HeartGuard score
How suitable a title is for Christian viewers, from 0 to 100. It weighs the content meters and the worldview.
- 80–100Recommended
- 60–79Watch with care
- 35–59Think it throughThis episode
- 15–34Strong caution
- 0–14Not recommended
HeartGuard score
How suitable a title is for Christian viewers, from 0 to 100. It weighs the content meters and the worldview.
- 80–100Recommended
- 60–79Watch with care
- 35–59Think it throughThis episode
- 15–34Strong caution
- 0–14Not recommended
Worldview score
What the story celebrates or condemns.
Why −1 for this episode
The episode takes guilt, sacrifice and family betrayal seriously, but it does so through a sympathetic devil and a Hell where punishment is self-imposed guilt, which sits far from the Bible's picture of God and judgement.
- +2Affirms faithPresents faith in God positively and as true
- +1Positive valuesHonesty, sacrifice and family win out
- 0Mixed or neutralNo clear stance
- −1AmbivalentThis episodeShows sin without judging it either way
- −2Glamorises sinMakes sin look attractive and rewarding
Age guide
How suitable this episode is for each age group.
Why 15+ for this episode
Frightening scenes of torment in Hell, repeated killing of a family member as punishment, and a deliberate stopping of the heart treated as brave make it intense, with an unbiblical view of God.
- Under 8No
- Ages 8–12No
- Ages 13–15Wait
- Ages 16–17Check first
- AdultsCheck first
A tense, grief-heavy episode in which Lucifer stops his own heart to search Hell for an antidote. Expect frightening visions of torment, repeated violence and a heavily unbiblical view of God and the afterlife.
Watch guide
What's in it?
LanguageA few mild words
Expect occasional mild swearing typical of network television; no f-words.
BlasphemyMocking talk of God
Lucifer speaks bitterly about his Father and Heaven, and God's name may be used as an exclamation a few times.
Sex and nudityLittle sexual content
This episode centres on a medical crisis and Hell; any innuendo is light.
RelationshipsPartners and family rifts
Lucifer's care for Chloe drives the story, and his broken relationship with his mother comes to a head.
ViolenceRepeated killing in Hell
In Hell, Lucifer is made to kill his brother Uriel over and over, and a fatal car crash is replayed as torment.
Frightening scenesHell as endless torment
Hell is shown as looping punishments built from guilt, with a poisoned Chloe collapsing and fighting for life.
Drugs and alcoholPoison, little drinking
The plot turns on a poison and its antidote; drink appears only incidentally.
AttitudesSelf-harm as a tool
Lucifer deliberately has his heart stopped to reach Hell, treated as a brave sacrifice. Guilt and deception within his family are central.
OccultUnbiblical Hell, the devil
The devil is the sympathetic hero, and Hell is pictured as self-made guilt loops that souls could escape. Dying on purpose to visit the afterlife is treated as workable.
- To knowContent to know about
- Skip for kidsSkip for younger viewers
- DiscussWorth discussing
- Early
Frightening scenes
Chloe collapses from the Professor's poison and is rushed to hospital while Lucifer races to find an antidote.
- Mid
Self-harm and death
Maze and Linda are asked by Lucifer to halt his heartbeat, which lets him go down into Hell, and the episode presents this as a courageous act of self-sacrifice.
- Mid
Hell and torment
In Hell, the Professor's soul relives a fatal car crash while onlookers shout accusations at him, with the Professor shown in torment.
- Late
Repeated killingSkip if under 15
A false vision of Uriel compels Lucifer to slay him over and over, playing on the remorse Lucifer carries.
- Late
Guilt and afterlife
Charlotte goes into Hell by her own choice in order to save her son, but her guilt overcomes her, and Lucifer has to pull her out by force.
- Late
Family conflict
Lucifer disowns his mother for deceiving him, and the family rift deepens.
How to play
- 1. Draw a cardOne person reads the question out loud.
- 2. Everyone answersThere are no wrong answers. Listen before you reply.
- 3. Pass it onThe next person draws, until the deck is done.
Faith & story
What does it say?
What's it about?The plot, without the ending
Chloe has been poisoned by Professor Carlisle, and only he knew the formula for the antidote. With time running out, Lucifer takes a desperate step to reach Hell and find the Professor's soul. Meanwhile Dan and Ella hunt for the ingredients, and Lucifer's family troubles come to a head.
Through a faith lensHow it connects to the Bible
This episode pictures Hell as a place where guilt becomes the punishment, and a man tries to bargain his way out of it. Scripture treats guilt more seriously and offers a way out the episode never reaches: David was crushed by hidden sin until he confessed and was forgiven. Carlisle's fear of being called a coward and a murderer shows a conscience that cannot be quietened, yet absolution here is something to be earned or performed. The Bible says forgiveness is a gift, received through Christ and not through deeds. Lucifer's willingness to die to save Chloe echoes the greater love of laying down a life for a friend, though the Bible shows that love in Christ, who died and rose for the guilty. The devil is cast as a wounded hero, whereas Scripture calls him a liar and a murderer from the beginning. The story also treats death as a door that can be opened and closed at will, but the Bible says people die once, and then face judgement. Lucifer's bitterness toward his parents is a real wound, but it is left unhealed.
Fruit of the SpiritWhich fruit does it show?
3 out of 9 fruits ripe in this episode
Ripe grapes are shown in the episode, buds are missing
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
Love is clearest in Lucifer, who risks his own life to save Chloe, and Faithfulness shows in Dan, Ella, Maze and Linda, who help him despite the danger and the strangeness of the plan. Goodness appears when Lucifer offers the Professor's tormented soul a chance at absolution. Hatred runs through the Hell scenes, where the loop of killing Uriel is driven by Lucifer's self-loathing, and Jealousy lingers in the old family resentments between Lucifer and his parents and brothers.
The charactersExamples to follow or avoid
Lucifer MorningstarTom EllisThe devil turned consultant to the police. He is driven by love for Chloe, but he is also haunted by guilt over his brother and bitter towards his parents.
Chloe DeckerLauren GermanA detective who is poisoned and fighting for her life. She spends much of the episode helpless, and her survival drives everyone else.
Mazikeen 'Maze'Lesley-Ann BrandtLucifer's loyal demon companion. She helps with his dangerous plan despite the risk to him.
Charlotte RichardsTricia HelferLucifer's mother, in a borrowed body. She tries to save her son and win back his trust, and is shaken by what Hell does to her.
Dan EspinozaKevin AlejandroA detective and Chloe's ex-husband. He works with Ella to track down the antidote ingredients and does all he can for Chloe.
How Christians are portrayed
No Christians or church appear. The episode draws on Christian ideas about God, Heaven and Hell, but shows God as a distant, controlling Father and treats the faith itself as background.
Community
What other Christians think
What did you notice?
Strong language (the f-word or similar)?
Is this appropriate for Christians to watch?
Thinking of children? Add the youngest age you'd show it to.
Review
Helpful reviewer
The star beside a name
Given to members whose reviews 25 or more people have marked Helpful.
It rewards reviews that help other families decide, not how many someone writes. It's a sign others have found their reviews thoughtful, not a verdict on anyone's faith.
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Details
Episode details
- Cast
- Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Kevin Alejandro, D. B. Woodside
- First aired
- Jan 30, 2017
- Created by
- Tom Kapinos
- Networks
- FOX, Netflix
- Genre
- Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Episode length
- 42m
- Age rating
- US TV-14 · UK 15
How we analysed this
We gathered the episode's summary, its reception and facts about the series that independent sources agree on, then rated each content area against our rubric and worldview scale, using AI models calibrated on reference titles. Not yet reviewed by our team. Confidence: medium.
Score = 100 − 16 × content concern (2.99) + 8 × worldview (−1) = 44
This is a guide to help families choose with wisdom, not a verdict on anyone's conscience ().
Updated 2026-10-14