Lucifer season 3 episode 7

[shapinglight]

I didn't mean for my journal to become a place where all I do is post once a week about the latest episode of Lucifer, but that's what seems to have happened. Will try to do better from now on though I expect some of you are shaking your heads cynically at this, as I know I've said it before.

Another of the four standalones made at the end of season 2. I really liked the format of this one.

Spoilers behind cut.



Okay, I guessed the conceit - that Reese was actually in Hell - in the very first scene, but I thought it was really well done, and I like the way the episode resembled the one-off stories that Mike Carey's Lucifer comics series would do between arcs, when the focus would be on doomed soul of the week (as it were). The actor playing Reese (Patrick Fabian) was great. He had to carry the episode basically, which can't be easy when you're just parachuted in for it. I also thought it fit pretty well into season 1/2 continuity without making you go 'huh?' too much. Amenadiel and Charlotte were missing again (though I think that even in the 'one year later' section of the episode Charlotte would still have been Mum), and Ella and Maze were only the briefest cameos, but there were some great scenes for Dr Linda.

All in all, very enjoyable. I just hope that when we get back to the main season 3 storyline next week the return of Marcus Pierce (well, he'll probably be in it) won't make it seem like a let down after two such fun episodes. At least Maze and Charlotte will be back (so the actresses said on Twitter), and hopefully Amenadiel will be too.

Still no sign of the Amenadiel/Lucifer cage-fighting scene from the SDCC season 3 preview. Makes me wonder if that actually came from a new episode (ie. one filmed in season 3). Hard to believe they would have had anything ready in time to include in the preview, but from what I know about the fourth and final season 2 standalone, which will be the first to air in the new year, it can't really come from that. Hmm.

Speaking of the new year I suppose there'll probably only be three more episodes aired before the Christmas break? :Gloom:

ETA: Should have said, this episode was also very funny, in particular the ridiculous bondage/edible sex toys scene. Also, I hope Lucifer telling Reese he wouldn't have sex with him because he didn't find him attractive doesn't count as this season's bisexuality reference. I want there to be one in a new (ie. written this season) episode before I'm really convinced that the earlier timeslot hasn't impacted on the show at all.

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

I figured it out about halfway through -- at first I'd wondered if he was somehow back from hell, and then I was confused about the apparent flashback to the start of S1. Although if TV weren't so completely unrealistic about all professions, we should have known it when he spent a year obsessed with a single story and yet somehow didn't get fired even though being a "senior" reporter he should have been among the first to go for cost cutting reasons.

As a standalone show I did like it -- much better than their usual fare. One of the most informative lines was Chloe's discussion of why she thinks Lucifer works with her.

Also, I hope Lucifer telling Reese he wouldn't have sex with him because he didn't find him attractive doesn't count as this season's bisexuality reference.

Actually I'm fairly surprising the edible sex toys could be shown in the earlier timeslot, though you'd also have to figure the gagged girl couldn't very well be the one eating them...

[shapinglight]

Actually I'm fairly surprising the edible sex toys could be shown in the earlier timeslot.

I'm quite surprised by that too. ;)

[shadowkat]

Both of you obviously don't watch that much television or that many commercials. ;-)

Lucifer is rather tame in comparison to most of the shows I've seen on at 8PM in the US. 60-70% of the US sitcoms go there. (All the networks do is provide a television rating or warning -- this is rated TV M or TV 14, and leave it at that.)

As for the bisexuality? No worries, they'll go there if they want to. Grey's Anatomy is on at 8PM and has explicit sex scenes with two women. One of whom is bisexual, and starts sleeping with one of the male characters, who just divorced his wife. She's an ob-gyn that specializes in orgasm research. That's on ABC at 8PM on Thursdays. And it is at the top of the Neilsen Ratings.

[shapinglight]

That's good to know. And I don't watch that much TV and try to avoid channels that show commercials as much as possible.

[shadowkat]

Okay, you are thinking that the character was actually in hell in the very beginning of the episode, not at the end of the episode?

I didn't think he landed in hell until the end, and this episode took place in S3. But you're thinking he's in hell now, and reliving S1-S2?

Also, I missed Ella. I must have blinked or something.

[shapinglight]

The character was in hell right from the start. The whole episode was him re-enacting the circumstances that led him to die and be there in the first place.

As I say, I guessed the conceit in the very first scene. It was something about the nurse and what she said. She just seemed...off to me.

[shadowkat]

Ah, that explains some of the timeline inconsistencies. Didn't see that at all until you pointed it out.. I.thought we saw the events leading up to it, and now he was about to relive them. Cool --your interpretation makes the episode far more interesting and rather brilliant. I like that interpretation much better.

[shapinglight]

:)

[tinny]

It's weird - and a bit sad - that we're expected to get exactly one bisexuality reference each season. (But I think we got a few already, and they were better - i.e. less dismissive and apologetic - than ones in previous seasons, so I am okay with what we got so far.)

I liked the episode, too. I like that actor, so it was easy for me to empathize with him. I also guessed the Hell part, but it was still fun. The timeline was a bit confusing, especially with Linda planning his funeral the week after, but hey, it's not like it's actually important.

I always like Linda's journey.

[shapinglight]

Yes, this was a really good episode.

I just rewatched the season so far leaving out the standalones, and it makes better emotional sense without them, except for this episode because of Linda planning the funeral in the next one.