Lucifer (2016–2021): Review – The Devil as a Hero? Yeah, It's Weird but Fun

Lucifer (2016–2021) from creator Tom Kapinos was something completely different for me. An entertaining approach to the Devil? That grabbed my attention. The show makes Lucifer a hero sometimes—most of the time, actually. So we don't have a traditional Devil here. I enjoyed it. My rating is 8/10. Fun, entertaining, not your usual Lucifer story. But I have to warn you: if you're religious or don't like religious things being made fun of, be careful.

About the Show

Starring Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar, Lauren German as Detective Chloe Decker, and Kevin Alejandro as Detective Dan Espinoza, this urban fantasy crime drama follows the actual Devil abandoning Hell to run a nightclub in Los Angeles and solve murders with the LAPD. Earning an 8/10 from me. Let's unpack the details.

The Plot: From Hell to Hollywood

So here's the setup. Lucifer Morningstar is bored. He's been the Lord of Hell for millennia. Punishing souls. Following his father's plan. And he's had enough. So he quits. He abandons his throne, moves to Los Angeles (the City of Angels—get it?), and opens a high-end nightclub called Lux.

But here's where it gets weird.

A murder happens outside his club. Lucifer gets involved. He meets Detective Chloe Decker, a sharp LAPD homicide detective. And something strange happens: Chloe is immune to his powers. Normally, Lucifer can get anyone to reveal their deepest desires just by looking at them. Chloe? Nothing. She doesn't fall for his charm. She doesn't even seem impressed.

Lucifer is fascinated.

He starts working with her as a civilian consultant. He helps solve cases using his power—making suspects confess their desires. Meanwhile, his angel brother Amenadiel keeps showing up to drag him back to Hell. His demon friend Mazikeen (Maze) guards his back. And his therapist, Dr. Linda Martin, tries to help him understand his own feelings.

No spoilers here, but the show evolves from a simple crime procedural into a full celestial family drama. God shows up. Angels fight. Lucifer deals with daddy issues. And through it all, he starts to wonder: can the Devil actually become good?

Why This Show Got My Attention

It's not a traditional Devil story.

Lucifer here isn't evil. He's charming, honest (brutally so), and oddly moral. He punishes bad people. He protects the innocent. He even develops feelings. That's not the Devil I grew up hearing about. And that's exactly why I kept watching.

It's fun and entertaining.

The cases are solid. The characters bounce off each other well. Tom Ellis carries the whole show with pure charisma. You laugh, you roll your eyes, you get invested. It's not heavy. It's not pretentious. It's just good TV.

I watched it all.

Six seasons. 93 episodes. And I enjoyed most of it. Some parts made me think. Some parts made me uncomfortable (more on that below). But I never wanted to stop.

The Celestial Stuff: A Warning for Religious Viewers

Okay, I need to say this straight.

The show mocks God, angels, and religious ideas. A lot. The celestial part of the story is not Christian theology. It's more like Greek mythology. God has limitations. Angels are corrupt. They lie, cheat, fight, and make terrible decisions. They're powerful beings, but they have their own messed-up lives and drama.

For me? That was fine. It's fiction. It's entertainment.

But if you are deeply religious, or if you don't like seeing religious figures portrayed as corrupt or foolish, be careful. This show mocks the concept of God. It makes the Devil a hero. It treats Heaven and Hell like family dramas. That can be disturbing if you take it seriously.

So just know what you're getting into.

Themes and Messages

The show touches on some big ideas. Free will vs. fate—can Lucifer choose to be good, or is he doomed to be the villain? Daddy issues—most of the plot is Lucifer rebelling against God. Redemption—can someone who has done terrible things become worthy of love? Self-acceptance—Lucifer learns to accept who he is, not who his father wanted him to be. It's surprisingly deep for a show about the Devil solving murders.

The Performances

Tom Ellis is perfect.

I can't imagine anyone else as Lucifer. He's charming, funny, vulnerable, and terrifying when he needs to be. He delivers ridiculous lines with complete sincerity. He makes you root for the Devil. That takes serious talent.

Lauren German holds her own.

Chloe Decker could have been a boring "straight woman" character. But German gives her warmth, toughness, and genuine confusion about why she's falling for Lucifer. Their chemistry works.

Kevin Alejandro as Dan?

He starts as a jealous ex-husband. By the end, you feel for him. Solid performance.

The supporting cast is great.

D.B. Woodside as Amenadiel brings gravitas. Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze is fierce and funny. Rachael Harris as Dr. Linda provides some of the best therapy scenes on TV.

Ratings and Critical Reception

• IMDb: 8.0/10 (from 392,000+ users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 87% critics / 73% audience

Critics liked it more than audiences, which is unusual. The Tomatometer is strong at 87%. The Popcornmeter sits at 73%. Fans loved the characters and Tom Ellis, but some got frustrated with the procedural format and the slow-burn romance. My 8/10 sits right with the IMDb score. It's not perfect. But it's a lot of fun.

What Bugged Me

The celestial family drama gets messy.

By seasons 4 and 5, the show is less about solving crimes and more about angel politics. God shows up. Michael (Lucifer's twin) causes chaos. It's entertaining, but it loses some of the grounded charm from early seasons.

It mocks religious figures openly.

I already said this above. But if that bothers you, it will bother you the whole time. The show doesn't stop. God is portrayed as manipulative. Angels are childish. Heaven is flawed. That's the point of the show, but not everyone will like it.

Some episodes drag.

Six seasons is a lot. A few episodes feel like filler. But the good episodes make up for it.

A Fun, Entertaining Devil Story—But Not for Everyone

Lucifer is not traditional. It's not respectful of religious ideas. It's not trying to be. It's a fun, charming, surprisingly heartfelt show about the Devil becoming a better person. At 8/10, it's totally watchable and even rewatchable. Dive in if you like urban fantasy, crime procedurals, or just want to see Tom Ellis be charming for 93 episodes. But if you're religious and don't like seeing God or angels mocked? Skip it. You've been warned.

This show sparked something in me—a reminder that entertainment can play with big ideas without taking itself too seriously.

What did you think of Lucifer?

Did the Devil-as-hero concept work for you, or did the celestial mocking go too far? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and here's the big one: suggest a TV show for my next review! I'm craving more urban fantasy or something completely weird. If you enjoyed this post, please like, follow, and share so you don't miss the next one. Thanks for joining me—see you in the next review.