Lucifer Season 3 Episode 9 Review: The Sinnerman

This Lucifer review contains spoilers.

Lucifer Season 3 Episode 9

After a long and somewhat disjointed wait, Lucifer’s mysterious arch nemesis finally reveals himself in the much anticipated episode “The Sinnerman,” and the consequences of their confrontation will have far reaching effects. Though it’s still early in this captivating chapter of Lucifer, the evening’s end brings more questions than answers.

The crime-of-the-week functions as an introduction to The Sinnerman (Kevin Carroll) whose capture seems to occur just a bit too easily. Because of Lucifer’s obsession and the otherworldly powers he’s ascribed to him, we’ve bought into Lucifer’s perception of this man who appears to be just that, a man. Nonetheless, this story is just beginning, and the fact that Sinnerman acknowledges that Lucifer is the Devil and possesses an awareness of his power leads to the conclusion that he may be much more than a man. Regardless, Sinnerman has been keeping tabs on Lucifer for years and has a direct connection to people to whom the Devil has granted favors. There’s enough subtext here to lay the groundwork for a myriad of plotlines involving virtually all of the characters.

We don’t often see Lucifer exhibit jealousy, so the escalating rivalry that’s taking place as he competes with this shadowy figure puts Lucifer in a vulnerable position. And like Sinnerman’s capture by Decker and Pierce at the end, Lucifer’s decision to meet his counterpart leads to a rather easy confinement in a facility from which even the Devil can’t free himself. But that’s just it, maybe these things are meant to be easy, and this all part of Sinnerman’s grand plan.

To be sure, Lucifer’s dealings with Sinnerman are only just beginning, but the incident in the interrogation room also highlights the feeling that pervades the rest of Lucifer’s world. We’re provided a nice misdirection with the metal object we see Sinnerman hide in his sleeve at the time of his arrest, so when he goes full on Oedipus with it, well, we didn’t see that coming. “Now you’ll never know what I wanted,” he tells Lucifer, who is now unable to employ his Devil mind trick. This mystery is only just getting started.

The impact of Lt. Marcus Pierce’s return cannot be overstated, and while his interactions with Decker may only be a tease, it’s difficult not to believe he knows more than he’s saying about both the detective and Sinnerman. His refusal to immediately approve Decker’s personal day request sets up their later conversation in which they reveal personal secrets. However, even before we get to that point, the camera makes certain that we, like Chloe, notice his well developed biceps. I love this guy. The typically demure detective simply can’t help herself, which endears her even further, and when she turns down his offer of help and takes Charlotte instead, it neatly sets up their meeting on the stakeout. Both are dealing with the pain of a loved one, but in the end, it all boils down to a question normally asked by Lucifer. “Think about what you really want.” And therein lies the heart of the episode.

Charlotte Richards wants to be good and avoid going to Hell, but that significant change does not occur overnight. Dan’s been struggling emotionally with Charlotte’s inability to remember their relationship, and their sweet scene tonight lays out hope that this good guy might someday end up with the woman for whom he still has feelings. “It’s hard being one of the good guys,” he tells her. It’s difficult to imagine that Charlotte has had many true friends during her tenure as a defense attorney, so to see Dan treat her this way holds out hope that these two might have a future of some sort.

Like Lt. Pierce, Mazikeen has been in and out of the picture this season, but her return tonight sets into motion a glimpse of a side of her we seldom see. First and foremost though is her fear that she’s losing her best friend to a man. Maze’s vulnerability rarely shows itself, but when she sees Linda and Amenadiel together, her mind races to the logical conclusion that there’s something sexual going on between these two. And even though that connection may not have occurred yet, she’s not wrong about the attraction. However, what really comes out of their meeting is seeing Maze’s humanity, and while she may go a bit overboard describing sex with her ex Amenadiel, her heart’s in the right place. Maze simply desires to be loved and appreciated.

Nevertheless, Dr. Linda’s desires constitute the most complex of all the players. As a celestial insider, she’s attempting to gain her bearings in this new world, and her curiosity about the brothers leads to some fascinating questions. When she asks Lucifer how he came to acquire the power to know what people truly desire, he tells her he learned it at Angel School. Is there anything better than the Devil making a Harry Potter reference?

Linda wants to know whether his personality was shaped by his powers or whether his powers were shaped by his personality. When she later asks Lucifer’s brother similar questions, it’s clear her desire to understand the world in which she now finds herself runs deep. Does this sudden interest coincide with a romantic interest in Amenadiel or is it purely scientific? When we first meet Linda, she’s sleeping with Lucifer and their relationship extends far beyond the boundaries of acceptable doctor/patient behavior. They both are in the relationship only for the amazing sex, so now, when we see the burgeoning romance between two truly nice people, it’s difficult to not root for them. What is it these two truly desire?

Although these desires are all rather straightforward, the one person who confounds explanation is the Sinnerman. What does he really want? Though that remains unclear, whether intentional or not, his entrance into this world, is causing a changing dynamic which leaves Lucifer on the outside looking in. Everybody has somebody, or at least desires somebody, but who does the Devil have? Chloe’s attention has turned elsewhere, and while the two continue to work together, they are being pulled apart. Is this Sinnerman’s end game? Does he want to isolate Lucifer and increase the Devil’s vulnerability, or are these personal connections he’s formed the Devil’s bane to begin with?

We’ve waited patiently for The Sinnerman to show his face, and though he no longer seems the sinister individual of myth, appearances can be deceiving. In the end, “The Sinnerman” provides a solid core of compelling plotlines whose range should be enough to keep any Lucifer fan happy as we approach the mid-season finale.