Devil's Advocate: Lucifer, Episode 301, "They're Back, Aren't They?"

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When we left Lucifer Morningstar (TOM ELLIS) at the end of Season 2 of LUCIFER, he awoke in the desert to find the wings he had cut off had been replaced. This, after he had been knocked out from behind  just as he was preparing to tell his partner, Detective Chloe Decker (LAUREN GERMAN) the truth about himself -- that he's literally the Devil of the Bible.

Which is funny, because Lucifer has never made any bones about who he is to anyone. That's the one thing interesting about his character: the "liar and the father of lies" tells nothing but the truth. It's a unique commentary on humanity from the writers that nobody ever believes he's precisely who he says he is. The only one -- the only human -- who knows for certain is his therapist, Dr. Linda Martin (RACHAEL HARRIS), who learned it last season when he revealed his true face to her.

But as the wings were added, Lucifer discovers that even his true face has been taken from him. When he tries to show himself to Chloe, it just appears...comical. So now not only is he mortally vulnerable when Chloe is about, he's also prevented from revealing himself. Sure, he could just pop out the wings -- only the first thing he did when he got back to Lux was cut them off.

Oh, but oops, they're back again. And that's really starting to piss him off, as he assumes his ineffable Father is effing with him big time.

When Lucifer tries to find out who kidnapped him, the trail leads him and Decker to a dead body, in exactly the same location Lucifer woke up. It's a professional, underground kidnapping agency, but the real villain is someone yet to be revealed -- someone calling himself The Sinner Man.

"They're Back, Aren't They?" introduces the character of Lt. Marcus Pierce (TOM WELLING), an aloof and dickish personality. Among the cast, the only one he seems to like is LUcifer, messing up the name (intentionally) of Detective Dan Espinoza (KEVIN ALEJANDRO) and dismissing Chloe's detective skills (although he does seem to come around to her at the episode's end. Forensics genius Ella Lopez (AIMEE GARCIA) is enamored with him because he's something of a rock star of police work, but most of her involvement in the episode involves mourning a dead squirrel found at the crime scene, and inspiring Lucifer's brother, Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside), with renewed faith in God's unknowable plan.

We have our new big bad of the season, whom we should meet soon, I would expect. If television writing holds up to traditions, I should expect (a) Lt. Pierce will have a connection to the Sinner Man (if, indeed, he isn't the same person) and (b) Lucifer will try to show Chloe his wings at some point and they won't pop out.

Grade: 
4.5 / 5.0