternative explanation -- that's she's like Job, or something -- is even more boring. But they really had no choice in this -- if she were just as vulnerable as anyone else, then that would gum up their ability to be a crime-fighting duo.
The explanation and twist that I'd propose would not be that she's inherently special, but that God's granted her the grace of this immunity for inscrutable reasons. And that the angel that keeps bothering Lucifer is really testing him, like some analog of Lucifer tempting Christ in the Wilderness. "Surely you want to go back and reign in Hell? Why would you want a lowly life among humans?" This is all part of some divine plan for God's first angel, except Lucifer doesn't realize this. And, if I were writing this show, the purpose and goal would never be revealed to the audience, either.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:28 AM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I understand why the people familiar with the source material are unhappy with the show
After two episodes, I'm finding it inoffensively fluffy and enjoyable. Tom Ellis is fun to watch. It's a bit of a retread of Rob Thomas' original Cupid, but I really loved that show and it's nice to have a version of it back.
As far as the source material, it's not so much that it's a bad adaptation. It's that it's not an adaptation at all. I'm not so much unhappy with it as I really don't understand why CBS is paying for the Lucifer character from the Vertigo book and not actually using him.
This show could have been made without the Vertigo license. Characters don't get more public domain than Lucifer. Seems like a waste in that regard.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:46 AM on February 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
After two episodes, I'm finding it inoffensively fluffy and enjoyable. Tom Ellis is fun to watch. It's a bit of a retread of Rob Thomas' original Cupid, but I really loved that show and it's nice to have a version of it back.
As far as the source material, it's not so much that it's a bad adaptation. It's that it's not an adaptation at all. I'm not so much unhappy with it as I really don't understand why CBS is paying for the Lucifer character from the Vertigo book and not actually using him.
This show could have been made without the Vertigo license. Characters don't get more public domain than Lucifer. Seems like a waste in that regard.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:46 AM on February 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I wondered that myself, eyeballkid. Why are you paying money for a Lucifer character and then discarding virtually everything but the name? You didn't have to pay money for that.
I suppose they could have really, really wanted to use a nightclub named Lux. But that doesn't make any sense?
posted by Justinian at 12:49 PM on February 4, 2016
I suppose they could have really, really wanted to use a nightclub named Lux. But that doesn't make any sense?
posted by Justinian at 12:49 PM on February 4, 2016
That was maybe a wee bit better than the pilot, but not much. Show Lucifer is just annoying; I'm more interested in Maze at this point.
posted by homunculus at 3:47 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by homunculus at 3:47 PM on February 4, 2016
During the shootout, I kind of saw how they might weave some key plot points from the comic in, as Lucifer realises his opposition to God's plan*, and in Amenadiel's dire threats of war. But then Tom Ellis got back to snacking casually on the scenery and I forgot about it.
It's still not Jimmy Barnes though.
*POSSIBLE SPOILER ON MOUSEOVER
posted by prismatic7 at 4:38 PM on February 4, 2016
It's still not Jimmy Barnes though.
*POSSIBLE SPOILER ON MOUSEOVER
posted by prismatic7 at 4:38 PM on February 4, 2016
As far as the source material, it's not so much that it's a bad adaptation. It's that it's not an adaptation at all. I'm not so much unhappy with it as I really don't understand why CBS is paying for the Lucifer character from the Vertigo book and not actually using him.
But they are. The devil quitting and playing piano in a bar is straight from the comic, along with angels not trying to persuade Lucifer to return. So yeah, they may not be adapting the comic closely, but the general idea is enough to tell different stories. They're taking the premise in a different that's all.
The most disappointing part is that Mazikeen appears fully human. The comics version was much more interesting looking, especially with the mask.
But still, it's wonderful fluff for the moment. The comics are still there, I can reread them if I want to relive that version.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:03 PM on February 4, 2016
But they are. The devil quitting and playing piano in a bar is straight from the comic, along with angels not trying to persuade Lucifer to return. So yeah, they may not be adapting the comic closely, but the general idea is enough to tell different stories. They're taking the premise in a different that's all.
The most disappointing part is that Mazikeen appears fully human. The comics version was much more interesting looking, especially with the mask.
But still, it's wonderful fluff for the moment. The comics are still there, I can reread them if I want to relive that version.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:03 PM on February 4, 2016
eyeballkid: ohmygod, it IS like original "Cupid!" And I adored that show back in high school, so no wonder I like this one. Hopefully the series run will be longer.
Now I really want to see series with the Devil playing professional matchmaker and Cupid solving murder mysteries in his spare time.
posted by nicebookrack at 8:39 PM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Now I really want to see series with the Devil playing professional matchmaker and Cupid solving murder mysteries in his spare time.
posted by nicebookrack at 8:39 PM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Me, I just have visions of a power, kick-ass, take-no-prisoners attorney showing up to take Lucifer to task for having carnal relations with said attorney's therapist girlfriend. And of course said attorney has to be portrayed by a certain Suits regular. Yes, I know it won't happen, but it should.
posted by sardonyx at 9:54 AM on February 6, 2016
posted by sardonyx at 9:54 AM on February 6, 2016
Mostly here to say I'm appalled that a seven year old is getting unrestricted access to the internet.
Needed something new to binge watch while I do a big sewing project, and it looks like this will be it.
posted by itesser at 4:36 PM on August 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
Needed something new to binge watch while I do a big sewing project, and it looks like this will be it.
posted by itesser at 4:36 PM on August 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
Good points: the title. The teen paparazzi issues. Trixie having already watched the movie because DUH, and NBD. Was this the one where he tried "fetch" with her? Ridiculous but amusing.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:29 AM on June 19, 2021
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:29 AM on June 19, 2021
Oh, right, my friend pointed out that Maze specifically loaded only one gun for that. Was amused at Lucifer calling Amadiel to take advantage of his slow time power to head off that murder.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:31 AM on June 19, 2021
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:31 AM on June 19, 2021
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posted by oh yeah! at 5:40 PM on February 3, 2016 [3 favorites]