Plenty of shows on TV these days know how to balance their funny factor with drama.
Scrubs and
My Name is Earl particularly do a good job at being comedies that the audience takes seriously. Reaper isn't quite in that category yet, probably because it deals with the Devil and a demon-catcher instead of folks we can empathize with like a young guy moving up in the ranks at his job or a poor guy trying to do some good in the world. When those shows have a serious message to convey, you quit your laughing and pay attention. Not so much with Reaper. Tonight's episode did get closer to that than it ever has though, demon rebellion and all. I'm not certain this show even needs to be on that track to Serioustown, but tonight's episode lended this show a new kind of importance, and to me it felt
good.
Andi was still hanging out in a hospital bed when we revisited her tonight, on the verge of release after the car accident last episode. Whatever you were hoping she would keep in her memories, it seems she did because she does remember details about the acid queen. Though really, who's not going to remember a girl dripping bloody acid from her fingers? Sam and the gang hired a hospital janitor to dress up as Andi's doc and tell her hallucinations are common with head trauma and to give her a bottle of
brain medicine Tic Tacs. I guess Sam had to cover his ass somehow incase Andi had prying questions. But what I think no one expected was Andi's new lease on life, seizing the day and violently making out with Sam whenever they were in the same room together. That, of course, after a predictable mega- awkward moment together. They don't disappoint, those two.
Sam is all businessy with the Devil in this episode, no love at all, and I got to wondering why. My guess is being a dog-catcher-of-the-underworld has started getting old, which was confirmed by his eagerness to join the demon rebellion to overthrow the devil. I don't expect Sam to just grin and bear it when he's been forced into a new life/"career", but hello, the dude's Satan. And he owns your ass. You really think a rebellion is going to work? Man, I'm such a pessimist. But really? I can't be the only who thought that sounded like a bad idea.
The soul, Cubby Bryce, was around for a smidgeon of time, and easily captured by Sam and the gang. Maybe not so easily, as Sam had no idea how to maneuver the vessel (a whip) and ended up hurting himself, Sock, Ben and messing up the Work Bench's break room while he was at it. He also assumed his weekly position-o'-death in the process, on his back on the floor, pinned down by a demon who wants to eat his face, right before capturing the guy. There was no more Cubby Bryce action until late in the episode when Sock and Ben realized all the unsolicited Beers of the World packages they'd been delivered were for their apartment's previous tenant, a one Cubby Bryce. No coincidence.
Ironically, Steve and Tony reminded me of door-to-door salesmen, or those people on TV who think they can change your life by motivating you to buy their treadmill. We all knew something fierce was nigh, but a revolution? The proposed death of Satan? As Sam, I would have shut the door, even with the possibility of release from bondage. This isn't some regular Joe to outsmart, but the Devil himself. How could Sam think that Satan didn't know everything that was going on? Steve and Tony became fanatical in their ideas, but at least Steve's motivation was to overwhelm the world with Good, and not to literally attack Satan. I knew that Archangel Michael sword was fake from the start, and I knew those guys were in for some serious annihilation. The Cubby Bryce apartment realization by Sock and Ben clued Sam in to the scam the Devil was running, having set up the rebellion himself so he could do away with the Demons who posed a threat to him (the ones trying to make the world a better place). I didn't expect Sam to end up a pawn in the Devil's games once more, used and abused (but thankfully unscathed). That's a little disappointing. What a bummer, to taste your freedom and then find out your captor was behind your false hope from the start.
Satan demo'd the building the opposing demons were in, with all of them them in it. And since only Tony climbed out of the rubble alive, I assume we'll see him continue his mad crusade (sans Steve? Cry), Sam now surely being no friend of his.
Do you think Sam and the Devil are actually friends? I think Sam deserves to be free and have a normal life and not have to lie to Andi or put his loved ones in danger, and still at times he felt like guilty for betraying him. Is Sam too good of a guy? And is the Devil really lonely? It's never easy to know who to trust.
Other notes
-When Josie gave Ted her scarf, "I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes" by The Boy Least Likely To was playing. And Eew, Ted and Josie?
-Why didn't I think of Beerios myself?
-It was nice to see
Robert Clendenin as Bob the demon.
-I was hoping for some Gladys action, but nothing. I want more demon deposits!
-The Devil's number is in the Phoenix area code? I'm back to wondering about Cady now. And what kind of Hell might break loose when she gets backfrom her "break".
-The Devil got all emo on Sam, talking about his love for God and his loneliness. Again, what's the truth and what's a ploy?
-Why the heck would Andi trust Sam more than anyone I the world? All he's done is let her down!
Quotes
The Devil: "What, you don't like banana splits? What, are you some kind of a Commie?"
Sock to Josie: "Even though I've moved on, it's nice to see my mark is still all over you like dog pee on a pretty, pretty little tree."
Sam to the Devil: "You are so weird."
Sock to Cubby: "I would be wiling to put on your underwear with you still in them for seven figures."
Sock: "There is no way Josie thinks she's better than me."
Steve, at the human sacrifice: "Here, just jam this through his heart, easy as pie!"
Hey,
Reaper fans, looking for more goodies? Our
Online Video Guide will hook you up.
show less
Plenty of shows on TV these days know how to balance their funny factor with drama. Scrubs and My Name is Earl particularly do a good job at being comedies that the audience takes seriously. Reaper isn’t quite in that category yet, probably because it deals with the Devil and a demon-catcher instead of folks we can empathize with like a young guy moving up in the ranks at his job or a poor guy trying to do some good in the world. When those shows have a serious message to convey, you quit your laughing and pay attention. Not so much with Reaper. Tonight’s episode did get closer to that than it ever has though, demon rebellion and all. I'm not certain this show even needs to be on that track to Serioustown, but tonight's episode lended this show a new kind of importance, and to me it felt good. Andi was still hanging out in a hospital bed when we revisited her tonight, on the verge of release after the car accident last episode. Whatever you were hoping she would keep in he...
read more