(S01E05) Okay, first things first. How cool was it that Chief Tyrol from Battlestar Galactica was a demonic courier from Hell in this episode? His deadpan delivery cracked me up, and he definitely sold me on considering using the devil to deliver things rather than UPS or FedEx. He was definitely much more thorough. I know that Kevin Smith is a huge (no pun intended) BSG fan, so I wonder if he had a hand in this.This was definitely one of the busiest Reaper episodes ever. Finding out who the escaped soul was took a heck of a lot of shoe leather, and while Ben, Sock, and Sam were out searching, I finally figured out who they remind me of ... a sort of weird, dysfunctional, and gender-unbalanced version of the Mystery Machine gang from Scooby-Doo.
Okay, stick with me on this one. You've got Sam as Fred, because he's fairly straight-laced and worried with keeping everything on the straight and narrow, for the most part. Ben is a bit like Velma, because he's a bit deadpan and slightly nerdy. Sock is totally Shaggy and Scooby mixed up into one bundle of one-liners, slapstick behavior and searching for snacks. Plus, you've got Andi to round out the group as Daphne, because she's fairly hot. Besides one of them not being a dog, not driving around in a van, and Ben not wearing glasses, we're pretty close. They do solve a mystery every week, though. So there you have it.
So, the villain of the week this time is a green, blobby, human-shaped thing that would give Slimer from Ghostbusters a ran for his money. He's knocking people off left and right, usually by having them slip on something. They finally track him down and use the vessel, which this time was a super-absorbent tacky Christmas sweater. Although along the way Ben gets coated in wet (and used) kitty litter. Which is probably the most disgusting thing I've seen on this show so far. Although, Sock hasn't taken his shirt off yet ...
Another show that this reminds me of, that also happens to be on The CW, is Smallville. Think about this one, you've supernatural weird junk going on everywhere, a main hero, and a girl that he likes that he can't tell his secret too. Oh, plus they fight a different baddie every week. But ... Sam can't fly, and dammit, well there goes that whole comparison. Although remember the pilot episode? Sam had some sort of telekinesis power that seems to have vanished. Anyone else recall that particular thing? And as far as powers go, I think Ray Wise has the power to become tanner and smoother on every new episode.
Additionally, this episode featured some fairly over-the-top acting from Sam's dad. Enough so that it felt like the producers, writers, gaffers, and the best boy were all winking at us and saying "Hey! Something is going on with Sam's dad! Check it out!" Okay, we get it. From the first moment when he started drooling over Sam's copy of the contract, we got it. We didn't really need his freakout moment in Sam's bedroom, did we? Now of course we're going to obsess about what was on that one page that he tore out and tossed into the fire. Or maybe it was just a shopping list. Who knows. Take the poll and chime in.
PS -- in a tiny side note, this was the first episode of Reaper that I've seen in HD. I noticed a ton of things as a result that I'd never seen before. Here's one: in Sam's bedroom there's a mini-poster for a band. The name of the band? "The Buttless Chaps". Nice touch.
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-24-2007 @ 1:47PM
metz said...
I'm really enjoying this show. Too bad I don't get the CW in high def. I'm really interested in seeing where the Andi - Sam stuff goes as well as the Dad's big secret.
But, it's the humor that keeps me coming back. I do wish they'd branch out into other hell's on earth (places to drop off the vessel).
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 1:55PM
Earl said...
I'm guessing the dad was supposed to be the bounty hunter, but he used a loop hole in the contract to pass the duties to Sam. Oh yeah, Andi is only fairly hot?
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 2:08PM
KateGee said...
I don't know...I got a weird feeling that the Devil and Sam's Dad might be brothers.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 2:39PM
Jeff said...
Earl-
BLASPHEMY. Andi is totally in that league of hot chicks who could totally be in your league on account of being so down to earth. Totally girl-next-door material.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 2:36PM
Aaron said...
Sam is really the devils son.......
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 2:46PM
Oreo said...
The devil is Sam's dad. :)
And I'm starting to get sick of the show. They need to add something. Plus Sam wanted the job at the end of the pilot, then didn't the rest of the episodes. Then the girl gets pissed off last week, and they act like they are great friends this week, then not. Just tell the girl already!
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 3:06PM
kate said...
I am starting to like this show more and more. Anyone notice that Ben always gets the bad stuff happening to him? He is like Kenny from South Park, 'cept instead of getting killed every episode he ends up in the hospital, covered with cat litter and slime (which is worse? you decide)
Also, with the dad aspect, there begins to be a longer arc at work, so no more only demon of the week. There doesn't seem to be only tension by Sam's dad, but the devil (who is never flustered or out of control) seemed thrown by the mention of Sam's dad. Think there is a true love loophole? Maybe the devil was in love with sam's mom and she turned out to be Dad's true love (getting him out of his contract)- didn't they say that to save the dad, they sold Sam's soul? Could the devil have been the cause of Dad's illness? Maybe that is why the devil is trying to keep sam from andi- to avoid a loophole? Why would he care otherwise?
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 3:36PM
KateGee said...
Wait a minute: the Devil said "the sins of the father...." so perhaps selling Sam's soul was his Dad's get out of hell card?
And the show is filmed in Vancouver so of course the Chief is going to be in it. :)
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 4:09PM
Oreo said...
Kevin Smith only has anything to do with the pilot, he has nothing to do with this episode or any others besides the pilot.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 4:12PM
Kevin said...
Oreo, watch the opening credits. Kevin Smith is listed as consultant. Yes, he directed the pilot episode, but he's also listed as consultant.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 5:20PM
beanspants said...
i'll probably keep watching a bit longer, but I don't think that much of this show so far. I agree that it reminds me of Scooby Doo, but Scooby Doo had comically large sandwiches and this show doesn't.
It might be compared to the the X-Files too, but the X-Files was better acted and filmed, as is Smallville.
But the Sam/Andi thing isn't that compelling, so they really need to move the story along in a major way. The vessels are funny, but none of the captures have been particularly interesting.
So yeah, a lot of promise, but not much delivery so far.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 7:14PM
George said...
The Buttless Chaps are an excellent Vancouver-based band, well worth checking out ('Love This Time' or 'Where Night Holds Light' are their most recent albums, and also likely to be the easiest to find). That particular Buttless Chaps show poster has actually appeared in *every* episode of 'Reaper'. A lot of bands on Vancouver-based Mint Records are name-checked on the show in this fashion -- see also conspicuous placement of gig posters for The Organ.
I'm not a shill, by the way -- just a satisfied customer.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 7:44PM
LadyOracle said...
Has anyone else noticed that Chuck and Reaper seem to have the same plot points every week? Two weeks ago Chuck was angsty about not going anywhere with his life... the next day Sam was angsty about not going anywhere with his life. This week Chuck's abandoning his family and friends... Sam's doing the same. I know that these are pivotal plot points in a "discovering yourself/secret life" story, but come on. Someone needs to lock these writers together in a room and not let them out until they come up with a schedule, for both shows sake.
Reply
10-24-2007 @ 9:58PM
vacelts said...
Love the comparison to Scooby Doo. Where does the devil fit in?
Reaper has to be one of the best new shows this season! It's definitely my favorite.
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/best-new-shows-fall-2007/
Reply
10-25-2007 @ 9:45AM
Howard Buddin said...
I think that Ted (manager, Work Bench) is God. Not like 'awesome', but actually God in the show. He's the total opposite of the Devil's character: he forgives (i.e., doesn't fire anybody) everyone, he challenges Sam (vs. the Devil, who gives Sam powers, etc.), is subordinate to however many people above him (the Devil is clearly in charge of his domain), and he is bumbling and goofy, compared to the Devil's suave, accomplished character. What other purpose does Ted have in the show? He could easily be relegated to a situational character, and all other characters in the show serve some sort of central purpose. I think it's a lock. Ted is God.
Reply
10-25-2007 @ 10:11AM
rick cokely said...
"Although remember the pilot episode? Sam had some sort of telekinesis power that seems to have vanished."
I think those powers are granted to him on a per soul basis. Like this week he had the slippery shoes (though I don't recall how those were used exactly) and he was also able to make things disappear for the magician soul. I think once he turns in the vessel, the power leaves him. When he is contracted to find a soul he is first given the power to assist and then the vessel.
This show is so reminiscent of charmed, except instead of three girls its three boys. The devil is basically the whitelighters and they are all hunting demons. Its like KS said "Lets make a boy version of charmed!" Not that it's a bad thing, I liked charmed a lot too.
I'm a little annoyed at the plot with Sam and Andi. Shows that constantly hold back in the name of plot progression (or lack there of) are just aggravating to the viewer. When its so obvious that the problems would be fixed by doing something very simple are overlooked by the characters it makes me feel like its amature writing. If they wanted to keep it a real secret from Andi, they could have made the devil do something to interrupt him every time he went to tell her. Instead we just get a weak main character that is too scared to say something (though he told his other two friends immediately, why not the girl he likes?!) I guess they sorta made it so he can't tell her when the devil told him it would be bad for her, but I'd rather see that then to just hear about it.
Oh, and the page that was torn out is definitely something to do with his dad being able to replace him.
Reply
10-26-2007 @ 4:01AM
Chris Falco said...
"His deadpan delivery cracked me up, and he definitely sold me on considering using the devil to delivery things rather than UPS of FedEx."
Come on, at least make it look like you read over your article once before you post it.
"using the devil to delivery things"
"UPS of FedEx"
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 10:10AM
Lior said...
Check out full episodes of reaper and hundreds more full episodes on http://www.tv3o.com
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 7:37PM
Cody said...
The pilot episode was so much better than any of the episodes since have been. When I watched the pilot, I thought this was going to be a really good show. I even went back and watched it again, which I almost never do. From the second episode to this episode, it's been generally pretty disappointing. Not bad, per se, just not living up to its potential.
Reply