TVSquad

(S02E08) In which Sam once again proves that he's in a world of poop and the Devil once again proves that he's evil.

With this show likely to not last beyond this season, I am wondering how the creators are going to end the show. Will they use a cliffhanger or at least give a satisfying ending to the viewers?

Tonight's episode juggled four storylines (and very successfully, I should say). The first involved Sam and his brother Morgan and their (non-)competition to catch a soul. The second was the search for the escaped soul Alan (a goal Andi desires so she can get back with Sam). The third was Sock's funeral misadventures. The fourth was Ben's relationship with both Nina and his grandmother.

It's interesting how a lot of themes and storylines of the show intertwine with or echo each other. Sam wants to lose a competition with his brother Morgan so both of them end up happier, then he learns that to get his soul back, he has to beat the Devil in a competition. As a result of the Devil's manipulation of events, Sam wins the contest, earning the ire of Morgan. As a result of Ben's stubbornness, he earns the ire of Nina, another denizen of Hell.

One problem with the show, however, is that they're not clear about the rules regarding going to Heaven or Hell. They seem to be constantly shifting and that could be intentional, but that lack of clarity could be costing them viewers.

Another problem with this show is character inconsistency. Didn't Andi not want to be with Sam last week? What changed her mind? Also, doesn't Sam have special powers? Has that plot point been abandoned, as well?

Sock was funny as a funeral crasher. He is so going to Hell. The Vatican City video was a riot as well.

Once again, the escaped soul had no special powers (unless building the doorway to Hell was his power). Notice that despite their intense fight, nobody bled. Is that their power?

It's a minor point, but Nina couldn't have gone to Ben's nephew's confirmation. Wouldn't it have been in a church?

The new Work Bench employee reminds me of Gerry Bednob's character on The 40-Year-Old Virgin with such lines as "I'm gonna work my sack off" and "I would kill for that ass."

The Devil is always pretty manipulative, but he was moreso in this episode, what with the situation with Morgan and with Alan. I figured the Devil was going to crash the plane. The emergency landing in Las Vegas came as a particularly cruel and ironic surprise.

Ray Wise remains the best part of the show (while I do enjoy Tyler Labine's character, he does wear on me). I'm sorry he appeared for so little of tonight's episode, but next week seems to be Devil-heavy. One can hope.

I do like this show, although tonight's episode seemed somewhat poorly planned. I will be sorry when it's gone at the end of the season, and I hope the creators can work out a satisfying ending.