Lucifer Season 4 Episode 4
“Maybe you read about it in a little book called The Bible.” No matter how much any of us want Chloe and Lucifer to end up together, it’s virtually impossible to dislike the childlike exuberance of the Bible’s first woman as she re-enters Lucifer’s life after a few thousand year absence. And while Chloe struggles to rebuild her personal and professional lives after the falling out with her partner, “All About Eve” provides a delightfully introspective glimpse into the circumstances behind Eve’s departure from Heaven and her desire to party on Earth with her ex. Inbar Lavi (Imposters) takes on the iconic biblical temptress and plays Eve with a lovely sense of naivete completely out of place in contemporary Los Angeles. It seemed a foregone conclusion that Lucifer would not handle the breakup with the detective well, but when he walks into a packed Lux wearing only a bathrobe and a particularly unkempt appearance, the stage is set for a classic reunion. Music blaring, lights flashing, customers dancing, Lucifer visually locks onto one of the female partiers on the far end of the room. Wearing a heavenly white mini-dress Eve immediately recognizes the fallen angel whose actions led to her banishment from the Garden of Eden. “Hey, Luce. Long time no see.” And off we go. The murder investigation drives home the point that Chloe and Lucifer no longer work together, and pairing her with her ex-husband fits nicely with Lucifer’s partnership with Eve. Nevertheless, once the details of luxury jewelry designer Pablo Silva’s death begin to emerge, and we realize that Eve finds herself in the middle, coincidence seems unlikely. It’s not clear why Lucifer avoids Chloe whenever their paths cross during the investigation, but when she and Dan question Bashir, the suspect’s observation does more than lead to a debt payoff. “Are you that partner he’s always gushing about?” You’d think Lucifer might want the detective to see him working with a beautiful young woman, but perhaps Lucifer has changed after all. There still seems to be more to Eve than simply a reconnection with an old lover, and she bristles each time she hears the word partner used to describe Lucifer’s relationship with Chloe. Her jealousy evokes an honest charm that’s impossible to ignore, and when she and Lucifer end up in a bar fight together, the adrenaline filled experience draws the two closer together. Ordinarily, predictability in scripted drama implies weakness, but as soon as he’s impaled with a pool stick, Chloe appears right on cue to explain why Lucifer suffers from this incident. Despite her spirited personality that at times borders on silly, Eve later notices he survives unharmed a gunshot to the face when in her presence and becomes almost human when in the company of the detective. It’s a lot of fun watching Chloe and Eve together, and even though she doesn’t really provide Chloe with much to help the case, it gives the two of them a chance to size up the competition. Of course, we keep waiting for Chloe to realize with whom she’s actually talking, but it’s Eve’s observation that the detective seems a bit sad that adds to the complicated developing triangle. Not knowing what each truly thinks about the other provides a narrative mystery that only adds to the fun. However, it’s the auction at which the Desert Mirage necklace appears that sets the stage for Eve to claim a more permanent place in Lucifer’s life. Now it’s not clear how, given her lack of experience on Earth, she deduces that one of the models backstage would be wearing the necklace, but the words Lucifer utters upon successfully acquiring the necklace could not be more pleasing. “Well done, partner.” Though we’ve heard Lucifer speak the same phrase to Chloe on a number of occasions, here, it just doesn’t seem right. Despite losing the necklace and apparently the $10 million he bid on it, Lucifer and Eve plan to celebrate their rapidly developing alliance, but the evening doesn’t go as planned when he learns that she still possesses the Desert Mirage. Coming on the heels of Chloe’s betrayal, this lie puts Eve on dangerous footing, and we’re now left to consider whether or not her explanation rings true. Describing her earlier union with Lucifer as “the best time of my life,” it does makes sense for her to think that as long as they’re working together to recover the necklace, they’ll be in each other’s life. She understands the rejection he feels and implies she experienced the same in her life, but it’s her request to see his true face that cements the relationship. The humor continues after they arrive home and all Amenadiel can think about is his “baby warrior angel” while Linda sees a home full of baby hazards. Is there a funnier scene than the entire room encased in bubble wrap? And while the season has focused primarily on Lucifer’s sense of betrayal, Maze’s struggle to find meaning and purpose within the family leave her confused and often angry. Like Lucifer, she feels Chloe has pushed her away and tells the expectant parents she plans to move in here. “Auntie Maze is here to help with the baby whether you like it or not.” It may not be an ideal situation, but Linda understands her best friend has reached an emotional crossroads and needs to be part of something meaningful. And while Lucifer and Eve renew their relationship and Amenadiel, Linda, and Auntie Maze prepare for the birth of an angel baby, Chloe now must either tell Lucifer how she really feels about him or get on with her life and career. Maze’s sense of betrayal by Chloe stems from her inability to understand Chloe’s desire and motherly obligation to protect her daughter from what she perceives as danger. And though it can be perceived as a cruel parting shot, Maze is not wrong when she tells Chloe that Linda also knows the truth and “handled it much better than you.” Asking Linda for advice may be the single wisest thing Chloe does, and it’s not a surprise that the doctor is totally frank with her. “Truth be told, I’m freaking out, Chloe,” and though she’s mostly referring to the child she has on the way, it’s really much more than that. Linda has clearly put more thought into how the celestial family of which they are both members has changed her life for the better. It’s very simple. “Do you want him in your life or not?” With the Father Kinley storyline seemingly behind us, “All About Eve” sends Lucifer in a direction we’ve yet to really explore, and while Eve’s true purpose still looms in the shadows, Chloe has a decision to make. I really like where we seem to be headed.
