When it comes to DC characters on the small screen, The CW was the go-to channel for comic book fans. Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and the insanely underrated Superman & Lois defined the DC TV Universe. But, as entertaining as those shows are, they’re undoubtedly CW projects, in terms of their quality and their identities. But, in 2016, one of the best DC Comics shows premiered outside The CW. That series might have bounced between networks and streamers, but it remains the best DC binge-watch.
In 2016, Fox treated comic book fans to an unexpected adaptation of a Vertigo (an imprint of DC Comics) character. The show wasn’t a direct adaptation of a comic book arc. Instead, it took a popular character and placed them in an original story with an episodic format. Fox may have lost interest in the show after its third season, but fans certainly didn’t. An intense fan campaign resulted in Netflix picking up Lucifer for its final three seasons, and fans got to enjoy a lot more of DC’s most complex anti-hero.
As the name suggests, Lucifer is the devil of the DC Comics universe. Controversial author Neil Gaiman created the version of the character seen in the show, who debuted in The Sandman. The character was given a standalone series in 2000 by author Mike Carey, which ran for 75 issues until 2006. Just as Carey did, Fox’s Lucifer took Gaiman’s character and ran with him for an original story. But, instead of following the dark tone of the character in the comics, Lucifer placed the Devil himself in an episodic police procedural, and it was surprisingly amazing.
‘Lucifer’ Shouldn’t Have Worked
The Devil in an LA set police procedural sounds like the kind of terrible fantasy show you’d see in the 1980s. But Lucifer took an incredibly wacky concept and grounded it, while still maintaining that spark of fun. The key to the show’s success was the casting of Tom Ellis as Lucifer. The British comedy star brought a unique charm to the character, making even his most malicious actions and desires seem witty and charming.
His partner-in-crime-solving was Chloe Decker (Lauren German), who acted as the viewpoint character and the show’s grounding anchor to make Lucifer feel more realistic. Across its six seasons, Lucifer saw the fallen angel cure Cain’s immortality, dealing with his own father issues, and confronting his toxic relationship with Hell and his family. It’s absolutely insane, but somehow it works.
Critics Hated ‘Lucifer’s First Season… But Eventually Fell in Love
If the fan campaign to save it wasn’t a hint enough, Lucifer was a major fan favorite during its time on TV. The show holds an overall Rotten Tomatoes rating of 87%, with a user score of 73%. What’s most surprising (other than the fact that Fox canceled the show after Season 3) is that critics hated the show’s first season.
Season 1 holds a measly 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences saw the appeal early, giving the show a 77% user score. However, those critics were soon eating their words, as they gave Season 2 a flawless 100% rating. From there, every season was certified fresh, with Seasons 3 and 4 also earning flawless 100% ratings.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2021
- Network
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FOX, Netflix
- Showrunner
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Joe Henderson
- Directors
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Nathan Hope, Eagle Egilsson, Louis Shaw Milito, Sherwin Shilati, Claudia Yarmy, Greg Beeman, Tara Nicole Weyr, Lisa Demaine, Richard Speight Jr., Kevin Alejandro, Viet Nguyen, Alrick Riley, Eduardo Sánchez, Sam Hill, Mairzee Almas, Ben Hernandez Bray, Brad Tanenbaum, D.B. Woodside, David Frazee, David Paymer, Eriq La Salle, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Mark Tonderai, Matt Earl Beesley
- Writers
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Jen Graham Imada, David McMillan
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