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Finalewatch: 'Reaper' goes digging in the dirt
One can only imagine the frustration Reaper fans would have had if this had been the final episode of the series, not season. Because in the last ten minutes, the show laid out the ground work for a second season that sounds in every way superior to the first. Now, that's not me hatin' on this season of the show; far from it. In terms of overall quality, I'd rank it in the Top Ten of shows currently on the air. When Reaper breaks out its "A" game, it's Top Five. And tonight, while imperfect, Reaper still brought its "A" game.
Let's start with what happened tonight before dwelling on the show's future. Tony and his demon ilk decided that Sam was the son of the Devil after using the time-tested "Falling Washing Machine Technique," which I believe is mentioned in the Book of Leviticus. That moment not only confirmed Tony's suspicions, but also harkened back to the pilot episode, when Sam started exhibiting strange and unusual powers on his birthday. Tony's inability to Maytag Sam into nothingness confirmed his suspicion and initiated a plot to entrap Sam inside a mystic cage.
So on one side, you had Tony, but on the other? Steve, looking very well for one crushed by a building! Thank God Steve appeared to Sam and not Sock; otherwise, we would have been subjected to sixty-seven "I see gay people!" jokes throughout tonight's episode. Steve cryptically tells Sam to "ask about Cancun," because, "Tell Tony I'm in heaven before he buries you alive" would have ended the show before the second commercial break.
Now, you could argue that the Steve stuff was heavy-handed, ham-fisted, and semi-sorta kinda not in the least well executed, but his appearance served several purposes. For one, it finally brought Tony's long-simmering rage over Steve's death to the forefront, with his palpable anger at Sam's insistence upon seeing him. Secondarily, it offered the chance of actual redemption in the Reaper universe. With Steve safely embraced by God, it offers hope not only to Tony but the entire Reaper universe that hell isn't the only option available. And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, it showed that God's taking an active interest in what's happening in this particular next of Earth's woods.
And here's where the show opened up from a comic nihilism into something for more forgiving and far more epic: a literal battle between God and the Devil over the fate not only of Sam, but the entire world, for that matter. This battle has always been implicit in the show, merely through the Devil's presence. But while God is not absent in this particular universe, He sure seemed apathetic up until this point, largely allowing the Devil to do his thing. With Steve's reappearance, God served notice that this time of acquiesence is over.
It also serves notice that the show's ready to move "soul of the week" stories and focus on larger mythological issues. We've got God and Satan ready to duke it out over the soul of a Work Bench employee. We have demons convinced that Sam is the son of the Devil. And we have perhaps literally demonic parents with agendas of their own. Any one of these three narrative threads would produce an excellent Season 2, and yet Reaper presents us with an overabundance of awesome.
Personally, the latter story line intrigues me the most, as there's always been the hint of something not quite right with his folks. But these two figures were put on the back burner throughout most of the year, only truly coming back into focus in this hour. I want to know what they discussed inside the chalk circle. I want to know the deal they made with the Devil. And I want to know why Sam's paying the price for that deal. These are all compelling issues that need not get bogged down by complex theology or a string of "demon attempts to kill the Son of Satan" episodes.
The key to this "Father, Son, and the HOLY CRAP" storyline lies in the tarot reading delivered by this week's escaped soul, Madam Ozara. The Emperor card represented a conflict with Sam's father. The Ace of Swords, inverted, showed a lie between the two. The Death card, again inverted, centered on Sam's birth. And finally, a series of Devil cards obscured the truth surrounding the events in the first few cards. I'm not Tarot expert, and I think it's less important to quibble about what the cards actually mean in real readings and focus on what the show wants them to mean.
Season 2 might turn Sam into a Luke Skywalker figure, aware of his supposed destiny yet constantly working to fight fate. Sam's got two possible dads, and both seem to have more than a little Darth Vader in them. We'll perhaps eventually learn if Sam's unusual powers are a blessing or a curse. Finding out the truth about his past might be the only way to save his future.
I'd be remiss to not leave you one last time with a bevy of choice Reaper quotes, as we'll be sadly bereft of the show's wit for a few months at least.
- "Oh, he is evil like none have known before!"
- "A unicorn fighting a werewolf...it's the ultimate battle!"
- "Also, I never told you this...I never learned to read."
- "I scout for the Yankees in my off-time."
- "Did you eat like sixteen Pixy Stix?"
- stupid mime on the hangman
- "You know how good you feel when you wear your bike pants?"
That's all the Sock goodness you're going to get in this final recap, as his succubus storyline can be summed up thusly: he's horny, and she's horn-y. Completely forgettable as a subplot, and took up time that can be better spent in Season 2 filled with any of the plotlines outlined above. I have faith that with a direction well-established, and one full season under its belt, Reaper can take what works well, excise what doesn't, and give us even more of what many of us already love next year.
What did you think of the season finale? What surprised/delighted you the most? And do you think the show's going in the right direction as it heads into its summer-long hiatus?
Ryan builds mystical cages in his spare time over at Boob Tube Dude.
Reaper is easily my second favorite show out of what was the 2007-08 freshman season. The first being NBC's Life.
And that's with me only getting to see maybe the first eight episodes before my TV viewing went staright to Hell. Yeah, pun intended of course.
onebood | May 20, 2008 8:14:10 PM | #not a bad episode , but not on par with previous weeks. yep Sam's dad is definitely a demon, don't know about his mom yet. i think Sam's dad is probably the devil's brother, another fallen angel, making the Devil Sam's uncle and making Sam part demon. I have a feeling Andi has something to do with all of this as well, she's maybe even a part of Sam's father deal with the devil. Great line about the devil scouting for the Yankees but it would have been a lot funnier if he scouted for the Red Sox since the Yankees suck right now. Anyway I was expecting this episode to amp up the intensity but compared to Friday's Battlestar this was more like the Smallville season ender, kind of lame...
not so newish guy | May 20, 2008 8:58:55 PM | #You're kidding. Right? BSG is the biggest let down of them all. The 'final season' has been one long borrrrrrrrrring ride.
Reaper rocks. The better show is moving on. One shall be revealed my Aunt Fanny.
BSG amped? | May 20, 2008 9:53:19 PM | #I love Reaper, and glad it got picked up for next season. This whole trend of 20-something Everymen who work at chain retail stores (see "Chuck", too) is great, as I am that guy, lol.
I said 1 or 2 weeks ago that I wanted to see some divine intervention into the overall Reaper storyline, and looks like they're starting to deliver. Next season looks to be good if they stick with these plots, but WTF was with the parents and the dirt pile at the end?
Sean | May 21, 2008 4:10:05 AM | #I really enjoyed the finale and think the shows since the strike propelled the series into a top 10 show for me.
Perhaps I wasn't paying close enough attention but I am not convinced that the Devil is Sam's father. I don't think it was his power that stopped the washer from crushing him. I think it was Steve, didn't his face appear just above the spot where the Maytag pushing demon was perched?
At any rate, I think the setups for season 2 are terrific and will miss Sam and his minions over summer (expecially Sock).
Tracy | May 21, 2008 5:40:37 AM | #Any chance that the devil is Sam's GRANDfather? That would make Sam's dad the Devil's son... there is a deep psychological mine to dig if that is the case...
Generally there is a common bond between grandson/daughter and grandfather/mother - an implicit loathing of the common thread - i.e. the middle generation.
Just a random thought for a very interesting episode and a kick butt show.
jehu23 | May 21, 2008 6:38:14 AM | #Together with Supernatural, they're the best shows on The CW....and in many respects, the best on TV. (Except for Lost, of course! :) )
Common Sense | May 21, 2008 6:39:03 AM | #If Sam's parents were demons and that somehow gave him powers, then his brother would have them too. I hope they bring the brother back in it more, as there is definately some comedy to be had in trying to keep all this crazyness from the unsuspecting brother. And he was introduced at the beginning and then sort of dropped...
I think season 2 is shaping up to be great.
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4092/devilek4.png
Jason | May 21, 2008 6:59:25 AM | #Check out the link above. Its an OMFD devil pic!
Jason | May 21, 2008 7:00:04 AM | #I think the show seemed early in the season to be a comedy with a soul of the week without any deeper storylines, but slowly they've started introducing some mythology, etc., like a Buffy or similar shows. However, unlike Buffy I don't think the creators/writers have a whole universe fleshed out and are kind of making it up as they go along.
I'd much prefer the show to develop a consistent back story - I don't need to be overloaded with a dense mythology, but dropping bits and pieces about the battle between God and the Devil, some bits about past confrontations between good and evil, more stuff like Solomon's cage. And Sam's powers...can he control them? Can he learn to control them?
What I would really like, though, is for Sam to stop being such a reactive person, who still seems bewildered by what's going on around him, and be more proactive and, while not embracing his role, at least show a little backbone and common sense. You can't beat the Devil.
Epper | May 21, 2008 7:52:38 AM | #
What ever happened to the other girl he was dating that may or may not have been the Devil's daughter? She went away for a break and they never brought her back, even though they referenced her for a couple eps. Will they bring that storyline back next year? Cause she was hot. Hotter than Andi, if you ask me.
That girl was Cassidy or Casie maybe and I don't think she will be back. She is in the 90210 show if I'm not mistaken.
Darius | May 21, 2008 9:01:20 AM | #Hell yeah, Reaper and Supernatural are amazing shows, only second to Lost I think. The demon that liked Sock was so hot.... she has to be in there next year! She was in a few episodes on Supernatural as well...
Thomas | May 21, 2008 9:34:17 AM | #What would be great is if they brought back his brother, them both being the Sons of the Devil, and Sam has to battle his brother who wants to be the "evil" one.
You could even have his brother have his own little posse with look-alike evil versions of Sock and Ben.
I love this show - I do the dance of joy knowing it's renewed. Great season-ending episode last night! The show has a great cast and some pretty good writers!
DaisyRose | May 21, 2008 11:28:32 AM | #Did Sock know something when
he said he could hardly wait seven months for his next "fix"?
As in the show's second season will probably start in Jan.
Unless the CW goes under (which it has a HUGE chance of doing), I will SO be watching the second season!
Heradite | May 21, 2008 1:35:27 PM | #A good, but not great, finale to one of the better freshman shows this season.
I agree with Ryan... when Reaper brings its "A" game, it's a top 5 show. The dialog is hysterical, the plot is entertaining and the characters are very likeable.
Doug | May 21, 2008 2:21:44 PM | #I think Reaper takes the award for Most Evolved Show this season. What started out as a rather light-hearted romp is now showing its dramatic, good vs. evil core. Ray Wise makes for a very likeable Devil, but we're seeing more of his true nature, as we should. With Sam's origins up in the air, I think we'll see his character develop from the good-hearted goof to something more complex. Can't wait for next season!!!
huntress | May 21, 2008 3:14:18 PM | #Fun series, likable cast, increasingly intriguing storylines. Sure, some bumpy spots here and there. But next season has loads of potential. Ray Wise has been consistently outstanding. He really owns the role. It must be a blast to write his lines. Sock is quickly ascending to one of the great philosopher-slacker roles of all time, appropriate for a series with some of Kevin Smith fingerprints on it.
I, too, pondered the possibility of Devil-as-Grandpa. And also, I foresaw some interesting possibilities with bringing Sam's brother back onto the scene. Wouldn't want them to pull a Chuck Cunningham and all of a sudden pretend he never existed.
I've long been hoping for an angelic presence on this show. And it is a refreshingly inventive role for Michael Ian Black, who has not annoyed me at all on this show as he has on "Ed" and in a couple of other shows. I'd still like to see the show's universe widen so that we can meet other reapers. Surely, there can't only be one; otherwise, the Seattle area is one seriously disturbed place. Either that, or the soul of the week is a catch-and-release program of the Devil's own invention that is simply a diversion for him to get to know Sam by exploiting a loophole in the contract with Sam's parents.
Goph | May 21, 2008 3:37:09 PM | #OK...here is an extraordinarily "out there" proposal regarding "Reaper."
What if, instead of the Devil's son, Sam is actually God's son, come back to earth?
Stay with me on this...Sam is basically a good guy, who has been told that his soul was sold to the Devil. His job is to send evil souls back to hell. But why would the Devil want evil souls back in hell? Seems to me like the more evil there is on earth, the more souls the Devil can collect.
Also, the Devil has tempted Sam with many things in season one. According to the Bible, Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights.
Finally, what if Sam's mom and dad are the Devil and his wife, and the "Devil" (Ray Wise) is actually God in disguise, doing the work of tempting Sam?
Like I said...I know it's completely out there, but it's something that I can't stop thinking about.
It's gonna be a long summer!
Big Joe | May 21, 2008 6:58:50 PM | #Big Joe: Interesting theory, but I don't think God would pretend to the devil and break Sam's fingers like he did tonight. God would not turn a telescope into a sniper rifle, either.
The rest of your theory is sound though. What if Sam is a savior, or a descendant of Jesus? (A La the Da Vinci Code). Then the devil would be tempting Sam as he tempted Christ.
As far as Sam's parents... it's my theory that his father's "sickness" wasn't a sickness at all. I think they are demons who wanted to be normal like Tony and Steve. (Only a Hetero couple). They probably regretted following the Prince of Darkness in his fall and just wanted a "normal" human life. So they made a deal with the devil that they could be human and raise a family... on the condition that they would produce spawn for Satan.
Can't wait for September!
Soul Reaper | May 22, 2008 12:06:05 AM | #For anyone who missed an episode of Reaper, it appears that the CW network will repeat the (entire, I hope) first season over the summer. The pilot episode is airing next Tuesday at 9pm.
IDR | May 22, 2008 12:41:45 PM | #Lots of interesting theories! It could really go in any direction. But I agree with a previous poster. It seems there are plently of demons wandering around, it would be interesting to see some angelic presence on earth as well...
Also, like how Buffy met other slayers, it would be cool for Sam to meet other reapers. We know there are others because the demons figured out Sam was special because the devil hangs out with him and chats and his realtionship is different than it is with the other reapers.
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