Reaper takes a page from Ghostbusters and Nickelodeon this week and busts out the slime. Oddly enough, that's not the grossest part of the show.

Spoilers slipping ahead.

The Supernatural Struggle

- Demon Sense of the Week - Sam suddenly can't stay on his feet because his feet are slip-sliding all over the place. He solves this by putting tape on his soles. Sole, soul. Hmm.
- Soul of the Week - The deceased father of Bobby Hartford, who is running for City Council, began the legacy of dumping toxic waste with his chemical company, thus explaining his green slime monster form that causes "accidents" for those who oppose his son's bid.
- Vessel of the Week - A corny red Christmas sweater adorned with a snowman and other yuletide figures. Cheesy? Yes. But strangely absorbent, especially with green slime.

Sam, Sock and Ben take on the Slimeball by trying to crash a political rally, but ending up in jail when Sock decides to tackle Bobby with the sweater. Oops. Slight miscalculation. As always, Josie is there to bail them out of trouble, this time literally. With a little snooping the gang finally tracks down the slime to its lair in the sewer, where it attacks Sam. Sock comes to the rescue wearing the sweater and hugging/soaking up the slime off Sam.

Let me just say that Ben rocks more each week. It's not just his deadpan, level-headed suaveness. He also gets the brunt of the experience almost every week, like when the slime suffocated him, but was fought off with used kitty litter found in a nearby dumpster. "You should have just let that thing kill me."

But hey, not to take away from Sock and Sam's homoerotic love. Not only do they hold hands (so Sock can keep Sam from slipping of course), but they also share strawberry lipbalm and embrace at the end when the sweater saves Sam from the slime. Forget about Andi and Josie. Bros before 'hos. Just saying.

Well, the Andi dilemma seems to have increased this week, and she's not as understanding as she's been in the past. Sam stands her up twice because of Satan-related duties, but the camel-back-breaking straw is when he accuses her admirer Greg of hanging out with slutty twins. It appears that not only are the twins Greg's sisters, but that the devil slipped Sam this bit of misinformation in order to keep Sam from finally spilling his secret to Andi, whom he should protect with ignorance.

That's the theory anyway. It's certainly what's implied when Sam's dad tears out a page of the tome that is Sam's contract and feeds it to the fire. What's up with him? He was upset when he first saw the contract, got even more upset when he couldn't arrange a meeting with the devil, and now, he's destroying evidence that he doesn't want someone (Sam?) to read. Deepening the mystery is Satan's stern and cryptic reaction when Sam asks to set up the meeting with his dad: "Not a chance; I have everything I need from your father. He has nothing else that I want." Creepy.

Other stuff fun stuff from the episode:

- Sam trying to tempt the delivery demon into going to karaoke: "Half off jello shots. Just saying."
- Sock: "I know people." Sam: "I know the devil. I think my people trump your people."
- Satan shining a flashlight upwards under his chin and grinning: "Low tech, but awesome results."
- Sam's dad: "I got cartoon mascots to sell cigarettes to kids. Tell the devil that, Sam."
- Ben on the virtues of dumpster diving: "'Course. Remember tha t-shirt I got you for your birthday?" Sock: "That's a fine grab."
- Sock: "I got a receipt so Satan can reimburse me."

Did I miss anything? What's Sam's dad hiding? Is the devil on the level about protecting Andi?

Comments

I was pretty excited that we actually got a little continuity this episode. We have a mystery about Sam's dad, and some foreshadowing that bad things may befall Sam's friends.

Billiam | Oct 23, 2007 9:58:03 PM | #

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That demon delivery guy was none other then Aaron Douglas, better known as Chief Tyrol on Battlestar Galactica.

drake | Oct 23, 2007 11:36:03 PM | #

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I'm a bit unclear of why the devil was not tough on Sam for letting Sock and Ben help him/know his secret but is adament that Andi not be added to the list. I'm sure we'll eventually be given the answer to this - but only if the show survives and based on the ratings thus far that is far from a sure bet.

Rishi | Oct 24, 2007 1:31:38 AM | #

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The ratings are fine for a CW show ... If Gossip Girl can be picked up then Reaper should.

As for Ben and Sock knowing, I don't think the Devil had the chance to stop him. Sam didn't waste alot of time telling them since he thought he might be going crazy and he told them quickly.

He is actually thinking it through before telling Andi which gives the devil time to stop him (like showing him the picture of Greg and his sisters)

Eric | Oct 24, 2007 5:16:16 AM | #

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This episode seemed to take on a slightly more serious tone, which is good to have the contrast every now and then. I'm also glad we finally got something besides the freak of the week to focus on. This show is still my favorite new show, although Journeyman is really impressing me more each week, but since its on NBC, it most likely will get canceled before season's end.

steve | Oct 24, 2007 5:48:30 AM | #

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I kept flipping between this and House waiting to catch a line from Ben or Sock going "I've... I've been slimed guys!"

pakopako | Oct 24, 2007 7:00:27 AM | #

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The Devil is a contradictory dude. A couple of weeks ago he belabored the point that lying never turns out to be a good thing (when Sam was lying to his mom.) Last night, he claimed that lying to protect others can be noble.

Some highlights for me:

When Sam told the delivery demon that if the demon would go out to the bar with him, Sam would be his wingman...not that he would need it though as he was a very good-looking demon.

Sock suggesting the reason that Sam was slipping and falling may be because he is sucking his feet in his sleep; "my little brother does that."

The Devil saying that cracking one's head open on a toilet is "a very undignified way to go" in his opinion & later telling Sam to "wake up that sleeping bean" of his.

Love this show! I hope it can keep up its pace without seeming too formulaic.

| Oct 24, 2007 7:37:55 AM | #

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Even more awesome is that Happy Halloween bumper with Ray Wise! Now that's a screensaver!

Casper | Oct 24, 2007 9:43:53 AM | #

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Satan is hiding something. I just know it.

Siansonea | Oct 24, 2007 10:46:32 AM | #

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I liked that the devil made it plain: There'll be a price to pay for Sock and Ben being allowed into the inner circle.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but there seemed to be some creepiness on the part of Andi's mom. She seemed almost pushy in inviting Sam in to wait for Andi, and the "say hello to your parents" tips off the fact that there is some acquaintance there. Combined with the strangeness of Sam's dad's behavior (he strangely reminds me of "Family Ties" patriarch Michael Gross), I have two theories emerging about where they are taking this:

1. The Icky Theory. Sam and Andi are half-siblings. I hope this isn't where they are going with this, and it would seem more would be done by Sam's dad and Andi's mom to keep them apart... but then the devil's end of whatever bargain may have been struck may be to make sure the two are never allowed to get together. Maybe the picture of Greg and his sisters was employed with a more devious subtext for Sam.

2. The Rosemary's Baby theory. Andi's mom tangoed with the devil, and he is playing the overprotective Daddy.

At any rate, the planting of some mysteries that will play out over the longer run rejuvenated my interest in this show. And the "Most wonderful time of the year" promo with the devil was priceless.

Goph | Oct 24, 2007 1:52:31 PM | #

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This was another wonderful review of Reaper. Sock may get all the funny lines on the show, but I think that Ben is the more helpful sidekick. My favorite part of the episode was when Ben shared his strawberry chapstick with Sock and Sam.

I think the reason why the Devil doesn't want Sam's father to read the contract is because he might be able to find a loophole and get Sam off the hook. I'm not sure why the Devil is trying to separate Andi and Sam, but I guess he doesn't want Sam to spend all his time with her, instead of capturing the escaped souls.

At least now we know why the department stores sell so many of those hideous holiday sweaters! Maybe they should try using ugly sweaters to soak up oil spills in the ocean. ;-)

Paige | Oct 25, 2007 8:41:49 AM | #

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