Premiering on January 25, 2016, on Fox, Lucifer introduces viewers to Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), the bored ruler of Hell who abandons his throne to experience life among humans in Los Angeles. The 13-episode first season explores his journey as owner of the exclusive nightclub Lux and his unexpected pivot to becoming an LAPD civilian consultant alongside Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German), the only human seemingly immune to his supernatural charms. A loose adaptation of the character created by Neil Gaiman for DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, the series transforms the Prince of Darkness from cosmic villain to charming antihero whose ability to extract people’s deepest desires becomes a surprisingly effective crime-solving tool.
The season weaves together supernatural elements with procedural crime-solving, creating a unique narrative centered on themes of free will, redemption, and identity. As Lucifer assists Chloe with various murder cases, he confronts complex emotions and vulnerabilities previously unknown to him, particularly his mysterious physical vulnerability when in Chloe’s presence. Meanwhile, his loyal demon companion Mazikeen (Lesley-Ann Brandt) questions her own place on Earth, while his angel brother Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) employs increasingly desperate tactics to force Lucifer back to his hellish duties. Though initially receiving mixed critical reviews, the series would eventually build enough dedicated following to survive cancellation after its third season, being rescued by Netflix where it would continue for three more seasons before concluding in 2021.
Devil Becomes Police Consultant
Bored with Hell, Lucifer Morningstar moves to Los Angeles, operating the high-end nightclub Lux five years after abandoning his throne. There, he leverages his power to extract people’s deepest desires. His life shifts unexpectedly after witnessing a drug dealer murder Delilah (AnnaLynne McCord), a pop star he guided to success. This event connects him with LAPD Detective Chloe Decker, whom he convinces to allow his help finding the employer.
After meeting Chloe during this investigation, Lucifer grows fascinated by justice and desires to work with the police. He begins assisting the LAPD informally, aiming to punish criminals through the legal system, and later follows proper channels to become an official civilian consultant. Meanwhile, he faces his brother, the angel Amenadiel, whom God tasked with convincing Lucifer to resume his Hell duties, a role Lucifer refuses.
As Lucifer and Chloe investigate Delilah’s murder further, they find record producer Jimmy Barnes (John Pankow) hired a drug dealer to kill her. When confronted, Jimmy shoots Chloe, compelling Lucifer to briefly discard his human form and show his true devil face. This horrifying sight maddens Jimmy before his capture. Chloe survives the shooting, an event that profoundly impacts Lucifer and motivates him to continue working with her.
While Chloe recovers, Lucifer helps investigate a movie star’s son’s death. The case reveals paparazzo Nick Hofmeister’s (Jeremy Davies) intern, Josh Bryant (Robert Richard), used extreme tactics for sensational photos, causing a fatal crash. During this probe, Chloe discloses abandoning her acting career after her LAPD officer father died, a revelation strengthening her bond with Lucifer. When Lucifer uses a psychological scenario to expose Nick and Josh’s guilt, Chloe intervenes, demanding legal justice over Lucifer’s methods.
In another case, Lucifer joins star quarterback Ty Huntley’s (Redaric Williams) house party and faces confusion when a woman accuses him of impersonation, asserting she met the real Lucifer. At the party, he urges the virtuous Ty, saving himself for marriage, to yield to a woman’s advances. Next morning, Ty frantically wakes Lucifer upon finding the woman’s body in his pool, claiming amnesia despite contrary evidence.
Lucifer informs Chloe, and they find an intimate video of the victim and Ty on her phone, prompting Chloe’s circumstantial arrest of Ty. Ty’s manager, Joe, swiftly posts bail and tries implicating Ty’s ex-girlfriend, Debra (Sofia Vassilieva), but her alibi holds. When an attempt occurs on Debra’s life, the investigation points to professional fixer Ronnie Hillman (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), adding complexity.
To solve the murder and the impersonation, Chloe organizes a sting at Lux targeting Ronnie. Lucifer exploits this chance, making Ronnie deliver the impersonator before betraying her to police per the plan. Ronnie’s testimony reveals the victim was her protege, hired by Ty’s manager, Joe (Richard T. Jones). Joe ultimately admits accidentally choking the victim while trying to seize the intimate recording, planning blackmail to keep Ty at his agency. The case ends with Ty and Debra happily reuniting.
Vulnerability and Missing Wings
As Lucifer keeps working with the LAPD, he and Chloe probe Lindsay Jolson’s (Bailey Noble) disappearance, linked to a pickup artist. Throughout their partnership, Lucifer stays intrigued yet frustrated by failing to seduce Chloe, seemingly the sole human immune to his charms, a puzzle intensifying his fascination. Meanwhile, threatening Lucifer’s new life, Amenadiel approaches Mazikeen/Maze, Lucifer’s loyal demon, about plans forcing Lucifer Hellward, causing tension as Maze weighs loyalty against cosmic order.
Lindsay Jolson’s case concludes upon discovering she faked her kidnapping with her brother’s aid. The probe shows Lindsay already lost her virginity to the pickup artist, who first used her for book research but later truly loved her during her revenge plot. When Lucifer tries imposing his punishment on the siblings, Chloe intervenes, startled by glimpsing Lucifer’s apparent devil face reflection. Weary of Lucifer’s constant immortality claims, Chloe impulsively shoots his leg after he challenges her. To Lucifer’s shock, he feels pain and bleeds, a revelation questioning his immortality.
Intrigued by this vulnerability, Lucifer readily helps Chloe investigate Benny Choi (Eddie Shin), an ex-gang member turned high-end shoe designer. Lucifer views this as a chance to study the mystery occurring only near Chloe, rendering him physically vulnerable. The probe shows a girl’s death at Choi’s fashion show stemmed from trampling during gunfire-induced panic, not direct murder. The incident risks igniting war between the Latin Kings and Asian Boys gangs, compelling Chloe and Lucifer to defuse the tension. Outnumbered and endangered, Maze arrives timely, expertly disabling the gangsters and saving Chloe and Lucifer.
While Lucifer confronts his new vulnerability, Amenadiel persists in his mission to return his brother to Hell. For leverage, Amenadiel discovers Dr. Linda Martin (Rachael Harris), Lucifer’s therapist, via Mazikeen. He takes a calculated approach, impersonating therapist Dr. Canaan and starting regular sessions with Linda. Disguised as patient discussion, Amenadiel steers these sessions to probe Lucifer’s psyche for weaknesses usable for his divine mission.
A new case arises from a warehouse raid killing a guard, surprisingly revealing Lucifer owns a stolen cargo container linked to the crime. He and Chloe collaborate to find the perpetrator, Lucifer keenly driven to guard his reputation in his new home city. Pressed by Chloe on the container’s importance before it’s located, Lucifer evasively claims it holds valuable Russian nesting dolls.
As the probe advances, Lucifer wrestles more with identity and purpose, torn between ruling Hell and his life in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Amenadiel persists psychologically, trying to sway Lucifer using information gained from Linda. Eventually, Lucifer and Chloe find the container. Lucifer opens it to reveal only Russian nesting dolls, confirming his earlier claim but leaving Chloe disappointed by the anti-climax and his continued secrecy. Skeptical of his ongoing evasion and secrecy about the contents, Chloe departs, disappointed. Only after she leaves does Lucifer open a hidden compartment, discovering a harsh truth: his angel wings, which he had severed and stored there himself, have vanished.
The wing theft marks a deep crisis for Lucifer, not merely a material loss, but a symbolic blow. He immediately begins searching for them, despite his complicated feelings about what they represent. He turns to Amenadiel for help but is rejected, pushing him toward Chloe, even though he remains reluctant to involve her in celestial matters. Meanwhile, Chloe seeks assistance from her ex-husband and fellow detective, Daniel “Dan” Espinoza (Kevin Alejandro), as she reopens the puzzling Palmetto case.
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This ongoing investigation centers on Detective Malcolm Graham, who was shot and fell into a coma during what Chloe suspects was a secret criminal meeting. Her persistent doubts about Malcolm’s actions led to ostracism within her precinct, resulting in professional isolation. That isolation now motivates her to ask Dan for help in finding evidence that will confirm her suspicions and restore her standing among her peers.
Wings and Divine Connections
Lucifer joins an auction supposedly selling his wings, only finding Amenadiel engineered the situation as manipulation. Having pilfered the wings, Amenadiel set up the auction scheming elaborately to compel Lucifer Hellward. Though Lucifer reclaims his wings, discovering Amenadiel’s deceit drives him to declare his autonomy dramatically. He summons Amenadiel beachside where, with deep symbolism, he incinerates his wings—his angelic identity’s physical form. Amenadiel observes distressed, failing to fool his brother into Hell return and seeing Lucifer’s devotion to earthly life.
While Lucifer enacts this final break from his past, Chloe and Dan find a hopeful new Palmetto case lead. Freed by his wing-burning rite, Lucifer joyously marks his “re-birthday” at Lux. Concurrently, Malcolm Graham wakes from coma, but via Amenadiel retrieving his soul from Hell. Malcolm also hails his surprise life return, albeit with much darker aims than known. These concurrent “resurrections” prepare for impending colliding conflicts.
Chloe and Lucifer’s partnership continues as they investigate the murder of a controversial couples therapist, whose unconventional methods encouraged infidelity as a way to repair relationships. During the investigation, Lucifer attempts to involve Dr. Linda, hoping she can help “fix” what he sees as lingering issues between Chloe and Dan. This case allows Lucifer to further investigate his newfound vulnerability. He confirms his earlier realization—that he only seems susceptible to physical harm, such as bleeding when injured, when Chloe Decker is nearby. This confirmation deepens the mystery surrounding their connection.
The Palmetto case becomes more dangerous when Malcolm breaks into Chloe’s home and delivers a stark warning, telling her to stop investigating his shooting because the shooter won’t hesitate to kill police officers. Undeterred, Chloe and Lucifer persist seeking Malcolm’s partner but discover him dead beside an apparent suicide note. Meanwhile, Dan secretly confers with Malcolm, implying a complex corruption web extending beyond Chloe’s suspicions.
Unexpectedly, Father Frank Lawrence (Colman Domingo), a priest, asks Lucifer for a favor. The irony isn’t lost on the fallen angel, who initially refuses. They meet again when Chloe involves Lucifer in the investigation of Arietta’s murder. Frank claims the youth counselor tried to involve his foster son Connor in drug trafficking. After someone tries to kill Frank, Lucifer offers him sanctuary at Lux. The two begin to bond over their shared talent for playing the piano. This connection begins to challenge Lucifer’s views on faith and those who serve it.
The fragile peace shatters when Frank receives a call and goes to meet Connor at the church. There, a dealer named Spider tries to force Connor to shoot Frank. When Connor hesitates, Spider shoots him instead. Frank steps in and takes the bullet to protect him. As he dies in Lucifer’s arms, Frank shares a final message that deeply unsettles Lucifer, hinting that he may have seen Lucifer’s true nature. Furious over Frank’s sacrifice, Lucifer nearly kills Spider but stops when Chloe reminds him that Frank stood against vengeance. This moment reveals Lucifer’s growing compassion and self-control.
While Lucifer grapples with the loss, Amenadiel grows increasingly frustrated with Malcolm. He believes Malcolm’s resurrection from Hell had a single purpose, to kill Lucifer and force him back into his role as Hell’s ruler. This celestial scheme unfolds alongside Chloe and Lucifer’s investigation into the murder of Javier Aries. Lucifer admires the poisoned chef-owner of the upscale Mexican restaurant for his culinary talent. Their investigation focuses on Javier’s son, Junior (Manny Montana), a recovering addict, and sous-chef Anne, who stands to inherit the restaurant if Junior is out of the picture.
The professional case mixes with personal dynamics upon Chloe’s mother Penelope’s (Rebecca De Mornay) surprise arrival, delighting Lucifer, who respects her work. Friction sparks between Chloe and Penelope concerning seven-year-old daughter Trixie’s (Scarlett Estevez) upbringing. Hearing their fight, Trixie flees to Lux for Lucifer but instead surprisingly befriends Mazikeen, showing the fierce demon’s softer aspect. This Trixie bond signals Maze’s turning point, she soon starts therapy with Linda, hinting at self-discovery beyond guarding Lucifer.
These interwoven threads peak when Malcolm discloses his Lucifer kill plan to Dan. Although Dan is frustrated by Lucifer’s closeness to Chloe, he refuses to let Malcolm go through with it, especially as he’s considering a possible reconciliation with her. The disagreement turns physical, ending with Malcolm knocking Dan unconscious. He then steals Dan’s phone and, pretending to be him, sends Chloe a breakup message. The deception leads to a vulnerable moment as a heartbroken, drunk Chloe shows up at Lux, seeking comfort through intimacy with Lucifer. In a moment that surprises them both, Lucifer refuses to take advantage of her emotional state. His decision reveals significant character growth and a deep respect for Chloe that goes beyond mere attraction.
Exploring Human Relationships
After choosing respect over exploitation regarding Chloe’s vulnerability, Lucifer feels unusual satisfaction, an emotional high akin to narcotic euphoria. This novel pleasure in right action invigorates him, eagerly tackling their newest case: probing Tim Dunlear’s (Michasha Armstrong) death, a loved athlete gaining more post-retirement fame via humanitarianism. Probing the case, Lucifer finds Tim’s wife methodically stole charity funds intended for a school abroad and killed Tim upon his discovery. In typical theatrical justice, Lucifer holds Tim’s charity event at Lux, publicly unmasking Tim’s wife mid-hypocritical speech, fulfilling his truth/punishment needs.
This case instructs Lucifer’s emotions, he learns satisfaction arises not from abstract good deeds or appearances, but genuine desire to help, a truth further humanizing him. While Lucifer undergoes this personal growth, Maze and Amenadiel form surprising ties, complicating active celestial dynamics. Meanwhile, Dan stays precarious as Malcolm’s hostage, desperately trying escape to alert Lucifer of looming danger.
The situation heightens dramatically when Malcolm Graham kills a street preacher—one Lucifer publicly debated—then frames Lucifer. Incensed by this act, Lucifer faces Malcolm intending severe torture, but Amenadiel’s interference permits Malcolm’s temporary flight. Maze arrives critically, stopping the celestial brothers’ certain destructive clash, her loyalties tangling as bonds with both strengthen.
Chloe reaches Lux for Lucifer only finding murder evidence involving the preacher whose televised argument featured Lucifer. Despite early doubts and professional instinct, she resolves to prove Lucifer’s framing. Surprisingly, Amenadiel rescues Lucifer from Chloe’s arrest, they gather at Amenadiel’s office planning strategy. Dr. Linda appears with sharp direction: brothers pursue Malcolm, Maze aids Chloe finding Lucifer, showing this odd group formed a dysfunctional family united by common danger.
Amenadiel and Malcolm’s clash grows violent, peaking as Malcolm stabs Amenadiel’s stomach using Maze’s Lux-stolen dagger, chosen deliberately for its angel-harming rarity. Maze finds the badly hurt Amenadiel, takes him to Lux, and miraculously heals him using an angelic feather she secretly saved after Lucifer had severed his own wings years prior. This exposure of Maze’s sentiment and foresight deepens her character past demonic roots.
In a matching redemptive act, Dan yields to authorities aiding Lucifer’s exoneration, prioritizing integrity over safety. Stakes peak as Chloe confiscates Malcolm’s escape funds, inciting Trixie’s kidnapping as leverage compelling its return. At the exchange, despite Chloe demanding distance, Lucifer intervenes protecting Chloe and Trixie, getting fatally shot by Malcolm, showing his readiness to sacrifice for loved ones.
Mortally wounded, Lucifer prays to God in desperation, offering to return to rule Hell in exchange for Chloe’s safety. This promise marks a significant transformation, revealing his shift from a selfish devil to someone capable of deep, selfless love. God accepts the offer and brings Lucifer back to life, just in time for him to face Malcolm. Ultimately, Chloe shoots and kills Malcolm. As he dies, Malcolm remains unafraid, believing he still holds the Pentecostal Coin, which he assumes will grant him another escape from death.
Lucifer crushes Malcolm’s hope, revealing prior coin retrieval; he swiftly obliterates it, guaranteeing Malcolm’s permanent Hell confinement. This final justice act closes the immediate threat while preparing for fresh divine issues. When Amenadiel later wakes at Lux, Lucifer reports Father accepted his sacrifice with a twist: Lucifer must find an escaped Hell soul per the deal.
The season ends on a chilling reveal shifting the brothers’ hostility toward hesitant alliance. Seeing Lucifer’s unusual fear, Amenadiel queries the escaped soul’s identity. Lucifer, clearly rattled—a rare sight for the confident devil—confesses it is their mother, presenting a new danger surpassing prior disputes and poised to challenge their strained brotherhood and the divine/infernal/human world barriers Lucifer now values.
