Over the course of season 3, Lucifer (series regular Tom Ellis) has decided to take revenge on his father for returning his wings by helping the world's first murderer Cain (series regular Tom Welling) finally escape his punishment of immortality and die. After numerous traditional methods failed, Lucifer was given the idea by Chloe (series regular Lauren German) to reverse Cain's curse altogether and bring the murdered Abel back to life.

Thus, begins this week's episode as the unholy pair make their plans to rescue Abel from Hell. Wait, what?

A False Legend

Indeed, the famous murdered brother is indeed suffering torture in hell. In the show's take on the classic myth, Cain and Abel were both trying to kill each other, and the former simply won the fight. Apparently, this left him with a great deal of resentment, and when Lucifer suggests bringing him back by plugging his soul into a recently dead body (a method used twice on the show before in Season 1 Episode 7 'Wingman' and Season 2 Episode 1 'Everything's Coming Up Lucifer'). He readily agrees and adorably starts trying to choose the ugliest body possible to house his brother, showing a far more human side than what he has displayed so far.

Nonetheless, when the operation is performed, they hit a snag when the victim of the murder of the week (guest star Lauren Lapkus) ends up being the target and Abel starts running around L.A.

in a woman's body. And when Amenadiel (series regular D.B. Woodside) gets word of the matter, he decides it is his duty to send Abel right back where he belongs.

Professional Help

Needing to track down the errant brother as soon as possible, Lucifer and Cain seek advice from the best bounty hunter they know, Maze (series regular Lesley-Ann Brandt), who tortured the brother in hell.

She reveals that in temperament, Abel was incredibly similar to Lucifer.

The next scene is Abel being confused why the women he is hitting on don't want to sleep him and then fondling his own breasts when Amenadiel hands him a mirror.

Cain vents his resentment of Abel's attitude and condemns his brother for always being portrayed as just while he was forced to suffer his curse.

Maze then reveals that Abel's punishment in hell, established in-series as being driven by one's guilt, was to be continuously killed by Cain for eternity.

Two Sides of a Story

One of the most interesting aspects of the episode is exploring the emotional repercussions that Cain's murder of Abel had on the both of them. While Cain has been cold and closed off, unable to enjoy even the simplest pleasures, Abel has gone the complete opposite way, hiding his shattered soul under a thin veneer of carelessness and debauchery. But when his attempt to kill Cain fails and he is confronted by his brother, he breaks down in tears and begs Cain to kill him quickly.

The brothers' personas are eerily similar to that Amenadiel and Lucifer.

The show has foreshadowed the parallels between the two sets of brothers since Season 3 Episode 4 'What Would Lucifer Do?', before Cain's identity was even revealed. The idea works well for the story, providing excellent pathos to both Lucifer's struggles to escape and define his own identity. Unlike Abel who is eternally known as Cain's victim, and Amenadiel's desperate efforts to become a better, more human person. Especially because, as Cain noted in Season 3 Episode 14 'My Brother's Keeper', the only difference between him and Amenadiel, is that Amenadiel failed in his efforts to kill Lucifer in Season 1.

Both comparisons point towards interesting possibilities as the season enters its final third, especially with Episode 16 ending with Abel's death and Lucifer and Cain's alliance dissolving.

Perhaps Cain will threaten to harm the Devil's loved ones if he doesn't raise Abel from Hell once again. Only, time will tell, but as far the season has been going, I have no doubt it will be interesting.
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