WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Lucifer's Season 5B, streaming now on Netflix.
Netflix's Lucifer contained a few twists in the second half of Season 5, and while some were small and fun, others were heartbreaking. The biggest twist of all, of course, was Dan's death in "Is This Really How It's Going To End?!" thanks to the machinations of Michael. However, while at first glance, his untimely end may appear to just be a twist to keep fans on their toes, a closer look at his character arc shows that it was an unfortunate but necessary demise.
Earlier seasons depicted Dan as being a corrupt, almost unlikeable cop, fitting nicknamed "Detective Douche" by Lucifer. But as time went on, audiences were given more from the character. He had his fair share of flaws, but he was a loving father and a dedicated detective. In fact, it was because of those qualities that he found himself at odds with Lucifer. Dan cared about Chloe and Trixie and each murder case that needed solving, far more than the Devil appeared to.
After his divorce from Chloe, Dan's story only really picked up in Season 2 with the arrival of Charlotte Richards, who, unbeknownst to him, was the host body for the Goddess. He was no longer just the annoying co-worker giving Lucifer a hard time (or vice versa), he was just a goofy guy who had become smitten with an all-powerful being. Unfortunately, that story took a more somber turn by the end of the season, when Goddess left this universe to create her own. Though Charlotte Richards remained resurrected, she retained no memories from her time as the host to the mother of all creation.
Throughout Season 3, Charlotte attempted to piece together her life after her murder and find a direction in life that would help her avoid returning to that dark realm when her time came. Dan attempted to reconnect with her, oblivious to the fact that this was someone completely different from the woman he had had an uncertain relationship with. Still, his feelings for Richards evidently never subsided.
When Charlotte was killed once again, this time in an assassination attempt intended for Amenadiel, Dan was forced to mourn her loss a second time. This pushed him over the edge in Season 4 when he went to confront Lucifer, who he blamed for everything. While that seemed to improve over time as he came to terms with the loss, it still made Dan far more willing to hate Lucifer later on in Season 5B, and that much easier for the archangel Michael to manipulate.
Dan's relationship with Lucifer, as well as his relationship with the divine, changed dramatically throughout the latest season. Thanks to Michael, he discovered what Lucifer had been trying to tell humanity: the Devil and all those Biblical figures are real. Shortly after discovering this, he visited Charlotte's grave, expressing that she had inspired him to try and become a better person, though he believed himself unable to redeem himself like she did. Michael saw that and used it to persuade Dan to shoot Lucifer, telling him that it could save the world and was a path to redemption.
A large part of Dan's story throughout Season 5 has been his grappling with his guilt and his fear of life after death. The poor soul was then put through even more trauma in Season 5B when God momentarily destroyed him for his brief relationship with Goddess, pushing him toward further change. Death has always been the focus of Dan's arc. He was dealt with the loss, he has watched others pass and even experienced his own. That final end at the hands of French mercenaries, sending his soul to Hell, was a natural progression.
Of course, Dan's death also serves as the driving force for everyone else's stories now as well. Even Lucifer himself was so moved by Dan's death that he sought to take on the role of God so good souls like Dan's wouldn't end up in Hell. Again, it was a necessary step, but that doesn't mean it's the end. Actor Kevin Alejandro will return in Season 6, meaning fans will still get a chance to see Dan come to terms with his guilt in a way that he may not have been able to without experiencing the Hell he feared.
Lucifer stars Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar, Lauren German as Det. Chloe Decker, D.B. Woodside as Amenadiel, Rachael Harris as Dr. Linda Martin, Kevin Alejandro as Det. Dan Espinoza, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Mazikeen Smith and Aimee Garcia as Ella Lopez. Season 5B is now on Netflix.
0 Comments