Only in Hollywood could a show about the devil solving murders at times be as light and frothy as a whipped-cream dessert, yet exert a dark, mysterious, disturbing appeal – with plenty of laughs, shocks and revelations about the human spirit along the way.
Lucifer tells the story of the original fallen angel, Lucifer Morningstar, a dapper soul who quits his job as the Lord of Hell after an eternity of boredom, weary of being viewed as the ultimate evil.
He “retires” to Los Angeles – the City of Angels – to indulge his more earthly desires as the owner of an upscale piano bar called Lux.
In the series opener, which will be broadcast on Friday on OSN First, Lucifer is happily enjoying his carefree LA life, when a female pop-star he likes is murdered outside of his nightclub.
For the first time in 10 billion years, he feels something awaken deep within him. Is it simply his suppressed desire to punish the wicked? Or is it something deeper and more confusing – and potentially troubling? Is he actually capable of feeling empathy with and pity for a human?
‘The devil made me do it’
"Part of the show is the misconception of who the devil is and what he does," says the Welsh actor Tom Ellis, who portrays Lucifer with boundless energy, charisma and wit. The 37-year-old actor was previously best known in Britain for his role as Dr Oliver Cousins in the BBC soap EastEnders, and to audiences in America as the titular hard-partying doctor in medical drama, Rush.
“Everyone thinks he makes people do evil things – ‘the devil made me do it’ is a classic phrase – but he’s never made anyone do anything, ever. He’s revealing their dark desires and thoughts and weeding them out.
“He’s very resentful of this label that he’s got, and that’s one of the main reasons he decided he wanted to leave hell. He wants to be judged as his own man. That’s the angle that we come at it.”
One demonic detective
The pop-star's murder understandably attracts the attention of the LAPD, in particular homicide detective Chloe Decker (played by former Chicago Fire star Lauren German), who finds herself both repulsed and fascinated by Lucifer's good looks, brilliant wit and seductive powers.
While his boyish, bubbly enthusiasm for crime-solving rubs her the wrong way, she can’t deny he is inexplicably skilled at making people talk and figuring out what makes them tick. After all, who is better than the devil to know what evil lurks in a killer’s heart?
Lucifer, in turn, is enchanted by Decker’s innate goodness and apparent immunity to his charisma and supernatural seductive charms. With the City of Angels at his feet and a newfound purpose at Decker’s side, Lucifer’s having too much fun to go back now.
But we all have our demons – even Lucifer, who has a particularly fierce one as his friend and confidante, Mazikeen (Lesley-Ann Brandt), who tends the bar at Lux. Sworn to protect him, ‘Maze’ resents her dark lord’s new gig helping the cops.
Another thorn in Lucifer's side is fellow angel Amenadiel (24's DB Woodside). He has been sent to Los Angeles to convince her brother – by hook or by crook – to return to hell. The underworld has apparently fallen into chaos – it is hell, so things must be really bad – without Lucifer's management skills and talent for handing out punishments.
This irreverent one-hour Fox drama, from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, ultimately revolves around the idea that everyone has a chance at redemption... even the devil. Thanks to solid ratings since its January debut in the US, the show has already been renewed for a second season.
Naughty, but nice?
Lucifer is the latest TV show to be adapted from an acclaimed comic-book series. The character was created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg as a supporting character in Gaiman's award-winning series, The Sandman, published by DC's Vertigo imprint. The character later received a spin-off series, written by Mike Carey.
“We take our cues from the comic-book character,” says Joe Henderson, an executive producer of the show. “He’s not evil, he’s just a rebellious son who decided that he wanted what his dad had and doesn’t understand why he didn’t get it.
“He’s mischievous, he’s playful, he’s honest, and he embraces his desires. Lucifer is all about exploring humanity and exploring desires. When he talks to people in Los Angeles, there’s no pretence – he just wants to do whatever he sees in front of him.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Ellis plays Lucifer more as a naughty reflection of the human spirit, than as a malevolent demon.
“Lucifer says it himself,” says Ellis. “Am I the devil because I’m intrinsically evil – or am I the devil because dear old dad decided I was?”
• Lucifer begins at 11pm tonight on OSN First HD
artslife@thenational.ae
