Lucifer Season 3 Episode 15 Review: High School Poppycock
Carissa Pavlica
at
.
Who has a 16-year high school reunion?
Yes, it's the little things that bother me, and the timing of that high school reunion during Lucifer Season 3 Episode 15 was bizarre. There are five, ten, 15, 20, etc., but I've never heard of a reunion at the 16-year mark.
And while I'm picking the nit, Julie Gonzalo from the recent revival of Dallas was utterly underutilized.
What I'm really doing here is wasting time because there isn't a lot of ground to cover from "High School Poppycock."
Lucifer was still trying to determine a way to pull one over on Dad, but Devil's Block was keeping him from coming up with the perfect plan. Luckily for him, the case of the week provided him with something to keep his mind otherwise occupied and a rabbit at the end of the stick.
The case was more of a focal point for Chloe. First, Lucifer connected it to her as a one-time movie star.
Chloe: I know how fans can get obsessed with their idols.
Lucifer: Yes, and with their boobs. Like after you did Hot Tub High School, Detective.
He's such a dear, isn't he?
The more prominent connection occurred when Chloe read the author's books and fell into the rabbit hole of all things high school.
Even with the reminder from Lucifer about Hot Tub High School, I failed to consider she lost her childhood as the daughter of a sci-fi movie star. Reading the books set her off in a crazy direction, and it was with some excitement she came face-to-face with the characters who inspired the Class of 3001 novels.
The best part about that was the attention Chloe paid to her appearance for the reunion. She rarely wears makeup, but when she does it's a reminder that Lauren German is a stunning woman. She is a beautiful girl-next-door type on your average day but gussied up she's incredible.
The bottom line is someone was paying attention to the beautiful woman in the room for a change. And instead of overlooking her to focus on his latest scheme, Lucifer took a moment to make one of Chloe's dreams come true.
Whether Lucifer's prom and their dance will spark their desires once again is a mystery, but I didn't feel like Chloe was in the way. She was interesting again. If that would continue, the show would be better for it.
Amenadiel and Linda are not going to be apart long. If you watch Lucifer online you know the chemistry between D.B. Woodside and Rachael Harris is too good to deny them as a couple to the TV fandom.
Frankly, I don't think anything during this hour even suggested that would be a possibility.
Trixie: Mommy says that sometimes people are just scared to tell the truth. Maybe they need a little help.
Maze: That's not a bad idea, Trix. Helping people tell the truth is kinda my thing.
Maze was never angry at the two for finding love together, but she was angry they didn't share it with her. As many of us know, the initial sting of learning someone we once loved has fallen for a friend hurts. But losing either of those people would hurt more.
Trixie is so wise. She just knows Amenadiel is a nice person and if he did something bad, he probably wanted to make it right.
Maze's dinner was torturous and funny at the same time. Just like I don't think it's wise to keep Woodhouse and Harris apart, it wasn't wise keeping Harris and Lesley-Ann Brandt apart, either. The three actors and characters have something special. So what to do about it?
It was really painful when Linda realized what was happening, and until she laid it all out on the table, I'd never seen her place in the group of celestials quite as clearly.
Linda: Selfish? Selfish?! All I do is listen to your problems, everyone's problems, so yeah, for once I put myself first and did what makes me happy so sue me or torture me or better yet, why don't you just skewer me with one of your knives! But before you do, know that this wasn't some fling, that what Amenadiel and I found was completely unexpected but 100% real.
Maze: But you were my friend.
Television shows create some of the most dynamic and dysfunctional groups of friends, and the expanded group on Lucifer is one of the best. Everyone has a part, but with all their specialties within the group, they all hurt a bit too often.
With that hurt, they don't get enough time together to let it all hang out and enjoy each other's company. It's too easy to let the stresses build and forget they're all in it together. We need more group activities, even if it's just a night out at Lux. It's not like Lucifer considers it work!
I never imagined the two storylines would tie together so neatly, but I appreciate that they did. And I always enjoy seeing Austin Basis.
Maze: Linda. This is Todd, your date. [pushes a guy toward Linda]
Todd: This is blue lobelia. Native Americans use them to treat constipation.
Linda: Uh...thank you?
If Lucifer had known he was standing in at the prom for a guy who wets his pants and makes his own toothpaste, that would have been a hoot. And the unpopular guy was going to be the hero in the big novel series. You can't beat that, right?
That leads me to believe that the ending Amenadiel and Linda expect isn't coming, either.
Maze knows that if Amenadiel and Linda were willing to hide their feelings from her, then their feelings are real. And I don't doubt she believes what Linda said at the table either.
Linda: As much as I tried to tell myself otherwise, I knew that what we were doing was going to hurt her, and I did it anyway. That's how much I wanted to be with you Amendadiel. Look, you've made me happier than I've been in a long, long time, but I was being selfish. Maze is my friend. I can't be with you anymore, not when it does this to her.
Amenadiel: You know, it's not fair for her to take this away from us.
Amenadiel and Linda were talking about breaking it off because they couldn't be the people they had become, and "as long as it hurts Maze" they couldn't be together.
Maze, I think, will eventually agree that it was the pain of their dishonesty that got to her and not their feelings. It's not ideal, but she'll admit her thing with Amenadiel wasn't deep and that she wants her two best friends to be happy.
What do you think? Will Maze discover yet even more to this "having a soul" thing? Will she give her blessing to Amenadiel and Linda?
Did you find Chloe's story revitalizing for her partnership with Lucifer? If things continue in this vein, do you think they can get back to where they were during Lucifer Season 2?
Leave a comment below, and let's start talking!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
