The fan-favorite show celebrates its second season on Netflix with a stronger sense of self, and devilish wit.
(Editor’s note: this review encompasses the entirety of season five, and may contain some spoilers.)
Audiences languishing in the quarantine may be starved for new content these days, but that certainly doesn’t mean the new season of Lucifer isn’t well worth the wait.
While season four might have felt uneven—perhaps growing pains as the show adjusted to life at its new home on Netflix—season five sees the show hitting its stride in a way that wouldn’t have been doable at Fox. Under the care of showrunner Tom Kapinos, Lucifer is darker, bloodier, and sexier than ever before, with more emotional range than we’ve seen from the Prince of Darkness before.
Still cooling his heels in Hell after season 4’s dramatic finale, Lucifer (Tom Ellis) finds himself hanging out in the hells of damned souls for just a glimpse of his beloved Los Angeles. Up on Earth, Chloe Decker (Lauren German) and Mazikeen (Lesley-Ann Brandt) attempt to move on in a world without their favorite Devil.
Maze is still dealing with the loss of Eve and their relationship, and it’s Maze, Ella (Aimee Garcia), and Linda (Rachel Harris) who feel all the gut punches this season offers them. Maze is still learning how to live in a world she wasn’t born to, and while earlier seasons have seen her learning things like love, selflessness, and sacrifice, her current arc is putting her on a course for something more nuanced: forgiveness and grace.
One of Lucifer’s strengths has always been the portrayal of its female characters and their relationships with one another. The backbone of the show has always been these women supporting and caring for one another—even delivering tough love when it’s called for—without them, the show would have collapsed like an undercooked souffle in the first season. It’s a rare delight to have a procedural dramedy like Lucifer offers up characters like Chloe, Maze, Linda, and Ella, imperfect women who do all of the dramatic heavy lifting while Lucifer and Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) are off doing their celestial vamping.
As for Lucifer, all it takes for him to finagle his way back to earth is the appearance of his twin brother, Archangel Michael, who is looking for payback??? For something???? No matter his purpose, he slips into the role of Lucifer long enough to catch feelings for Chloe. Maybe it runs in the family? Ellis occupies both roles well, from Lucifer’s trademark swagger to Michael’s sniveling petulance—and of course, Michael would be American.
Lucifer is darker, bloodier, and sexier than ever before, with more emotional range than we’ve seen from the Prince of Darkness before.
Most of the fun of the series has been watching Lucifer stand out in the crowd, always blatantly refusing to pass for normal, declaring himself The Devil to anyone who would listen. But now that Chloe knows all, Lucifer has to find his footing as both a celestial entity and a lover. There are a few frustrating misunderstandings that could be cleared up with an honest conversation, but whoever tuned into Lucifer for a clear-cut, A-to-B plot?
While there is plenty of starcrossed melodrama in season 5, there is still plenty of irreverence and self-referential humor, including a meta episode where Chloe and Lucifer investigate the death of a showrunner of a show (called ¡Diablo!, because of course) wherein the devil works with the LAPD to solve crimes. There’s also a flashback episode, a 1940’s black and white love letter to film noir that features Chloe as the hard-nosed PI and has Brandt playing both Maze and Maze’s mother, Lilith.
Family, always a central theme to Lucifer, is what season five all boils down to. With Lucifer dealing with his troublesome twin, Maze looking to connect to her mother, and Linda dealing with an unresolved moment from her past, the importance of family, both given and chosen, has never been stronger than it is here.
And with the surprise of Dad (aka God, aka Dennis Haysbert) showing up just in time for a pandemic hiatus, it seems as though the boys from the Silver City are finally going to get their chance to work through all of their family issues.
So yes, Lucifer season 5 is still a corny murder-of-the-week procedural with a somewhat bloated love story at its center. But if you’re still breathing and able to experience a modicum of joy in the middle of *gestures vaguely*, then let it be here, where the humor is ribald and the tushes are firm. Because whatever else it may be, Lucifer is still a show with a lot of heart that never takes itself too seriously.
Lucifer premieres on Netflix Friday, August 21.
Lucifer Season 5 Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
After a years-long hiatus, scientist and explorer Albert Lin is coming back to National Geographic with a fresh new season of Lost Cities, renamed “Lost Cities Revealed.” In the past, Lin, who is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a real-life Indiana Jones, has traveled everywhere from the ancient Knights Templar in Israel to ... How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
If you’re a fan of true crime and insider docu-shows like The First 48 and Court Cam, then you’re probably already familiar with A&E. The cable channel is home to other reality TV gems like Hoarders, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars (they’ve moved on to spin-offs like Road Wars, Customer Wars, and Prison Wars now). ... How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
As the sister channel of the much bigger Univision, Unimás is home to popular Spanish-language telenovelas and talk shows (yes, including El Gordo y La Flaca), as well as a couple of sports events and programs. Most notably, however, Unimás also operates a couple of station affiliates around the country, so it also reports local ... How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial