Netflix’s Lucifer is back at last with the first part of its fifth season, delivering 8 brand new episodes for fans to enjoy. Lucifer turned out to be a pleasant surprise when it initially premiered on Fox back in 2016, delivering a highly entertaining supernatural drama within the framework of a police procedural. After the series was canceled and eventually picked up by Netflix, it was able to evolve and stretch its wings in order to become what it always had the potential to be. Its fourth season, the first to premiere on the streaming platform, showcased a show with more bite and heart, focusing more on the central characters fans have come to know and love and fleshing them out in highly relatable ways. While the first part of Lucifer season 5 has its notable issues, there is still plenty of entertainment value and narrative swerves to keep fans engaged.
The last time we saw Lucifer (Tom Ellis), he was saying his goodbyes to Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) after they had finally admitted their true feelings for one another. Lucifer needed to return to Hell in order to keep order in the Underworld and protect those he loved on Earth from a demonic uprising that was beginning to brew below. Now, Lucifer is the warden of the Underworld once more like his twin brother, Michael has decided to take a trip to Los Angeles in order to meddle with Lucifer’s personal life.
Sibling Rivalry
One of the most exciting aspects of the season is the introduction of Michael. Not only is it intriguing to see more of Lucifer’s family tree explored, but it gives Ellis an opportunity to chew up the scenery and define a brand new character. Fortunately, Ellis is up to the task and is able to make Michael feel wholly distinct, utilizing a different gait, delivery, and accent to fully bring the character to life and distinguish him from Lucifer. Some of the season’s best scenes are between Lucifer and Michael, delving into their tumultuous relationship and the cause of the constant friction between them.
Michael is also one of the show’s more formidable villains, using his intellect and powers of manipulation to use Lucifer’s closest friends against him like pawns. Not only does he meddle with Lucifer’s most treasured friendships, but he attempts to tear him and Chloe apart before they even get a chance to explore a romantic relationship with one another. Fortunately, this deception doesn’t get dragged on interminably and is resolved fairly quickly, which is a smart move most shows would sidestep in order to prolong the tension. While Michael fades into the background after the first few episodes, he continues to pose a threat to Lucifer and those he loves, working in the shadows in order to cause Lucifer more anguish.
Return To The Status Quo
Lucifer season 4 ended on a high note when it not only allowed Lucifer and Chloe to admit their feelings for one another but swiftly tore them apart as Lucifer needed to return to Hell to prevent an uprising. This beautifully set the stage for season 5 and created a potentially exciting new setup for the series to explore. Unfortunately, this development is resolved in the first few episodes, sharply returning the series to its original status quo as Lucifer is able to stay in Los Angeles and solve murders with Chloe once more. It’s resolved in one, eye-rolling piece of dialogue that is as lazy as it is clunky.
By episode four, Lucifer returns to a safe, moderately entertaining police procedural once more, focusing far more on murder investigations than the central characters who are far more fascinating. When the series leans into the lore and mythos surrounding the Lucifer character, as it did in season 4, that’s when the show shines and becomes a truly addictive piece of entertainment. Season 5 tackles several murder investigations, but not only are they completely forgettable, but they feel notably dragged out due to each episode’s bloated runtime.
A Needed Evolution
Though the series leans heavily on its police procedural elements in season 5, it still manages to find ways to flesh out some of the core characters. Lucifer has certainly shown signs of growth throughout its run, but this season is able to have the character confront his emotional immaturity as he begins his relationship with Chloe. It becomes clear he is terrified of being vulnerable and surrendering any sort of power, but as he realizes these two qualities are essential for a relationship to flourish, he begins to slowly evolve and become an even more engaging character. In fact, the season cleverly explores this by beginning to toy with Lucifer’s abilities. This is where Ellis truly brings his A-game, not only continuing to ooze charisma effortlessly but revealing a deeper, more insecure side to the beloved character.
Two other characters that finally get their due are Dan (Kevin Alejandro) and Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt). The former is dealing with the emotional aftermath of what he’s done in the past, trying to better himself and become a better man while the latter is trying to open herself up and deal with her abandonment issues, tracking her birth mother down in order to shed some of her emotional baggage. Both Alejandro and Brandt deliver fantastic performances, effectively giving their respective characters new layers and emotional accessibility that makes them far more likable and relatable than in seasons prior.
Power Couple?
One of the most tired tropes of many shows is the will they or won’t they dynamic that is developed between the two leads. It’s certainly an effective tool to keep viewers emotionally invested and drive them to keep watching the series, but it’s almost always stretched out far too long to the point where it becomes ludicrous, to say the least. Unfortunately, Lucifer hasn’t been an exception, taking nearly five seasons to finally bring Lucifer and Chloe together. Unfortunately, once they do finally begin to date, the series constantly throws obstacles in their path.
While any relationship is bound to encounter some speed bumps, Lucifer and Chloe are rarely allowed to actually enjoy being with one another. There are far too many episodes where the two are at odds with one another over an easily mendable issue but are only able to resolve their problems through solving a case that happens to parallel what they’re going through. This season in particular leans into that narrative technique and it becomes extremely repetitive and unnecessary, becoming one of the season’s glaring flaws. As a result, it feels as if the creative team only thinks the duo is interesting when they’re dealing with some sort of drama.
Final Thoughts
While Lucifer season 5 suffers from its fair share of shortcomings, the series remains entertaining and engaging. Ellis and the rest of the cast remain superb and the first batch of episodes ends with a doozy of a cliffhanger, which nicely sets the stage for the back half of the season that appears to be headed in a far more intriguing direction. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy in these new episodes, but unfortunately, this is not Lucifer at its very best. Hopefully, the second half of the season will resolve these issues and lean more into the supernatural elements that make the series such a unique treat.
Have you watched Lucifer yet? If not, are you more inclined to give it a shot now? Let us know in the comment section below!
Lucifer is now streaming on Netflix.
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