This episode quickly escalates with the appearance of Uriel. Mythologically, Uriel has many titles and is attributed with many different roles, including being the angel that guarded against Adam and Eve’s entrance back into the Garden of Eden and the angel who checked the doorways for the Passover sacrifice. None of these have any basis in the Bible, however. All of the attributions come from books from the Apocrypha, which are largely excluded from the canon.
In fact, angels are rarely named in the Bible—Michael and Gabriel being the most prominent examples. Raphael fills out the number three spot, and because there are four cardinal directions, Uriel takes the fourth.
As with most angels, there’s not much information about their individual abilities. In the show, “Uriel has the ability to play with patterns,” which allows him to manipulate events and causality to achieve his desired outcomes. The connection to this ability is most likely derived from John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost.” Uriel features prominently in the poem, and he’s identified as having “The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n” (line 691). The power to see and manipulate patterns is an extrapolation of this sharp sight.
This discernment of patterns, however, is not flawless—as Lucifer proves at the end with a nice sucker punch. But before that, we even have Uriel buying into Amenadiel’s bluff. It is not his sharp sight that allows him to figure it out, but Amenadiel’s pattern of behavior, since the “Fury of God doesn’t talk so much.” So while his eyes don’t see everything, Uriel does have a sharp mind as well to piece information together.
What’s more interesting, however, is the relationship between the angels. Amenadiel gets in Uriel’s face, acting, well, like a bully of an older brother. Uriel’s retaliation is one borne from centuries (millennia?) of having to put up with such bullies. The dysfunctional relationships of the celestial family are the most interesting theme of this episode. Uriel clearly has a grudge against Amenadiel and Lucifer because they “excluded him” from their activities—anyone who has had older brothers has experienced this kind of anger. Curiously, though, the most dysfunctional relationship is that between Uriel and Mum, despite them never having the chance to interact.
Uriel is convinced that Mum will “find her way back into heaven, and then [God]’ll forgive her.” Afterwards, Uriel fervently believes that “Dad will let his guard down, and then she’ll destroy him.” It’s unclear at this point if this is part of some pattern he is seeing with his eyes, but it’s more likely a result of the broken relationship between Uriel and Mum. Uriel has become so twisted that he needs to ensure Mum will not destroy Dad by destroying her himself, using Azrael’s sword, which he “borrowed from the angel of death when she wasn’t looking.” (Hopefully she’ll make an appearance in an episode, soon.)
However, we don’t know what the exact relationship between Uriel and Mum was like. She reveals the insight regarding Uriel’s character, but she does not talk about her part. Did she offer the small angel comfort? Did she react in any way? From previous episodes, it’s hard to get a clear read on her. She states that she wants to be close to her family, but is this a ruse? It’s hard to know, but the omission regarding her actions with Uriel cannot be coincidence given his anger towards her. He wants her gone more than he wants to attack his own brothers. He doesn’t trust her at all, which demonstrates an ever-growing dysfunctional celestial family.
Other interesting notes in the episode include Amenadiel’s Fall. Since he cannot stand up to Uriel, he knows all of his strengths and powers are gone from his multitude of sins. It’s a hard moment for the angel, and it’s clear he doesn’t know what will happen next. Will he attempt to gain forgiveness, or will he take up Lucifer’s side? Perhaps, more disturbingly, will he join Mum’s cause?
Maze is clearly reaching a breaking point. She’s angry at having to constantly “clean up [Lucifer’s] mess,” instead of having her own life. However, that doesn’t stop her from coming to Lucifer’s defense when needed, even suffering broken bones for her loyalty.
Chloe is dealing with the trauma of the car accident. Interestingly, she uses this trauma to talk down Kimo from killing her, Jamie, and Ryan, which Uriel also orchestrated. It’s been a while since we’ve seen anything supernatural surrounding Chloe. Could this be another instance? Uriel is nowhere nearby so we can’t get his input on her disrupting his patterns, so we don’t know, but it’s worth considering.
Dad’s presence is felt throughout the episode by his absence, especially since he won’t speak directly to make his will known. Uriel doesn’t know, nor does Amenadiel, and even Lucifer, who struck a deal, can’t fully interpret what’s going on. Lucifer’s convinced that he’s found a legitimate loophole to make Mum serve out her sentence on Earth, but is this part of some grand design by Dad? Chloe cannot be some random happenstance, and the vision regarding Mum’s prison break likewise is not chance. The show is slowly teasing out something big, but we’ll have to stay tuned.
The episode ends with Lucifer dealing with the trauma of destroying Uriel, turning to the one parent available for comfort. However, it’s clear that this is only the beginning. More angels will come. Someone will come searching for Uriel, and Azrael will need to reclaim her sword. Could Lucifer’s defense of both Chloe and Mum be the start of a civil war, literally pitting brother against brother?
See also: Maze Gets Hammered: Exploring the Mythology Behind Lucifer, Episode 2.04: “Lady Parts”
Andy Adams is an adjunct professor of English at various colleges in the Phoenix area. He has an affectation for fedoras as they complement his villainous goatee. He’s been known to poke his head onto Twitter @A3Writer, but he’s never been big into birds. He blogs at A3writer.comabout writing, teaching, and the conquest of fictional worlds—they’re more fun than the real world.
Read all posts by Andy Adams for Criminal Element.
The ILO said the fact things were getting worse was “shocking”.