Zipper

I am exhausted with April and Jackson. I tuned out during their dying baby storyline, so I don't have great recall on that arc, but here's my issue: they are horrible to each other and have been for what feels like years. They cannot manage to resolve conflict, they cannot relate emotionally, they are unkind to each other, and on and on. And sure, it's a drama, but some kinds of drama are just just anxiety producing friction, which is what this is for me. I don't have kids, so I can't imagine the loss and consequences of that, but the element that has rung true since they found out the baby was not going to survive it that they are a mess together with no light at the end of that tunnel. Overlay onto that her religious beliefs, which Jackson always treats like an "issue"-- Dude, you married this. Same for her-- he isn't THAT, so work it into your communication process. I hate them both at this point. The last line between them, when April claimed it's none of his business: good, fine, now go do the damned work it takes to support your assertion of autonomy and your child. 100% with those who are glad Arizona didn't get a pass on her horrible decision. That was so dumb. Also surprisingly happy with Amelia tonight-- her interaction with Mer was so soft, such a tentative step to being involved. Well done to the actress. And great work with Arizona, explaining that April doesn't have to forgive her-- it's April's call, but being so gentle about that. And the collapse of her face as she got herself out of the trailer-- so vulnerable. Mer and Thorpe flirt cute. Don't care if it goes anywhere, like Alex said, it's just nice to see her flirty again. Makes me think about the early, early days.

I liked this episode, particularly the reveal that Amenadiel (kudos to the inventor of Amenadude) has a crooked, ill-advised plan for Lucifer. I think we're not supposed to know if any bullet would harm Luci, or just Chloe bullets. And I appreciate the potential risk for Luci in the unknowing. Whether the writers are following a theme that predestination is ruthlessly unfair for an angel (or anyone) or more the free-will/desire/resulting unforeseen consequence with a side of redemption-in-some-form theme, either works for me thus far. But I truly hope they figure out which is which if they get another season, because those are two very different narratives the latter of which doesn't require much heavenly involvement. Like others, I didn't initially buy the idea that this Particular Priest would be able to shake a little faith into Luci, but Luci's certainty about the unfairness of being cast out and the implications of that judgment may be loosening as he gains other mortal characteristics (even temporarily or situationally). The doubt about the existence of God doesn't factor in, but other kinds of doubt may creep in-- whether, for example, he could be a prodigal son instead of doomed to rule Hell (even if he considers Heaven so very boring). And Ellis played that moment, whether hope or doubt or less certainty, really well. The actress who plays Chloe does such a good job with empathy and compassion-- her reactions when Father Frank told the story of Connor's loss and his own were perfect. And I completely buy the idea that she couldn't do any more than yell at Lucifer while he was getting ready to rip off Spider's legs-- she doesn't want to shoot him (again), he just lifted a huge dude five feet off the ground with no visible effort, and he seems like he is terrible emotional pain and seriously pissed. She's torn in the moment, waiting to see if her appeal to his better nature will work before she has to take more drastic steps. I thought it was well-played, a little fear about his capabilities and a lot of uncertainty about what comes next if he doesn't relent. I sure hope this gets picked up for another season, where the fallout of Amenadiel's plan could open the window for more angel politics. If this season is about setting up the possible transformation of Devil to something else and drawing lines for the inevitable challenge to his heretofore believed permanent destiny, I sure would like to see how Luci plans to address an attempt on his life.

So happy Dr. Linda got a chance to work within the investigation, instead of being a sounding board for Luci or a pawn for Amenadiel. Also enjoyed her vibe with Chloe-- thank you writers for not setting up any BS between these two women, both of whom seem like fundamentally decent adults (varying degrees for Chloe-- the one thing that still bugs me is the note she strikes regarding the "I'm the Devil" and related matter, it's a little too much patronizing teenager for me). Little sad for Dr. Linda that Lucibod is off the menu for now, but good for her on the personal growth plane. Ellis was delightful in this episode-- the charm, the humor, the layers of working out jealousy as a concept. Really liked his performance. I love Kevin Alejandro, and I'm happy he gets a chance as an actor to play a muddy part. But I sure would like him around for a while, and not just as a turd ex who can't get it together. Maybe this will make Dan a little more interesting. When I realized coma-guy was Devil? I knew he wasn't going to die any time soon. Will be interesting to see if Amenadiel saved him for a particular purpose or just to shake off some of the frustration from last episode.

I hope they give Chloe, and the actress, time to improve. They're trying to construct a character that is immune from the charm of this clever, handsome Devil, without making her such a special snowflake that she's foreign. They stuck her with a shit backstory (Hot Tub High, undefined separation, famous-ish absent mom, the Palmetto thing), and started her off with weak cop skills (or in episodes that did a poor job showing her skills). Other than the backstory, it's understandable, because they have to establish the Devil took up residence in LA and is morphing or having a mid-millenial crisis or whatever. Add in the angel politics, Maze, and Linda-- that's a lot. The last two episodes improved for Chloe, and I hope they continue in that direction. The actress makes some odd choices, but she's seemed to pick up her game recently, too. She needed to choose a better way to play off Lucifer, and that slightly goofy thing works outside of serious cop moments. It's as endearing as her good mom moments with Trixie.

And Good points. I understand what you're both saying, and to a degree, I concur. I would imagine the dynamics in Hell are not as unpredictable as here. If Lucifer is the all-powerful ruler of Hell, he would know the outcomes, both intentional and otherwise, of his punishment. Or, he wouldn't care, because the guilty are the only ones in Hell. But he's a stickler for degree of punishment, so I would imagine that in forming plans for Damned Person A, he would consider effects in order to make them commensurate with the sin/crime. I think the idea of unintended consequences is interesting, where the blend of innocent/miscreant/sinner in all of us means that any person could go in any direction thus causing effects Lucifer did not anticipate because he is not all powerful. My disconnect comes from either the inconsistency of this particular cause and effect or the simplicity of it. I don't pay really close attention to the COW, so I may have missed something, it's either that YV was innocent or he was a participant in the old crime. If YV was innocent, then that should have sent Lucifer into a greater rage-- he threw the last dude who tried to pawn guilt off on an innocent through a glass wall (not a flimsy canvas). Inconsistent. If, on the other hand, YV participated in the crime, but was the only one who served, that's not really harming him beyond what society would already expect of a felon (5 years sounds like felony). So it becomes really simplistic-- the guy Luci did a favor for gets rich, which is unfair given his equal guilt, but the effect on YV isn't actually worse because of that.

I did not know that Maze existed to protect Lucifer. Based on his comment over the bar, it seems as if she lacks the ability to decide otherwise. I wonder if, within her responsibility, she is allowed to independently assess risk and act accordingly? If so, that bodes interestingly for Chloe. I am not wild about the fact that the woman of color seems bound to a dude (albeit Lucifer)-- but I am wild about her ninja skills. That was cool. Her reflection in the last scene looked like she only had one eye, cyclops style. And that was some creeeepy business there. I hate that feeling, and the setting/acting sold it. I don't really buy the idea that "consequences' are new to Lucifer. That would be ridiculous. All of the people he is punishing in Hell are there for Consequences. What I am willing to entertain is that in the shifting form of this Lucifer, the reality of the consequences feels different. Now that he knows what this life feels like, perhaps an unjust deprivation of freedom strikes him as even greater disparity in punishment. Show, don't make me worried for Dr. Linda's safety. She's such a delight, and I am not excited for Amenadiel to get her in a pickle with the Devil.

Totally agree. She caught something in that reflection that scared the crap out of her. He pressed that fear, and then demanded she test his repeated claims of immortality. I don't think she pulls the trigger without soul-shaking fear. I've been thinking about Chloe and what happens when she ultimately realizes he is who he says he is. Believer or not, when confronted with Satan, banished son of God as a reality, I think it's enough to drive someone completely insane. All of a sudden, it's not a Judeo-Christian archetype, it's real (and that comes with damnation, eternal pain, hellfire, and the reality of God in some fashion; its A LOT). I'm not much of a believer, but I would have shot for center mass on the terror alone. So I think a lot of care has to be taken in Chloe's realization, because if too easily taken, it's cheap and deprives the viewer of that whole conflict dynamic. If too realistic, she's batsh*t crazy in one moment, unless there is something about her that allows her to hold this truth in a way different from mere mortals. I sure hope the writers are up to this, because it could be really cool.

I'm almost as interested in how they managed to humanize Chloe this episode as I am about the Lucifer bleed. Her embarrassment with Dan in the opening scene came off credibly, including the unnecessary apology; her dorking out to the music (either ironically or not); her clear appreciation for the Lucibod; her empathy for his scars (great moment); and her ongoing struggle with his proclaimed identity. I enjoyed her much more this week. Tom Ellis is doing so well with his role, they needed an episode that elevated Chloe-- both in writing and in acting, and I think this was a good step in that direction. It's a hard balance-- on one hand, we know he's capital "D" the Devil. But if I had a super good looking, rich, quippy British dude show up at my job once a week (or for a week, the show's timeline isn't very important to me, so I don't know or care how much time has passed) and tell me he was Satan a few times, I would have to see some pretty amazing stuff-- on repeat-- before I even thought about believing him. Because that is CRAZY. The actual Devil in our space and time. She doesn't even believe in this "stuff" so it's doubly challenging. I think episode 4 is a good time for her to start acknowledging that something is up, and I'm okay with her not "believing" fully for a while. Once she acknowledges his identity, this show changes into something else, or it becomes the Devil solving crimes with his cute gal pal, and I'm not sure that has any legs. And many thanks for the restraint in make-up this week.

Wow. I drifted away from this show last year a bit when the Papa Pope intrigue got to be so significant, and I picked it up at the winter finale. So I was a bit excited for this episode to see how much ass Liv was going to kick now that she broke free of the Oval Jail. Not at all what I got. For all of the reasons mentioned above, I was so puzzled. Hate sex with Jake? Ever speaking to her murderous, manipulative father again? Being surprised that said former-lover and awful dad schemed to kill and/or demonize a few innocent, capable people... that was the real kicker. The show sold me on a smart, beautiful, accomplished fixer. She is no where in sight. Now, Liv and Mellie is something I would watch the hell out of... so work on that please, show.

I like Meredith, for the most part. Or, rather, I thought I liked her mostly. This episode left me thinking that I still love her. I didn't see much in terms of spoilers, but I knew she was attacked. So that first scene with Lou was an exercise in anxiety management for me-- kudos to Mr. Washington for the build up. Watching the other docs treat her made me wince in sympathetic pain. I ran out of the room for the jaw thing. Could not watch it. Tears of frustration for her during recovery. Tears of sadness because Richard Weber is the best. It didn't feel like manipulation because I forgot how much I cared about her. Sure, she's the center of so many tragedies its nearly laughable, but it's a television drama in its 12th season, and she's the title character. With one episode, I am reminded that I've had a 12 year relationship with this woman, and it was a pleasure to have that reconnect. My hope is that this will be the point from which she moves on, either through forgiveness or whatever works for her. As I said after Things We Lost in the Fire, Amelia can STFU. The writers must hate her, because there are 100 ways for her to walk that smoothie back into the room and say her piece without a single statement in which she puts herself as the center of the dynamic. But they chose the 'my pain, my fear, my yadda' and it was horrible.

I think the make-up department had an off week. Too heavy on the eye liner for Lucy. Too much brow definition for Chloe. Neither of those admittedly superficial points struck me before last night, but that first scene with Lucy in the heavy kohl was a little weird. Not quite as interesting on the grand arc of the Devil's vacation, but the exchange for me was the individual introspection and Ellis's selling of his realization. I'm in the camp where I would love to see more of the history/consequences of his decision to leave Hell, but I'll be patient because I find Ellis so watchable. On the 5 years in LA point, I would hope to see an episode this season that harkens back to his first days; perhaps someone punished returns so we can see the difference between then and now... this recent change we are told of but not shown because we met this Old Scratch when he met Chloe. After pausing the TV to see what Chloe was reacting to in the last scene, I noted the camera angle would not permit her to see how force was exerted (from behind the agent). What struck me is something that looks like black smoke around her head-- if I'm right that she was in frame to the left and in the knee-length camel coat. Maybe that's me hoping for a bit more intrigue for her character, or more of the supernatural. But something about that person in frame looks weird. Anyone else see that, or is it my bad eyesight and worse TV?

I like Meredith (without forgiving some of her more awful behavior). I like Owen (when he isn't indulging his rage/frustration/loneliness to the disservice of the show). I like Amelia (in small competent doctor doses). The story arc of Derek's death has made Amelia nearly intolerable-- yes, she lost a brother; yes, Meredith deprived her of a goodbye; yes, she carries demons. All of that is understandble motivation for some serious emotional responses to Penny as well as Mer's processing of the Penny hire-- but I cannot endure this shreiking harpy they have mader her. The show has never revealed a sibling bond between Amelia and Mer, so her constant spewing of bile and fury in Mer's direction renders her unwatchable. I'm not giving Mer a pass on her contributions to this dynamic, but I've been watching her for 12 years, I didn't watch PP very long, and Amelia is (to me) a secondary cast member. So, Shut UP Amelia. The same might go for Owen. He is my least favorite when he's repressing and acting out simultaneously (with a pass for the PTSD component). Tonight we learned that whatever horror Riggs committed, it was not sufficient to deprive the affection of Owen's mother. So, that means Owen is grinding his own axe, and I don't care if Riggs got drunk, crashed his car, and killed Owen's sister and two beautiful children (total speculation, but BIL is my read). Because I never met her or them. If the putative mother/grandmother of the now likely dead people isn't enraged at the sight of him, then Owen needs to get it together. There may be facts Owen knows that MIL doesn't, but still. It feels like he has been acting like a complete tool for weeks on end. Riggs: Dude, you're new. Read the room already.