Christian groups at first called for a boycott of Lucifer when it premiered in 2016. Then people started actually watching, and most of the criticism, miraculously, died off.
To be sure, this is a show about the devil, Lucifer, in which he is bored in Hell and decides to take residence in Los Angeles, and help solve crimes.
It’s true Lucifer is written to be annoying and amusing and charming and (thanks to Tom Ellis) very charismatic.
But the show is fiction, and most religious people have no problem distinguishing between the actual bible and a TV show.
What is remarkably positive for Christians, however, is that this Lucifer’s journey is all about self-sacrifice, selflessness, justice, consent, free will, agency, redemption and forgiveness.
All themes Christians everywhere are encouraged to discuss and promote.
The entire show is a metaphor.
Everything that happens to Lucifer internally is reflected externally, in the most literal way possible.
In fact, Lucifer has an actual therapist who acts as the voice of reason and interpretation.
{Wittiest Written Show Lucifer Saved By The Fans}
She is the (human) angel on his shoulder, showing the audience that Lucifer is in fact an unreliable narrator of his own story and his claims about God should be taken with a grain of salt.
And as Lucifer comprehends all of the issues that humanity deals with, we are left asking our own questions about faith, family and friends.
It’s a devil of a good time show with a bunch of religious subtle messages mixed in.
“I feel like the show’s themes of redemption, of questioning your faith, and of finding the best in people, no matter what you’ve heard, and perhaps what they’ve done, are more Christian than so many so-called ‘Christian’ shows,” wrote QuantumFTL on Reddit. “Christ was all about forgiveness, and about giving those who have sinned (i.e. all of us) a path to God. Clearly this show is about this.”
That seems to be the general consensus when the topic is raised.
“I’m Catholic. It’s a show. I must admit though, it makes me wonder about some things,” added pghfoxfan. “For example, if God could forgive the devil, there is probably not much I can do that he won’t forgive.”
For the first three seasons of the show, Lucifer aired on Fox.
Rated PG-13.
No sex scenes even while sexual references are made.
The “skimpily clad” dancers at Lucifer’s club, they’re just there in the background, not any different from MTV or a Viagra commercial.
For a witty crime drama, there is surprisingly little violence or gore.
Characters get shot, but either there’s no blood because they’re immortal, or very little blood to be seen on-screen.
Also, the language is minimal.
Note, the final season on Netflix could reveal Ellis’ butt (fans have been demanding it), but writers have agreed the basic essence of Lucifer will not change.
Still skeptical?
If you want to give this show a try, check out Season 1, Episode 9: “A Priest Walks Into A Bar.”
This is where Lucifer realizes his conception about his dad (God) may be wrong.
As a priest lies dying, he tells Lucifer:
“God has faith in him. In all of us. Even in our darkest moments.”
Lucifer: “Oh, you really believe that.”
Priest: “I do. Why don’t you?”
Lucifer: “Because He didn’t have faith in me.”
Priest: “I felt that way once, too. But now I know, deep in my heart, God has a plan for me.”
Lucifer: “Oh, His plan for me was quite clear.”
Priest: “How do you know it’s finished?”
Lucifer was left pondering that question.
At this moment in the series, many of us started to take note of our own lives, and the twists and turns that led us to where we are today.
Not all of it is positive.
A lot of it we’d like to redo.
So this question: What if Lucifer himself started to self reflect?
If it’s possible for the devil to do that, we can too.
Lucifer the TV show is the gift that keeps on giving.
The more you watch it, the more you uncover the nuggets that make you chuckle or think.
These writers, arguably the best since the Breaking Bad team, know how to write subtlety and nuances and themes and plot and characters.
As funny and witty and sassy and amusing Lucifer is each episode, there’s also a beauty to it.
Luci fans come in all ages.
My 83 year old mother, Doris Heath, is a huge fan and I asked her what she liked most about the show.
“It doesn’t insult me, and makes me think about faith in my own way.”
Well said, mom.
Maybe you need more than Christian TV to get the message out after all.
The series stars Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar, Lauren German as Detective Chloe Decker, Kevin Alejandro as Detective Dan Espinoza, D.B. Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Aimee Garcia as Ella Lopez and Rachael Harris as Dr. Linda Martin. Season 4 also starts series newcomers Inbar Lavi as Eve and Graham McTavish as Father Kinley.
The complete fourth season of Lucifier will be available May 8 on Netflix. The first three seasons are already there.
Oh, you are such big fanboy. Love it ?❤️ and I couldn’t agree more with you. Thank you for this great article. ??
Thank you so much my LuciFan friend!
I like Lucifer, but I have a small – nitpicky – critique to offer.
Personally, I think that Lucifer and Amenadiel are written a smidge too humanized.
They both react to the murders the way humans do – with anger toward the killers, rage and regret for the lost lives of those that they see as innocent.
Mind you, I humanly approve.
But, as celestial beings, both Lucifer and Amenadiel know firsthand that souls survive the body and death is but a transition to an eternal afterlife – and a reversible transition at that.
This being true, I would expect them to be less affected by the death of mortals. They know it is not the end, just a comma in one soul’s history.
Obviously, the situation is different for demons, angels and Lucifer’s mither, none of whom has [canonically] a soul and whose death is an actual cessation of existence
Wonderful review and so true, very fitting to what I feel for the show. I think that much of thw tone of the narrative is also based on the internal settings and atmosphere that Tom Ellis creates, at least that is what his colleagues tell the audience at Fan Cons (while he is blushing). It’s just that excellent writing met the right actors here.
Except there will never be any redemption for the Devil, and they always try to make him out to be the good guy, never addressing the fact that he wanted to overthrow God to sit on the thrown and rule. And as bad as Satan is, would we have wanted that? I sure wouldn’t have!
While I am able to separate the factual from the fictional, there is an undertone that insinuates Satan isn’t really that bad…Whaaat? There is nothing about this show that is even remotely Christian or Christian like. Demons running around having sex with humans and Angel’s? If this weren’t such a complete blasphemous debouchory of what Christian’s know to be true, it would be inarguably the next “Friends” with an insane twist!!
That said, has it detoured me from watching? Well, obviously not!
Can’t wait for Season 5!! lol!
Weren’t sure where you were going there, but love where you ended up!
I was born and raised Catholic, went to Catholic School, received every sacrament right up through Confirmation. I cannot remember the angels being discussed very often in Sunday School or my Catholic School. Obviously, I take anything the show puts out about religion with a grain of salt, but I looked up and found every angel they’ve brought up or discussed to be legit. While I don’t support Satan or anything, I do think that Lucifer’s concept that the Devil isn’t really at fault for the worst things humanity does. God did create humanity in his image and to have free will. We choose what to do.
Love this show! Can’t wait for Season 5.
Awesome post Sarah! Interesting perspective & we love the show too!
I’m a devout catholic but I know deep in my heart I had little faith before… as unconventional and u expected as it may seem, this show made me question some of my beliefs, and know what? I felt like it made me closer to God. I couldn’t watch any other show anymore after watching Lucifer on netflix from s1 to s4 literally 3 times!!!
my family is against this show, am a Christian and was also raised Christian but I really don’t think I will get punished for watching this I know my God and I love him unconditionally and we all know the devil is not really the way Lucifer is it is just his job (a TV show) it is not as if I am now going to start worshipping the devil, really there is no other than GOD, but for entertainment Lucifer is a really good show.
well I love this show and cant wit for S5 just a pity there will not be a S6. FIY I wouldn’t mind playing a role in it..I know keep on dreaming they say.
I will be up front and say that I have not watched this show. I am looking into it for a research paper as part of my graduate program. I have to disagree with some of the conclusions. I believe you have too much faith in the average viewer’s desire or ability to interpret the show in a positive light relating to Christianity. For example, you say: “Lucifer’s journey is all about self-sacrifice, selflessness, justice, consent, free will, agency, redemption and forgiveness.” I would be surprised if people somehow found such concepts to make a case of the Christian faith. The viewer almost always becomes sympathetic to the protagonist and often adopts their frame of mind. It seems to me that such notions would cause someone to question the biblical propositions instead of reinforce them–especially since the messenger is none other than Lucifer himself.
I also find it hard to see how this show could have stronger references to redemption than most Christian movies and shows (whether you believe they are too melodramatic and wooden to be realistic). From what I have read thus far about the show the theme of redemption is generic and of course wholly lacking any mention of Jesus Christ as the sole means of redemption. Not to mention that the concept of forgiving the Devil is nothing more than conjecture. Of course this is especially true depending on how one understands Revelation which declares that the fate of Lucifer is already sealed.
I’m also not so sure about thinking about faith in one’s own way. It depends on what is meant by that statement. If it means wrestling with one’s faith then yes. If it means that everyone approaches their faith with a sense of relativism then I must disagree since that can only lead to creating God in one’s own image and a faith in kind.
I suppose my grievance lies in the fact that such a show will cause people to doubt their faith and especially if they are not educated in Scripture and have not fostered a genuine and personal relationship with Christ. Many Christians might be able to watch the show and walk away unhindered in their faith. Though that should not be the benchmark for society. The other issue is that it might reinforce negative convictions about religion and deter people from exploring Christianity. I’m not advocating that it needs to taken off the air or anything radical like that. I’m only offering my own concerns on the matter.
For me personally it boils down to me not wanting to pursue entertainment from that which is evil even if it is merely a fictional portrayal. There are still concepts and themes within the show. I believe this show feeds too much into the warning of Paul when he said, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). I also consider the words of Jesus when He said, ” “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (Matt. 6:22).
My apologies for a long comment and God bless.
It’s a TV show. I’m sure very religious people can only watch religious programming if they want. But most of us can keep faith while watching a witty and interesting crime drama with the devil as the lead. Appreciate your comment.
Amor Dei has no right to comment on “Lucifer” without watching the series. You could read all of the scripts, but without seeing his expressions and gestures, or hearing the tone of his voice, you cannot accurately understand Lucifer’s intention.
I was raised Catholic and believe in a God. I have never watched a show that made me think more about religion than Lucifer!
That’s like saying that you cannot review or criticize a book because you’re not viewing it in motion. The dialogue is enough to discern the context. Mannerisms, body language, and intonation are more aspects of art than content.
It may make you think about religion more than any show but that would leave me with two questions. First, just what other shows with religious depth are you watching? Second, do you believe all thinking to be good thinking? Could it be that paganism bleeds into the show and hence you’re thinking?
Just look at the one commenter who considers herself a Satanist. One wonders how much shows like this encourage such positions even if are some who are impervious.
No you shouldn’t review a book without first reading it. This is silly. Watch it. You won’t be a devil worshipper afterwards. I’m not.
You should watch it first of all, second I’m nearing the last episode of the series and it’s very spiritual. It gave me a new and fresh perspective on God. I don’t have any more sympathy for the devil than I had before but I feel closer to god and his plan. Watch before you comment.
I got to hear this Lucifer series from my siblings, and i try to look for the summary and read this article. i felt bad and sad. i strongly agree with @Amor Dei, well said. it took me from my teenage years to where i am today to get to know God deeper and still i have lots to know. i know that my lifetime here on earth will never be enough to get to know Him. but i am willing to learn and take more lessons so that i can live out my life worthy and pleasing to Him.
Yet reading on the article and comments, it is as if this show has given the people already an increase in their faith. Let me ask then, does this show ever led you to getting to know God better? The devil will always be a devil. and he will never lead you to God. he will only disguise and make you think he is good. he is good in immitating (well he was not an original from the start) and subtly take you on his side and no longer think of God. that is his goal from the start. think about a thief who wants to take away something from you. if he is serious in taking what he most want from you that is so precious to you, would he not make and give the best ploy to get it from you? he will basically target your weakness. like a frog being boiled slowly without it knowing. Enjoying the warm water, swimming in it, but was slowly being cooked.
i challenge the fans then. if you can allot time to watch this series (some fans say 3 times?), then try to allot the same time (thrice as well) and seriousness and focus to study about God. then get back and say the same review about God. i will read it just the same. that would be fair right? but if you can’t write even one sentence with as much same conviction and excitement like how you feel about this series, then i don’t think you truly ever believe about love, selflessness and sacrifice.
in the end, God will prevail. not the devil’s plot.
It’s fiction “eye roll”
If anyone cares to research anything PAST Christianity…you will discover that Lucifer is not the Devil/Satan, that he was/is “THE LIGHT-BEARER”. Go back before your own Dogma and do some research. Luciferians support the protection of the natural world and focus on enlightenment. Like so many were by Christianity, Lucifer was twisted into something else, so the church could prevent people from taking power away from the church, and putting it to anyone/anything else. Satanists are a different group – Luciferians do not revere the devil figure or most characteristics typically affixed to Satan – why? Like I said because Lucifer isn’t Satan, so please stop interchanging the two!