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'Reaper' and the toasty soul
Okay, I admit that I was really hungry while I was watching Reaper, and the creepy bugs couldn't even put me off my feed. So, forgive me if I'm a bit distracted.
Spoilers swarming ahead.
Did I ever mention that as a kid I wanted to be an entomologist? Well, I got over that, but the insect theme on Tuesday's episode (Oct. 9) was still interesting, although I'm still waiting for Andi to get to do something, anything, interesting.
After a series of bug-related human deaths (shown in jazzy viewfinder format), the Devil comes a-knocking with his dusty vessel box for Sam to capture the latest escaped soul. After a red herring (mmmm, herring), it turns out that it's to Gloria, a mistress who had an affair with a guy named Harold Bunsen when she was alive.
She's back, and doesn't want anyone to come between her buggy-mosaic body and the man she loves. So whenever Harold talks to someone female, she sends her little minions to attack and kill the unfortunate ladies.
Meanwhile, after attending a lecture by a lowland gorilla expert, Andi is curious about college again, especially since some dude named Greg is keen on her returning full time. Mr. Pink Pinstriped Shirt thinks that she could be "so much more" than a Work Bench employee. Well, yeah, but that's the whole point of her being there. She's there for Sam, who, on this odd little journey the Devil has set out for him, will eventually realize that he too could be so much more. Or am I reading way too much into this show?
The Vessel o' the Week is a broken toaster, which Sam's pal Ben fixes. After a brief, uncharacteristic bout of fear, Sock decides he can overcome the bugs and help out Sam after all. Of course, this makes him the prime target when he accidentally stumbles across Gloria and tries to hit on her. Harold arrives on the scene and demands that Gloria stop because, well, he never loved her anyway. Not a smart move to tell an angry soul with a bee-allergic Sock by the throat and homicidal invertebrates at her command.
In the end, the guys realize that the toaster they fixed was meant to be broken to work, so Sam uses the ol' hanger in the toaster slot trick (kids, don't try this at home or really anywhere). And in a move worthy of Peter Venkman, Sam slides the kitchen appliance along the floor to capture Gloria, who is doing that really creepy bees-streaming-from-the-mouth thing.
Oh, and Andi isn't going back to classes in a bid for college because the school is closed for an asbestos tip -- an anonymous call that was made by the Devil. So, once again, Satan has done Sam another solid. What kind of altruistic game is he playing here anyway?
Some Sock highlights:
- Sock feeding Sam like a baby bird
- Josie's nickname for Sock's "junk" is Grumpy
- Sock yelling, "Die, toaster, die!" and beating it -- the toaster.
- "Everybody just calls me Sock because I just feel like a glove, you know?"
What did you think about this episode? Is it feeling a bit too formulaic to you?
The closing shot of Ray Wise smiling and giving Sam a thumbs up was just perfect.
Rishi | Oct 9, 2007 9:33:17 PM | #...while feeding the squirrel...
s | Oct 9, 2007 10:32:58 PM | #You know how everyone complained about Smallville being a 'freak of the week' show? That's what this is feeling like right now. But I'm sure that it's just because it's the third episode and it'll get better.
eahilbert | Oct 10, 2007 4:33:18 AM | #I agree about the freak of the week feeling but it's done in a fun way and I think once the show is established and the characters are broadened it'll start to change.
Eric | Oct 10, 2007 5:04:34 AM | #The show is about Satan's bounty hunter capturing souls that have escaped from hell. It's a crime procedural with a romantic throughline....what makes anyone think it would be anything BUT a freak-of-the-week show? It's bright, smart, entertaining....stop overanalyzing and just enjoy the show!
Big Joe | Oct 10, 2007 5:19:01 AM | #I don't mind the formulaic plot, this is still a totally fun show. The chemistry between Sam and Sock and Ben is great, and I like Andi so far. The dialogue is funny, the actors deliver the laughs and the emotional vibe well. It's just a great show so far. Even if they stick to this formula, as long as they keep the character's interactions fresh I'll keep watching. The captured soul/procedural aspect is really not the main focus of the show for me.
Siansonea | Oct 10, 2007 6:55:06 AM | #really liked this week's episode. It seemed very well balanced. Ray Wise continues to impress as the Devil.
CW | Oct 10, 2007 7:42:02 AM | #Forgot to mention that I wish Ben would get hurt in every episode. First episode, his eyebrows burned off. Second episode, he got shot with a nail gun. He should have been stung in this episode. Too bad..haha
CW | Oct 10, 2007 8:26:45 AM | #You could say that SUPERNATURAL is "Freak of the Week" and it does that very well.
pakopako | Oct 10, 2007 9:37:47 AM | #I agree with previous comments that said "Reaper" has used the Freak of the Week formula, like Smallville's first season. In fact, one of Smallville's episodes "Drone" was about a girl who controlled bees and ordered them to attack her enemies. Despite some similarities, I think "Reaper" has superior writing and acting.
I am not sure why the Devil is helping Sam get closer to Andi, since it seems way too nice for him to do. I'm thinking that the Devil will use Andi as a 'prize' or an incentive for Sam to keep following his orders (the Devil could threaten to kill Andi if Sam disobeys him).
As always, Sock had the funniest lines. Also, I love how Ben is the smart, practical sidekick.
Paige | Oct 10, 2007 9:57:42 AM | #I LOVE this show! But because of the bug theme I could bring myself to watch last night. Just thinking about it makes me itch. I would have had to take a sedatitive and some benadryl to calm down. Especially hearing about the bees. So scared of bees and roaches. I will be back next week. Can't wait!
CoCo | Oct 10, 2007 11:30:02 AM | #I started out really liking this show. My interest is waning fast despite the great performances by the devil and Sock. Maybe I was just overtired Tuesday, but I found it impossible to stay awake through the episode. The show may have painted itself into a corner by narrowing down Sam's indentured servanthood to bounty hunting for escaped souls. There are so many more possibilities if he can be pressed into service in other "devil made me do it" ways.
Another thought: Suburban Seattle sure seems like a hot scene for hell's escapees. Surely, Sam is just the regional rep and there must be other reapers out there in the world. Are we destined to meet any of them? And can we meet the soul (dead or living) who preceded Sam at his post?
Goph | Oct 10, 2007 2:08:57 PM | #It reminded me on the Drone episode mentioned by Paige above as well as a couple of early Buffy eps - kindof a combination. That is not a good sign IMO, that the show already feels it necessary to 'steal' storylines from other shows that this show aspires to be - maybe not in style, but success.
Rishi | Oct 10, 2007 3:15:54 PM | #Funniest moments for me:
3rd bug on toothbrush, upside down. (Not sure why, it made me laugh both times I saw it.)
Devil's slideshow includes a shot of him at the Emmy's w/ Mariska Harigay. (The creators of this show were staff writers for SVU before)
Dr. Spaceman | Oct 10, 2007 6:28:20 PM | #Entertaining show, but is the devil too nice? Doin' Sam a solid, again?
scott | Oct 10, 2007 7:46:12 PM | #My assumption has been that the show was designed as a "freak of the week" format, so that doesn't bother me. And Bret is much more adorable than Tom Welling--I like how they show him undressed and sleepy every week.
Tego Livi | Oct 11, 2007 7:19:52 AM | #Darn it, no snarky comment from the Motor Vehicles clerk this week.
mike | Oct 11, 2007 10:46:23 AM | #The bugs didn't bug me a bit. I hate pancakes and sausage as I watched.
This show is fun, but we'll see if I'm still watching it at the end of the season, just because it's not really a show you have to catch every single week.
Oh, and I thought it was lame the way that Andi didn't go to college at the end. First of all, if Sam would just grow a pair and ask her out, it wouldn't matter if she was going to college. And come on, ppl who are like, "Yep, someday I will go to college" never actually do.
And I'm a math major, who's taken Stats, so I recognized all the topic names that she mentioned about her class. The topics may consist of big words that you haven't heard before, but Statistics is really not that hard of a class.
Oh, and I actually ATE the pancakes, note hate them.
Billiam | Oct 11, 2007 12:21:18 PM | #lol the devil feeding the squirrle with a bag of nuts at the end was hillarious. i love this show
| Feb 14, 2008 11:01:00 AM | #
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