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REAPER |
Sam - Brett Harrison Sock - Tyler Labine Andi - Missy Peregrym The Devil - Ray Wise Ben - Rick Gonzalez 
OTHER TYLER LABINE SHOWS Invasion OTHER RAY WISE SHOWS Twin Peaks OTHER SCI FI COMEDIES Chuck A Town Called Eureka Red Dwarf Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 3rd Rock From the Sun 
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A New HopeSam, Sock and Ben come back from a road trip aimed at helping him to get over the fact that the man he called Dad is dead and his real father is the devil. They have no home, no money and no jobs. Sam also has a new task of getting rid of 20 of the most fearsome escaped souls that he has ever encountered with only a cattle prod that takes a minute to recharge after each firing. Oh, and Andi's annoyed with him as well. It's been a long time coming this second season of REAPER on E4, but the opening episode is worth the wait. There's nothing new or original in it, but it reintroduces the characters well and reminds us what a likeable bunch they are. Tyler Labine's Sock is as outrageous as ever and has a sexy stepsister to get all hot and bothered about. Ray Wise immediately makes a splash as the Devil with only a few minutes of screen time. The new plot arc is set up with Sam meeting a soul who managed to break a deal with the Devil, giving him some hope of doing the same, but it's the same old silly, fun and frivlous REAPER that we came to know and love so well. TopDirty Sexy MongolSam has to take down the soul of Mongol warrior, but he is more interested in finding the soul that escaped his deal with the Devil. The Devil, of course, has his own views on that. Sock is still struggling with his attraction to his new sister by marriage and Ben gets a new girl in his life, sort of. There's something curiously flat about this episode of REAPER. The comedy is based around Sock and his sister and that situation is already getting old. As before, the story about the capture of the soul is almost the side story, but there isn't a main story to really take it anywhere. It all feels a bit like filler, filler that is setting up aspects of the plot arc, such as Ben's new lady friend. Even the sub plot of a mystery shopper getting the store manager fired really doesn't go anywhere, it just sort of happens. TopThe Sweet ScienceSam is given the job of sending back the soul of a fighter who just wants another shot at the boxing title, something he lost when he took a bribe and threw a fight. Andi, meanwhile finds herself promoted to manager of the Work Bench. As ever, it's the fringe benefits that make this show. The central story of a soul that Sam doesn't want to send back to hell is pretty dull, but there is a whole side story of Andi and Sock fighting over the fate of a fictional employee to enjoy and Ben's relationship with him demon girlfriend is still fun. Thank goodness for the cast who manage to keep the show on the rails. TopThe FavoriteThe Devil introduces Sam to another son by the name of Morgan. Apparently charming, he is as evil as his father, but when he steals a ring from a soul with the power to turn gold into deadly brain-eating bugs, it's up to Sam to save the day. In the meantime, Ben has to try and sort out a sexual problem with his demon girlfriend. The introduction of the Devil's other son livens up this episode of the series no end and brings a whole new dimension to it. The special effects around the gold bugs are fine, but this is really about the cast and the comedy. Without Sock and Ben this show would have died the death a while ago. The revelation of Sam's (un)dead father at the climax is, however, a surprise move. TopI Want My Baby BackWhen a vampire soul is sent back to hell, her child becomes a problem for Sam, Sock and Ben. Then demon Tony comes back into their lives and agrees to look after it. When the Devil shows up and demands the baby to be sent to Hell as well, Sam is faced with his worst assignment ever. This is another step on the return to quality for this show. Riffing on THREE MEN AND A BABY, it moves onto new areas as Andi the learns the truth about Sam's parentage and Sam faces up to a Devil who shows his horns for once, Ray Wise again showing what a class performer he is, switching from charming and avuncular to deadly menace in a heartbeat. TopUnderbellyThe Devil sends Sam to get a giant worm soul living in a mine near an abandoned town. Except the town isn't abandoned and everyone seems keen on getting the group into the mine with the exception of the sheriff. There's more than a hint of Stephen King's Desperation about this story (something nasty in the mine, abandoned town, evil sheriff), but the soul story isn't the point here. The social lives of the group is what this is about. Andi and Sam are having their problems as she struggles with the whole 'son of the Devil' thing, Ben's demon girlfriend thinks he's too clingy and Sock finally gets it on with his stepsister to disastrous effect. All of which is entertaining enough, but is also very, very disposable. It's getting more and more difficult to feel for these characters as they don't seem to be progressing very far and the repetitive nature of the soul-hunting is hurting it as well. TopThe Good SoilSam gets the job of sending a young man back to Hell for the sin of fancying his neighbours wife at the time of his death. Since it's not that big a sin, Sam and the guys agree to help him lose his virginity before they send him back. Things are not, as ever, quite as simple as that. It's pretty much business as usual with Sock dealing witht he change in his relationship with his half-sister-in-law and Ben trying to figure out why he destroys all his relationships when they get serious and Andi agonises over how hanging out with the Devil is changing Sam. There's plenty of with and warmth, not to mention the Devil's other son Morgan baring his teeth for once. The show, like its characters, is drifting a bit, but is still fun to kick around with. TopThe Home StretchThe Devil sets a challenge between Sam and his half-brother Morgan to capture and escaped soul. Sam, meanwhile, manages to track down the one soul who ever got out of his deal with the Devil and makes a deal of his own. This episode is more mildly amusing rather than really funny, partly because the story is split between Sock's attempts to get a date at a funeral, demon Nina's attempts to reconcile with Ben's evil-seeing grandmother, the soul-hunting contest and Sam's search for a way out of his deal with the Devil. The lack of focus allows the episode to meander and none of the storylines gets the tiem or attention they need to expand into something satisfying. The continuing arc of Sam's relationship with Morgan moves forward only slightly and in a manner that could only be termed 'repetitively', but the cast manage to remain likeable and keep things on track, just. TopNo Reaper Left BehindSam is sent by the Devil to a tutor who turns out to be a beautiful woman called Sally. Sam decides to seduce her into giving away the Devil's secrets, but the Dark Lord is one step ahead as ever. Sam's Dad, however, makes him an interesting offer. Nina the demon sends some destruction Ben's way as she tries to get back into his affections and her invasion of Sock's dream world is amusing, but the rest of the plot is lightweight and not a little predictable. Only the plot movements at the end of the show enliven it and promise something better for the future. The show is beginning to need it. TopMy Brother's ReaperThe Devil gives Sam a car to deliver, but the documentation is that of the deal for the recipient, a slimeball called Gary, to sell his soul to the Devil. He has a plan to repent at the 11th hour to get out of the deal, but the Devil has a way of dealing with that. Tony introduces Sam to a group of demons who follow 'the way of Steve' in the hope of getting back into Heaven. Morgan crashes the party with the aim of regaining favour with his father, but finds that he might have bitten off more than he can chew. There is an awful lot going on in this episode, but it is better balanced than some of the other episodes, most of the plot strands coming together in the surprising scene at the 'Steve' party in a satisfying and completely unexpected fashion. The comedy is back with a witty script that makes the most of the bachelor party that is thrown in the Work Bench, including the hilarious invention of 'clown strippers'. TopTo Sprong With LoveSam mistakenly believes that the loathsome biology teacher from his High School, Mr Sprong, is an escaped soul, but it turns out that he is only the target of the soul, an outraged ex-student. In order to protect the man, the gang kidnap him and duct tape him to a chair whilst they figure out what to do. Ben also has to figure out what he needs to do about the demons hitting on Nina whilst she is in heat and Sock has to figure out what to do about the store mascot that he has become. Whilst generally entertaining, there is a very real sense of treading water about the latest episode of REAPER. Ben and Nina’s problem is just a variation on all the others that have dogged their, admittedly unique, relationship and Sock’s japes are as offbeat as ever, but nothing is achieved that wasn’t achieved before and nothing is learned and no plot advances. TopBusiness CasualtyThe Devil is pleased with Sam's work and introduces him to the family firm where demons on the 75th floor make life a misery for everyone else working in the building. The 75th, however, has a portal to Hell, which is just what Sam needs in order to get his father out. First, though, he has to get promoted up there. This penultimate episode has a stronger story, but less in the way of comedy to propel it along. The show is now utterly reliant on Tyler Labine's Sock for the humour and even his routine is starting to get a bit thin. It's eminently watchable, just not very memorable. TopThe Devil and Sam OliverSam's found a way out of his deal with the Devil. All he has to do is to challenge him to a contest and win. Unfortunately, there is nothing that Sam Oliver is very good at. Or is there? And so the final episode is upon us and it proves to be a complete let down. It's not actually bad, but this is the last every episode and it would have been nice to find some sort of resolution in there, but there isn't one of any kind for any of the characters. Yes, it remains pleasantly witty and the characters remain ultimately likeable, but REAPER never actually fulfilled its potential and doesn't manage to to go out on a high, just a normal episode. Top |
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