(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 delivery things rather than UPS of 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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. 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).
Posted at 1:47PM on Oct 24th 2007 by metz
2. 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?
Posted at 1:55PM on Oct 24th 2007 by Earl
3. I don't know...I got a weird feeling that the Devil and Sam's Dad might be brothers.
Posted at 2:08PM on Oct 24th 2007 by KateGee
4. Sam is really the devils son.......
Posted at 2:36PM on Oct 24th 2007 by Aaron
5. 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.
Posted at 2:39PM on Oct 24th 2007 by Jeff
6. 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!
Posted at 2:46PM on Oct 24th 2007 by Oreo
7. 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?
Posted at 3:06PM on Oct 24th 2007 by kate
8. 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. :)
Posted at 3:36PM on Oct 24th 2007 by KateGee
9. Kevin Smith only has anything to do with the pilot, he has nothing to do with this episode or any others besides the pilot.
Posted at 4:09PM on Oct 24th 2007 by Oreo
10. Oreo, watch the opening credits. Kevin Smith is listed as consultant. Yes, he directed the pilot episode, but he's also listed as consultant.
Posted at 4:12PM on Oct 24th 2007 by Kevin
11. 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.
Posted at 5:20PM on Oct 24th 2007 by beanspants
12. 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.
Posted at 7:14PM on Oct 24th 2007 by George
13. 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.
Posted at 7:44PM on Oct 24th 2007 by LadyOracle
14. 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/
Posted at 9:58PM on Oct 24th 2007 by vacelts