LUCIFER: Tricia Helfer Cr: Bettina Strauss/FOX.
This week on Lucifer (Mondays, 9/8C): After a lovely, mischievous season premiere in which we met Lucifer’s mum in the last scene, this week we get to see if she’s the celestial ball of savagery Lucifer thinks she is.
Liar, Liar, Slutty Dress On Fire shows us how Mum arrived on this mortal coil – after first showing us a few other arrivals (all looking for Lucifer). Needless to say, her arrival involves a murder that Lucifer is sure she committed.
After having Mum (Tricia Helfer) change into something a little less bloody – and a lot slinkier (after raiding Mazikeen’s closet), she and Lucifer (Tom Ellis) set out to retrace her steps so that she can prove that she didn’t do it.
Meanwhile, Trixie (Scarlett Estevez) is sitting in a police interrogation room being questioned by her mom, Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) and dad, Detective Dan Espinoza (Kevin Alejandro) about a mysteriously destroyed doll.
LUCIFER: Lauren German Cr: Bettina Strauss/FOX.
We learn Mum’s ‘meat sack’s’ name, Charlotte, and her activities lead into an FBI operation to catch a cartel kingpin (while her husband stays at home with their sick children – leading to some withering remarks by Lucifer). Another revelation involves Charlotte’s monogamous relationship…
Despite Lucifer’s efforts, it seems that Charlotte might well have been targeted by the cartel – the killer’s MO seems to fit a specific hit man – but again, things are not what they seem.
Helfer does a great job of making Mum’s/Charlotte’s confusion and concern for Lucifer believable – and when Charlotte/Mum also traumatizes him in a very specific manner that is more than a little unusual (and a tad bit uncomfortable), she really sells her innocence.
Meanwhile, Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) has to deal with a very angry Dr. Linda (Rachael Harris) and his betrayal of her trust – which leads to a HUGE revelation when he’s alone afterword.
LUCIFER: L-R: Kevin Alejandro, Tom Ellis and Lauren German Cr: Bettina Strauss/FOX.
One of the better moments of this episode comes when Chloe imparts an important lesson about parenting to Lucifer. It seems to make a difference in his treatment of Charlotte/Mum – to the point that he even surprises Maze, whom he left ‘hot-mother-in-a-slinky-dress-sitting’ Charlotte. (The Charlotte/Mazikeen bits are particularly fun.)
Liar, Liar, Slutty Dress On Fire maintains the lovely balance of tones that makes Lucifer so delightful, while introducing the important character of Mum/Charlotte – and teasing that what lies ahead will not be what anyone could possibly be expecting.
After this ep, we have to wonder if Lucifer is seriously considering reneging on the deal he made with Dad in the first season finale – which raises the anticipation levels for upcoming episodes.
Final Grade: A-