'Reaper': Three men and a (demonic) baby
Last week, "Reaper" finally reintroduced Sam's father to the fold. Fans cheered, as they had waited a long time to achieve some payoff to last year's season-ending cliffhanger. And their patience was rewarded with...practical jokes. Not exactly the epic return most of us expected. While the unexpected can be a good, even great thing, I imagine many fans felt the same as me about Mr. Oliver's return: disappointed.
In fact, Mr. Oliver's zombie self barely factored into tonight's episode except as a peripheral character, constantly trying to reconnect with Sam throughout the episode. But Sam had enough on his plate this week to worry about Zombie Dad. Mr. Oliver largely functioned as yet another example of this week's thematic struggle: nature versus nurture. Think "Wuthering Heights" by way of "Ghostbusters 2" set in a faux Home Depot and you get the gist.
This week's soul? A wannabe vampire in life, now real vampire in death. Sam and Company dispatch her quickly, in a clumsy-yet-effective ode to Buffy Summers' Scooby Gang. But the troubles really start when they realize she's left behind what Gladys calls an IBOH=international intentional birth out of hell. The lads take the baby home, where she's eventually adopted by newly returned Tony. Ah, Ken Marino: a sight for sore "Reaper" eyes, ye are.
Naturally, the Devil wants a two-for-one deal, which leaves Sam in the awkward position of trying to recapture Stevie (named after Tony's deceased lover) from an overly protective demon daddy. Ben eventually strikes upon baptism as a way to free the child from the Devil's grip, but during the ceremony (conducted by Father Gaeta, fresh off his tour on the Galactica) the devil manages to direct Stevie's stroller into a room containing a portal to hell. Sam apparently convinces the devil that the supposed demon child would do more harm on earth than in hell, but upon "winning" the argument, the Devil throws some cold water on Sam's good intentions.
See, in the Devil's mind, nature (read: weakness, depravity, the seven deadly sins, etc) always wins out. Tony, for his part, believes that nurture overcomes nature. And at the nexus of these two viewpoints, standing on a tightrope, is Sam. Tony trusts in his innate goodness, and tells Andi of Steve's visitation at the end of Season 1. But Morgan makes sure to slither, all Daddy-like, whispering in Andi's ear that Sam's simply a ticking time bomb of evil waiting to go off when she least expects it.
All of this, finally, returns us to Mr. Oliver. While the apparent architect of his son's current situation, Sam nevertheless credits him with any and all good impulses he currently possesses. And so, with Sam's mother having kicked him out of the house permanently, looks like Mr. Oliver will chill (literally) in Sock's garage, functioning like an undead Jiminy Cricket while Sam seeks to battle his inner demons (again, literally).
A few more tidbits from tonight's ep:
- Again, while I'm not sure treating Mr. Oliver as comic relief was such a good idea, it was even worse to have Sam blindly and benignly treat his return. Having them reconcile should have taken the majority of this season, not a mere episode.
- Sock's inappropriate feelings towards Kristen returned. Ugh. At least the show had Ben as our stand-in, telling him exactly how skeezy this plotline truly is. Let's hope that vicious game of racquetball is the end, once and for all, of this plot.
- Liked the understated way in which Sam gives Andi explicit permission to run for the hills if she sees something in him evil. I respect that he respects her enough to have that type of moral compass.
- Quotes of the week: The Devil: "Looking sharp, Buffy! Looking sharp!" Sock: "No one's going to wanna breast feed a fang baby!" Ben: "Yea, we're a power couple." Sock: "I already named her Magnum P.I."
Overall, some interesting themes with less-than-interesting execution. The battle for Sam's soul has always been at the heart of the show, and this episode only served to bring that subtext up to...well, text, I suppose. Mr. Oliver as Wacky Undead Sidekick doesn't work for me, but hopefully they add some pathos as well as mythos to his return before season's end.
What did you think about Mr. Oliver's return? Will Morgan's plan to poison Andi's mind work? Does Sam's biological or ideological father matter more?
Ryan's off to play some undead badminton over at Boob Tube Dude.
My dogs caused a bit too much ruckus for me to catch what happened to the baby. Did he go with the devil, or did Sam take her back to Tony?
IBOH = Intentional Birth Out of Hell, not International. :)
I agree with you about Ken Marino. I hope that isn't the last we see of him. As for Andi, she does nothing but b!tch, moan and complain about EVERYTHING. I have no idea why Sam puts up with her.
Am I the only one who likes Ted?
Jen, the scene ended with the devil disappearing and Sam holding the baby. I ***ume he gave her back to Tony, but they never showed it.
God, I love Andi. She's the only one who actually thinks on the show. Thank Heavens there's someone around who doesn't let Sam, Sock, or anyone else get away with their crap. She's practically a Mary Sue for the audience.
Promo: 206 The Underbelly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H197CJavNzY
Lori: I was going to make an IHOP joke, and then abandoned it. Alas, "International" remains. Darnit.
This show could use much more Andi and much less Sock.
The scene with the Devil and Sam and the baby at the HellPit was confusing. Almost seemed like a movie where someone left out a reel. I kept expecting Sam would say if the baby goes in the pit, so do I. But the scene just kind of ended, and the baby never was seen again. I ***umed the devil tossed the baby in the fire, but they just felt that was too harsh a scene to actually show.
Seems they are going to great lengths this season to show the EVIL side of the suave, well-dressed Satan. Maybe they had complaints last year that their devil was too likeable.
Steve R.,
I like that we are getting to see Ray Wise play more sinister since he's one of the best at it. I'm not fond of the Sock/sister plotline and i hope they ditch it now. I love Sock the character, but this storyline just isn't working. They can give him something better than this. Also, they are making Ben way too much of a wussy this season. I hope this show gets a third season to continue to improve, but its not likely. Also Andi is so damn hot especially when she's mad!
Oy, someone else is on TVtropes. (heaven help your beleaguered eyes)
I actually found the highlight of this episode to be when Tony returned (I keep wanting to call him Adam) and the gang gave him a recap of what's been happening, especially s Ben's "power couple" line.
I wonder if Morgan & Sam (since he can step on consecrated ground) have any allergies to holy water?
@Lori and Steve R., Thanks. I feel better that I didn't completely miss what was going on.