LUCIFER 3x01 "They're Back, Aren't They?"

Oh wait, I mean 2x01 "Everything's Coming Up Lucifer".

Wait, no, definitely 3x01 "They're Back, Aren't They?".

Such were the similarities between the season 2 and season 3 premieres that it was practically impossible to watch this third season premiere without drawing one big parallel: that the plot premise in both were Lucifer's search for something. In season 2, it was his mother; in season 3, he hunted for the person who had kidnapped him and returned his wings. (And if that wasn't enough, we briefly welcomed back the jewel thief Lucifer and Amenadiel embarrassed mid-heist, this time as a prison escapee who came upon Lucifer in the desert). This episode didn't quite appropriate the flair the season 2 premiere was flush with, but then the stakes weren't as high as a Goddess tortured for millennia in Hell escaped from her confines. I maintain it was still a clever format to cut and paste to bring us into a new season of the show in a manner we are comfortable with.

Lucifer explains his emoji-filled
text to Amenadiel
Image: FOX

   But Lucifer wouldn't be Lucifer without a murder to ground the story, although, in typical Lucifer fashion, the murder plotline was woven around Lucifer's vigorous travails, and included familiar features of the show including:

1. Lucifer pissing off Chloe
2. Lucifer going off on his own to further his own cause
3. Lucifer surprising the bad guys with his inhuman abilities
4. Lucifer having awesome punchlines

The mystery was an interesting one, too, and surrounded a prank company called Snatch, who would perform whatever prank the client desired upon whoever the client chose. While the poor victim, Steve Bonales, was murdered along the way, the more intriguing takeaway is that Snatch were also the cause of Lucifer's kidnapping, which was requested by the shady "Sinnerman". With nothing yet known about "The Sinnerman", we're left to ponder a number of questions:

1. Is The Sinnerman human or is it celestial?
2. What are its motives for kidnapping Lucifer?
3. Does it have anything to do with God?
4. Could it be a sibling of Lucifer's?

At this very early stage, I like where this is headed.

   I'm less pleased by the roadblocks in the #Deckerstar relationship. I was totally convinced Lucifer was going to show his "devil face" to Chloe midway through the episode but, despite his attempts, he finds he is now unable to transform. Perhaps this is a mutation of his vulnerability in Chloe's presence - which would be an organic plot progression I would be more than happy to accept - but it's impact is twofold: Lucifer now knows his powers are weakening (sidebar, Amenadiel's haven't returned, which is sad), and it's also likely to create a wedge between him and Chloe wide enough to allow the new Lieutenant, Marcus Pierce, to slither in.

Lucifer meets Lieutenant Pierce
Image: FOX

   "Slither" is perhaps an unnecessarily negative word because, like The Sinnerman, at this early stage, I like Pierce. Admittedly, he appears to be a man of so few words that he wouldn't be able to complete the phrase "man of few words" without feeling awkward, but his whole mysterious, distant-more-so-than-tough veneer is an intriguing personality trait that actually has me wanting to see him integrate more into the team in coming episodes.

Overall, I'm extremely happy with where season 3 has picked up. I admit to displeasure at the season 2 finale, but I'm hopeful the writers can conjure a more plausible answer for it than to preempt an early #Deckerstar romance. Lieutenant Pierce has done well to shake things up so far without altering the team dynamic, which, happily, is in direct contrast to Assistant Director Mosley's introduction in NCIS: Los Angeles. And the murder mystery was satisfactory and cleverly linked with Lucifer - as many often are.

   So the Lucifer season 3 premiere has aired, leaving us with just one, rhetorical, happy question: they're back, aren't they?

RATING: 9/10

POINTS OF NOTE

• Neanderthal he may seem, but Pierce inspired a number of throwbacks to previous episodes. Not only did he draw attention to the fact that Dan is indeed a corrupt cop who got off lightly, but Pierce reminded us of the epic interrogation scene in season 2 where Chloe interviewed 92 of Lucifer's lovers. And a suspect made reference to Chloe's time as an actress pre-LAPD. Throwbacks abound.
• No Trixie, no Maze. I choose to believe their absence can be explained as them double-teaming as a bounty hunting, mother-daughter duo.
• Lucifer playing caretaker to Linda was surprisingly sweet; Lucifer playing caretaker to Amenadiel was unsurprisingly not.
• "Are you ... gassy?"