With the recent developments regarding Lucifer’s mortality, and the season 1 finale looming on the horizon, we have to ask: Who is Chloe Decker, really?

I’ve thrown around my theories with Karen Rought about Lucifer’s vulnerabilities — and we even postulated, back in episode 10, that Lucifer was only mortal around Chloe — but with the final episode of the first season fast approaching, it’s time to break those theories down a little further.

Tread carefully, Lucifans. We’ll be looking back at all the current episodes of season 1, as well as the comics, for clues. So, here there be spoilers.

Who is Chloe Decker? Elaine Belloc

Possibly my strongest (and favorite) theory for Chloe’s true identity comes in the form of a character from the Lucifer comics, Elaine Belloc. For those of you unfamiliar with the Lucifer series by Mike Carey, Elaine is the daughter of the archangel Michael (you may remember him from my season 1 wishlist) and has the ability to see the dead, as well as see into the minds of others. And yes, Elaine is — technically — Lucifer’s niece. I’m… not even going to get into that possible complication just yet.

Throughout the Lucifer comics, Elaine and Lucifer have an inextricable relationship and, the more Elaine is exposed to her origins and the strained relations between Heaven and Hell, the more her true powers become apparent. Sandalphon, another fallen angel, had been conducting experiments to create angels, using Michael’s demiurgic power bestowed on him by God. Those experiments resulted in the near perfect creation, Cal, and Elaine. The final step of Sandalphon’s plan involved harvesting Elaine’s ovaries, in order to create more reproducing angels — as all angels, excepting Michael, were sterile. And just what did Sandalphon need this army of angels for? Well, to overthrow Heaven, of course.

Needless to say, Sandalphon’s plan is thwarted, by Lucifer himself — with his wings restored, as well as his angelic powers. Which, I’d have to admit, would make for one hell (rimshot) of a season finale — though maybe not this one. But they’ve certainly started to move all the relevant pieces into play, with Lucifer’s “burned” wings and Chloe’s unusual power over Lucifer.

Of course, we’ve already met Chloe’s mother and we know a little bit about her father too, but that’s not to say that there wasn’t some divine intervention involved in her birth — much in the same way that there was with Elaine. In fact, Elaine finds out she was adopted shortly after meeting Lucifer for the first time, and if that doesn’t sound like something Chloe’s mother might keep from her…

Elaine’s journey in Lucifer eventually guides her to accepting a very important position, one that would be interesting to see Chloe take up on the show. I won’t spoil exactly what that position might be, for those of you that haven’t read the comics, but I’ll just say that it’d make Lucifer’s issues with Heaven and his father a lot more complicated.

Chloe Decker and the power of ‘love’

This is, perhaps, the most prevalent theory for why Chloe holds so much power over Lucifer and why it has only become more potent over time — as Lucifer and Chloe have grown closer and become more open and vulnerable with each other. Whatever form that love takes, be it romantic or platonic, there’s no escaping that Lucifer’s relationship with Chloe has changed him, irreversibly. But could it really be that simple?

Speaking recently to TV Line, Tom Ellis said, “A few people have made that assumption, that maybe just because he’s in love with her that he’s gone soft, but our story is much bigger than that.” Which would seem to nip this theory in the bud, but it could still play into Lucifer’s vulnerability in some way. Love, after all, is a very powerful and recurring motif when it comes to redemption arcs — which Lucifer is certainly telling the story of in various ways, with Lucifer and Dan in particular.

God’s plan

It could be that Chloe is part of plan much larger than Lucifer, Maze and even Amenadiel can comprehend. That uncanny ability of her’s to be able to withstand Lucifer’s gentle persuasion into honesty, and the resulting sway she has over him, could literally be a God given gift. Chloe, after all, was affected by Amenadiel’s ability to stop time, which could rule out any immortal or heavenly powers — unless they’re lying dormant within her.

Chloe unwittingly being part of whatever God has planned for Lucifer could introduce some complicated tension into their relationship, especially as that intended plan unravels throughout the second season, and hopefully beyond. Chloe maintaining her own mortality would also reinforce that ongoing theme of the strength and weaknesses of humanity — which Lucifer seems at turns fascinated and frustrated by.

Lucifer’s protection

Though this theory wouldn’t necessarily explain away Chloe’s immunity to Lucifer’s charms, it could pair nicely with any of the above items in this list. It has been established that Lucifer will go to some astonishing lengths to protect Chloe — if, at first, this is only to pick apart the mystery of her resistance to his persuasions. In the pilot, he saves her from what appeared to be a fatal shooting, and it is from that point on that Lucifer has been succumbing more and more to mortality — but only in her presence.

Lucifer has bled, and been burned, whilst in close proximity to Chloe, but she, in turn, has come out of all of these potentially dangerous situations unharmed. Perhaps Lucifer is extending that immortality to Chloe, shielding her from anything that could hurt her. It would explain why Lucifer is only vulnerable around her, and Chloe is still susceptible to the charms of other supernatural beings — like Amenadiel. There is no denying that Chloe has, over the course of the season, become someone that is incredibly important to Lucifer — but would he continue to give up his immortality for her, if he became aware that was what he was doing and could exert some control over it?