The Devil and the Detective: The Best and Worst Things About Lucifer

Most people who’ve heard of Lucifer will tell you that they either hate it or love it. Having religiously followed the show since the first season, I belong to the latter camp. I adore Tom Ellis’ portrayal of the Devil, his chemistry with co-star Lauren German who plays the detective Chloe and the entire dysfunctional celestial family drama that escalates to a cliffhanger finale every season.

It is downright ridiculous and very, very fun.

But the show has had its ups and downs. With dwindling viewers, Fox canceled Lucifer after the long-drawn-out third season. Yet an extensive campaign on social media, entirely led by fans, made Netflix pick it up for another three seasons, deliciously prolonging the slow-burn romance between the Devil and the mortal detective and introducing more characters. Earlier this month, the concluding season was released to mixed reviews.

Image Credit: Netflix

One of the most criticized elements of the show is the police procedural format. While solving a murder mystery allows Lucifer to confront his deep-rooted issues and engage in frivolous banter with Chloe, it puts the “mystery” in the backseat, with flat side characters and predictable culprits. Plus, the show has gradually become ambitious over the years by bringing in Cain, Eve, God’s wife, and finally even God onto the show. A lot of skeptics wondered why the entire celestial family is tightly clustered around LA and why man-baby Lucifer never seems to grow up.

But a lot of fans would argue that that is precisely the charm of the show. That it never takes itself too seriously, can get quite cringey and sentimental, and is pretty much ludicrous if you think about it too deeply, particularly with the Devil attending therapy. Yet at the same time, this is a show full of heart and humor and where the main characters feel like friends you’ve known all your life.

With the last season currently streaming on Netflix, it feels like a bittersweet goodbye. All good things come to an end, but Lucifer with all its many flaws was one hell of a memorable rollercoaster ride.