Lucifer co-showrunner Ildy Modrovich says the last line of the series was planned a long time ago. The urban fantasy television series based on a version of the Devil from The Sandman comic series began in 2016 and developed a strong, loyal fanbase. The show's sixth and final season released in its entirety on Netflix on September 10.

Lucifer took a notably difficult path to reaching this ending, and the showrunners have the fanbase to thank for getting them there. The show spent the first three seasons of its run on Fox, but with ratings falling despite improving critical reviews, the network intended to cancel it. Modrovich's co-showrunner Joe Henderson called on fans to make their support of the show known, and #SaveLucifer became the number one trending topic, encouraging Fox to shop it to potential buyers. Netflix ended up producing the rest of Lucifer, and though it was meant to end with a two-part season 5, the creative team ended up getting a 10-episode season 6 to work with, helping them to properly tie things up.

Related: Lucifer's Animated Episode Was The Series' Worst Gimmick

Despite this tumultuous history, Modrovich told TV Line that they had always known where Lucifer would end, down to the very last line. According to her, things fell in place once the creative team settled on the idea of Tom Ellis' Lucifer returning to Hell and refashioning it into an afterlife therapy practice. They knew from then on that Lauren German's Detective Chloe Decker would follow him, and that this eternity would be something they share together:

[We knew the last line] For a long time — ever since we came up with the idea that Lucifer was going to be a “therapist” to turn Hell into a “rehab center,” basically, and we knew that Chloe was going to join him in Hell — because that was essentially her Heaven…. The word “partner” was one they used throughout the whole season, and once they decided they were going to do this together…. You can say “I love you,” “I missed you,” whatever, but what felt right was they were solving crimes in Episode 1, and now they’re solving people’s guilt. Together.

Lucifer season 6 finale Lucifer Chloe twist

Elsewhere in the interview, Modrovich and Henderson discuss their excitement at getting the extra ten episodes to conclude their story, and detail what would've been different in the original season 5 ending. In particular, they were pleased to be able to craft more satisfying arcs for Dan (Kevin Alejandro), who gets to spend time in Purgatory, and Ella (Aimee Garcia), who finally learns about Lucifer's true identity. Henderson says the end result for Lucifer and Chloe was always the intention, though, even if getting there at the end of in season 5 might have felt more rushed.

Though it was clearly planned for a while now, Lucifer season 6 was not without controversial choices. In particular, the showrunners expected to divide fans with their decision to separate Lucifer and Chloe for the rest of Chloe's human life, only reuniting them once she has died of old age. However, Lucifer fandom has so far embraced the bittersweet finale, and it seems Netflix's decision to extend the show's ending was ultimately a good one for all involved.

More: Lucifer Season 6 Ending Explained

Source: TV Line