When does Hell go on a holiday? Well, in the Reaper-verse, it's Halloween.

Spoilers or treat!

Soul of the Week: Barney Kirkwood, a serial killer known as The Butcher because he brought his victims to the slaughterhouse ... It's pretty straightforward.
Demon Sense of the Week: Sam doesn't seem to get one this time around, although a cute dog named Spike, who was one of the Butcher's torturers down in Hell is helping out.
Vessel of the Week: Meat thermometer

We also get a bonus soul at the beginning of the episode that Sam captures instantly. Leon (Patton Oswalt), who shot at President McKinley back in the day, was captured by the previous vessel, a snowglobe featuring a monkey. Unfortunately, since Hell is on holiday, DMV Gladys isn't around to process the vessel, which means Leon is sticking around for a day. Sock is thrilled because even in snowglobe form, Leon talks, and the two team up to play pranks on Ted.

But here's what's more insidious: The Devil starts to make sense to Sam. First, elicits Sam's sympathy by complaining about Halloween being the "commercialization of evil." Then he points out how humans are inherently untrustworthy: women always leave and friends betray. At first Sam scoffs at this gloomy outlook, but as Andi continues to give him the cold shoulder and Sock actually releases Leon from his vessel, the Devil just may be right. Except that he's not.

Sock proves himself by refusing to leave Sam to a grisly fate, and Ben helps with the final showdown with Leon. And Andi? Well, as soon as Sam really and truly apologizes, she admits she's been miserable not being friends as well. Awww.

The ending was pretty darn satisfying I must say. Not only does Sam turn down Satan's offer of a night on the town, he informs him that he's wrong about humanity and even catches the devil in a lie. Grasshopper is learning.

Other highlights:

- All the costumes: Ted as Jack Sparrow, a Spartan  But my favorite is a miserable-looking Sam wearing a huge jack o' lantern outfit complete with orange cap and green tights.
- The shout out to Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series with Leon's gun-hand attachment
- Leon's psychobabble about breastfeeding, journaling, etc. and how it was his downfall when Sam turned it on him.
- Devil to Sam, naked from the shower: "It all looks like raw meat to me."
- Devil: "[Humans are] the most unreliable creatures on this earth ... except for bears."
- One of Sock's pet peeves about Sam: He wears "mandals"

Your thoughts on this Halloween-themed episode? Your thoughts on humanity and evil?

Comments

Sam has the guts to tell the devil he's wrong, yet he can't tell Andi how he feels. He's still stuck being "just friends" with her... how's that progress? Anyway, the devil could crush him anytime he wanted, so there's no real victory here.

AC | Oct 30, 2007 9:01:36 PM | #

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The bears line was pretty great. And also "mandals."
Patton Oswald pretty much made this episode. The actual mission was pretty unimportant, but Sock, Leon, and the Devil provided lots of amusement.

This show doesn't really have a "must watch" quality to it, but it's always entertaining.
I really wanted Sam to tell Andi the reason he lied about Greg was that he was jealous. But I don't suppose we'll get real progress on that front until the end of the season or so.

Billiam | Oct 30, 2007 9:23:09 PM | #

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i continously enjoy this show - and enjoy how they keep getting Sam semi-nude! keep that coming.

Liz | Oct 31, 2007 5:19:24 AM | #

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I loved the detail that Leon was Leon Czolgosz, the man who actually assassinated McKinley. But being a history nerd, I got distracted: why would Leon be in Seattle, when he spent his life around the Great Lakes? And why was he a repentant self-help nut, when in life he was an anarchist who believed he did the right thing, right up until his execution? Also, the machine gun hand was awesome, but there weren't guns like that in 1901...

I guess I'm really wondering if the writers just went for the joke, or they were actually sneaking in some more information about the rules of the Reaper universe, or something.

Shell | Oct 31, 2007 6:51:07 AM | #

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The personal interaction made me miss chunks of "House MD," and that's not an easy task this season.
Little by little, with witty dialogue, funny character interactions, and nice twists (catching the Devil in his own lie - sweet!), this may eventually be a "must watch" show.

pakopako | Oct 31, 2007 7:28:00 AM | #

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I liked how they finally made an effort to break, at least somewhat, the formula for the show. Starting off with a capture, learning more about the 'technical' aspects of hell, and having a little more direct continuity from the previous episode (Andi still mad at him).

Personally I thought this was the best post-premiere episode of the series, with great character interactions and better story elements, along with the usual entertaining action and funny dialog.

Cal | Oct 31, 2007 9:28:14 AM | #

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didn't like this show quite as much as last week's. I wish they could find more for Sock's ex to be involved in. I want to see a little more on what the deal is with Sam's Dad. Patton Oswalt was good, but the special effects at the end with the dog weren't very special.

steve | Oct 31, 2007 11:51:27 AM | #

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this show is hilarious....definitely "must see" for me.

saney | Oct 31, 2007 12:05:56 PM | #

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Still lovin' Reaper. I love the 'true friendship' theme. And the characters are really well-written and well-acted. Kudos all around.

Siansonea | Nov 1, 2007 8:55:31 AM | #

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I doubt if anybody is still reading this, days late, but here goes: I love Reaper, and am happy it is developing as it goes along. Great writing and a cast that works well together. But the fact that there are only nine comments here nearly a week after the episode does not bode well for its longevity, I fear. At least it is on the CW, where the standard for ratings is much lower.

My assessment of several new shows this fall, after the initial onslaught: Reaper, Pushing Daisies, and Journeyman are getting stronger. Chuck and Dirty, Sexy Money are withering a bit; if they do not pick it up, I may drop them.

George | Nov 5, 2007 10:40:33 AM | #

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George, I also love Reaper, but don't always have the time to comment on blogs.

That said, my must-see shows this season are "Reaper", "Pushing Daisies" and "Journeyman", but I still have strong feelings for "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Chuck". I'm also a huge HIMYM and Big Bang Theory fan

Big Joe | Nov 6, 2007 7:13:11 AM | #

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