Who Will Luce Choose: Love or Eternal Life in ‘Fallen’?

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The movie version of “Fallen” might not have been a hit with critics or audiences, but it certainly is a dreamland for gothic teenagers. It’s inspired by the young adult novel of the same name, the first in a six-book series that revolves around a troubled teenager named Luce. She finds herself torn between her feelings for two angels who have fallen from grace, Daniel and Cam. Similar to many other young adult series popular during its time, “Fallen” capitalized on the widespread interest in romantic tales involving humans and enigmatic non-humans, a trend sparked by Stephenie Meyer’s blockbuster vampire-werewolf series.

The storyline in “Fallen” adopts a somewhat biblical style, delving deeply into the folklore surrounding Lucifer’s descent from heaven and rebirth. However, reminiscent of classic love triangles popular in the early 2000s, the majority of the plot’s intriguing developments revolve around “Team Daniel” and “Team Cam.” Now that it’s been added to Netflix and is currently the eighth most-watched movie of the week, many viewers are revisiting this film, even after nearly a decade since its initial release, pondering the question: who does Luce ultimately choose?

What Happens in ‘Fallen’?

The story, titled “Fallen,” opens with an introductory animation detailing the circumstances that led to the angels’ downfall, specifically the fallen ones, who chose sides against God and Lucifer, thereby being banished from heaven and receiving their punishment. Fast forward to the contemporary era, our protagonist, Luce, embarks on her first day at a reformatory institution for wayward teenagers known as Sword and Cross Academy. Luce’s backstory is shrouded in mystery, involving a fire that claimed the life of a boy named Trevor. On this momentous day, she encounters several noteworthy characters: Cameron “Cam” Briel, a captivating student who harbors romantic feelings for her; Penn, a fellow outcast whom she will later befriend and ally herself with; Miss Sophia, the religious studies instructor; and Daniel, an attractively charming high school student who strikes Luce as familiar.

In a meeting with the school counselor, it becomes clear that Luce frequently experiences hallucinations she refers to as “shadows.” These shadows are a constant burden for her, and she resists any suggestion of medication. Later on, Luce comes close to being squashed by a falling gargoyle, but is miraculously rescued at the last moment by Daniel (in an incident that strongly resembles a scene from Twilight). As Luce eavesdrops on a conversation between Daniel and Miss Sophia, Daniel voices his worry that Cam might have been the one who knocked over the statue onto Luce. Undeterred, Luce persists in trying to connect with Daniel, asserting that he seems somehow acquainted to her, but he brushes her off. Despite the incident, Cam continues to show romantic interest towards Luce.

One day, following Luce’s consistent urging, Daniel discloses that he is developing a graphic novel centering around a pair who are under a curse. The male character possesses immortality, while the female character reappears every 17 years without any recollection of her past existences. Their destiny is to fall in love each time they meet, and he is doomed to endure the torment of witnessing her demise after their lips touch.

On the occasion of Luce’s birthday, Cam extends an invitation to a nightclub, where they share a romantic moment that is abruptly disrupted by Daniel. Daniel admonishes Cam for his proximity to Luce, implying that he still serves Lucifer. Both Daniel and Cam are immortal fallen angels, as is revealed later.

As events unfold, Luce gains confidence in her belief that she is the reincarnated soul described by Daniel, thanks to facial recognition technology from old photographs and memories stirred up from her own “shadows.” The complicating factor here is that Luce has not been baptized, which means her untimely demise in this life could result in a lack of reincarnation.

Cam expresses his love for Luce and promises to shield her from Lucifer’s influence. Now, Luce faces a critical decision: choosing between the possibility of eternal death and the promise of true love.

Who Does Luce Choose?

In this pivotal moment, Luce finds herself on a rooftop, facing a life-altering decision: she can either join Cam for a regular, prolonged existence or embrace eternal love with Daniel, knowing their first kiss will mark her demise. However, Luce asserts that things are different this time; she doesn’t perish. Yet, they all understand that the battle is far from over – Lucifer still seeks her. Daniel and Cam depart, leaving Luce in the care of Miss Sophia, preparing for an angelic skirmish involving artificial wings (note the irony) and dramatic CGI effects. The angels exchange heated exchanges such as “keep your distance!” amidst a tempest, soaring through the air.

Indeed, it’s revealed that Miss Sophia has been working with Lucifer behind the scenes all along. In a shocking turn of events, she murders Luce’s closest friend, Penn, and even tries to kill Luce herself. It seems that Miss Sophia discarded the gargoyle, asserting that Daniel must pick a side for balance to be maintained. Tragically, Miss Sophia is eliminated by the shadows. In the nick of time, Daniel explains to Luce that as long as she remains unbaptized, she’s exposed to eternal death at Lucifer’s hands. They pledge their everlasting love and embark on a journey to find sanctuary together.

Indeed, to summarize briefly, Luce undeniably picks Daniel!

Regrettably, the planned sequels did not materialize. Fortunately, an extensive collection of literature fills us in on what eventually happened to Luce and Daniel. For those who might be intrigued, at the conclusion of the entire series, Luce and Daniel shatter the curse and continue their lives as mortals, living happily ever after.

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2025-02-09 21:01