The Warner Archive August 22, 2017 Blu-ray release of "Lucifer" S2 provides a good chance to catch on this Fox supernatural procedural before the October 2, 2017 S3 broadcast premiere. The Unreal TV 2.0 review of the Archive BD release of S1 provides a good deal of the lore of the series.
The temptation (which there is no reason to resist) regarding the "Lucifer" home-video releases is to buy them in Blu-ray. The enhanced video quality of that format is perfect for the sun and the neon of Los Angeles in the series. The better sound increases the impact of the mood music and the actual soundtrack that is heavy on club music but includes a couple of '80s ballads.
The first bit of catching up involves spoiling the S1 cliffhanger. Biological brother/fellow celestial being Amenadiel tells the titular former ruler of Hell/ current L.A. night club owner /civilian police consultant at the end of the inaugural season that Hell escapee Mom is in the neighborhood and that Dad (a.k.a. God) wants Lucifer to bag her and send her home.
The S2 premiere finds Lucifer suspecting that his mother is the culprit in the murder with a demonic element of a stand-in for a television star, whose personal life is less pure than her career-necessary wholesome image. The dark humor and general perversion that is a trademark of this series is particularly strong in this outing.
Former "Battlestar Galactica" toaster fatale Tricia Helfer is perfectly cast as Mrs. God, who now walks the earth in the meat suit of adulterous ruthless attorney Charlotte Richards so that this literal mother of all mothers can be close to her boys. The manner in which Lucifer manages to keep Mom around without incurring the full wrath of God is very apt for the show and illustrates the pitfalls of making a deal with the devil.
As cast and crew explain at the roughly 30-minute 2016 Comic-Con panel that Archive includes as a BD extra, bringing in Charlotte facilitates further developing family issues and provides another player for the interchangeable teaming up of (mostly unlikely friendship) characters. This includes Charlotte seducing Det. Dan "Douche" Espinoza, who is the ex-husband/colleague of former sex comedy star/current homicide detective/Lucifer love interest Chloe Decker.
The most unlikely (and hilarious) pairing has Decker and her young daughter Trixie moving into a new apartment (that of course has a tie to a murder case) with gleefully sadistic demon/bounty hunter/Lucifer confidante Maze. Particularly memorable moments have an oblivious Trixie enjoying a sex toy of Maze and reaping the bounty of the aggressive approach of Maze toward trick-or-treating. Maze further does her best to get Chloe to loosen up emotionally and physically.
We further get Lucifer hijacking a once-again oblivious Trixie into assisting with a homicide investigation, Much of the humor in this one involves exposing the civilized facade regarding the behavior of parents, faculty, and staff alike at an exclusive private school.
Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer honors his "CSI" roots in introducing quirky former car thief Ella as a forensic tech. The odd behavior of this lab rat does not extend to wearing Carmen Miranda hats or staging elaborate (and messy) re-enactments.
Lucifer fully revealing his true self to resident shrink Dr. Linda Martin further enhances the "Sopranos" vibe of this show that revolves around the dark side of family and has the clan head regularly spill his guts to a therapist. Dr. Linda moving into a deeper circle of Hell facilitates involving her in various schemes that are intended to serve the greater good and makes her the somewhat unlikely friend of Maze. The most interesting scheme returns Lucifer to his former kingdom for a noble purpose.
S2 additionally focuses more on story arcs than S1; these include a quest for a powerful weapon that theoretically can make at least some characters very happy, a particularly demented killer who uses a very special poison, and a series of events tied to the 16 year-old murder of the father of Chloe.
As is typical for "Lucifer" and other modern television dramas, the final few episodes lead to an episode that serves equally well as a season ender and a series finale in the event of the show being sent to cancellation hell. Charlotte is facing a serious threat to her continued existence on earth, her boys are fighting, and Chloe is close to learning that she literally is riding with the devil. This culminates in a a uber-dramatic image.
The BD extras extend beyond the Con panel to include a behind-the-scenes look at the season, a gag reel, and deleted scenes.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Lucifer" is encouraged to email me; you alternatively can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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