Tom Ellis gives a helluva performance in an otherwise standard cop show.
I was game for about the first 10 minutes of Lucifer… then I realized it was a crime procedural.
Prior to watching the pilot, which airs Monday, I only knew that FOX’s new series was based on Neil Gaiman’s depiction of the Devil from the Sandman comic book and its spinoff Lucifer, both of which were published under DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint. Unfortunately, for fans of the source material, the TV show seems to be adapted in name only. Granted, the series premiere hints at a larger picture, but it’s clear that FOX is more interested in selling the character’s soul to the Los Angeles Police Department.
On the show, Lucifer (Tom Ellis) has grown tired of Hell and decides to relocate in the City of Angels (heh), where he runs a swanky night club called Lux with his confidante Maze (Leslie Ann-Brandt). However, that all changes when Lucifer teams up with Detective Chloe Dancer (Lauren German) to solve crimes and punish the wicked. Meanwhile, the Archangel Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) tries to convince Lucifer to go back to Hell.
If there’s one thing Lucifer gets right, it’s casting Tom Ellis in the title role. The actor brings a natural swagger and arrogance to the character — enough that Lucifer’s constant references to being immortal and above humanity are easily forgiven. And not unlike, say, Nathan Fillion in Castle, Ellis is one of those guys who seems to have chemistry with everyone onscreen, including passers by.
Lucifer is also a very stylish show, and the series’ mischievous tone is on-point. One scene, for example, finds Lucifer crashing a wedding to track down a lead — the groom, no less — only for him to ruin the whole ceremony with his truth-seeking wiles. Later, Lucifer meets Chloe’s daughter and helps raise a little hell against her school bully. It helps that the show seems to have no shortage of devil-themed music, from “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” to “Sinister Kid.” (I’m betting they’re saving “Sympathy for the Devil” for the season finale.)
The show’s first case is actually fairly enjoyable, despite its typical, case-of-the-week structure, and Lucifer’s supernatural flair adds a bit of fun to the proceedings. But the rest of the show leaves something to be desired. Chloe, for instance, is your standard, by-the-books cop with no personality of her own. Mostly she’s just there to play the wet blanket from literally every other “detective takes on an eccentric consultant” show. Although, she does have a unique backstory.
We want to hear it.
Ultimately, the religious aspect is what really sets Lucifer apart from other like series, but it’s only really touched on in two scenes with Amenadiel. While the procedural elements are boosted by Lucifer’s not-so-divine intervention, I can’t help but wonder if the show would have flourished more with just Lucifer and his pals getting into fiendish hijinks, sans police work.
I completely get why FOX would want to turn Neil Gaiman’s Satan character into a consultant for the LAPD: it’s pragmatic and accessible to viewers. Luckily, Tom Ellis lends no small amount of charm to Lucifer, making the show at least somewhat enjoyable to watch. The tone is also spot-on, thanks to clever writing. Alas, it’s hard to see the lasting appeal of Lucifer when it’s already shaping up to be a case-of-the-week show with little else to tempt you to it.
Lucifer premieres Monday, January 25 at 9/8c on FOX.
