Reaper (2007-????) - Season 1

"Sam didn't even go to college!"
"Yes he did Kyle."
"For a month!"
"And we're very proud of him for trying, it's just that college made him sleepy."

"We all get in the car, go get some smack, kill a hooker in Vegas."

"The winner receives a free 20 pound spiral cut ham."
"I'm Jewish you jerk!"

"Got chased by a pack of dogs, moved an air conditioner with my mind, oh and the devil tried to carjack me. So overall not a great day."

On his 21st birthday, slacker loser Sam learns his parents sold his soul to the devil. So now Sam must work as Satan's bounty hunter. His friends help because it's cool. This is an okish start. Ray Wise owns the show (with some assistance from the Sock character). This episode is notable for some good lines and a unique look thanks to director Kevin Smith (who gave us 'Mallrats' and 'Dogma')

Highlight: The confrontations with the firebug.

Comments:

• Where did Sam's brother Kyle go?
• I guess Sock has seen 'Very Bad Things'.
• Where did the dogs and Sam's powers go in later episodes?
• What is Sam's attraction to the simpering Andi? He and Sock have more in common.

"Morning Linda Blair!"

"I allegedly hit him in the back of the head with a pint of latex paint."

"What's it like working in the portal to hell?"

Sam must stop another escaped soul. Meanwhile his friends 'help', the devil mocks and Andi annoys. Okish.

Highlights:

• The clock turning to 6:66. A horror trope, but a good one.
• Sock's ninja attack excuse to explain the damage.

Comments:

• What happened to Sam's Damien powers?
• Kyle annoys.

Sam, Ben and Sock must hunt another escaped soul. This one is a crazy stalker bug woman. Meanwhile Sam continues to angst over Andi. Okay but the writers really need to do something about Sam. Every scene he has is stolen either by the devil or Sock.

"I'm not google Sam."

Sam requests some time off but has to deal with an escaped soul who fancies himself as the new Criss Angel. Also there's something unexpected in the latest devil box. Okish.

Highlights:

• Sam's car parked in two handicapped spaces.
• Winston capturing the soul.

Comments:

• The devil is fond of his spray on tan.
• Some bad acting on display here.

"Cracked her pretty head open on the toilet. In my opinion, a very undignified way to go."

"I know some people."
"I know the devil, I think my people trump your people."

Guest Starring: Aaron Douglas ('Battlestar Galactica')

Sam must deal with a toxic revenger and his 'issues' with the unbearable Andi. Meanwhile Sam's dad burns a page from the contract. This was a bland episode, Sam as played by the PoorMansRyanReynolds is so bland and milquetoast, you just don't care about him. Sam's dad apparently sabotaging his contract is the only interesting development this week. Sam and Andi are dull and the show is stolen by Ray Wise and Tyler Labine, again.

It's Halloween and demons don't work at Halloween. But escaped souls do as Sam and his really stupid friends find out as they have to do deal with two murderous souls. The devil keeps trying to corrupt Sam (seriously is there Sam/devil slash out there?).

Goodish.

Highlights:

• Ted dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow.
• The body pit in the slaughterhouse - creepy.

Comments:

• Sam's dog companions return.
• How did they find Leon's therapist?
• Didn't the snowglobe vessel break, twice?

The trio need the help of sleazy co-worker Russ (Armstrong) to catch a wannabe Bonnie and Clyde obnoxious couple.

This was a bad episode which was redeemed only in part by Armstrong's sleazy turn as the greasy Russ who manages to come across as a prototype sexoffender while holding an ordinary conversation. Also the scene where the male half of the couple is captured by 8 Track tape is good.

"There's a demon buying paper towels!"

"Why would a demon be into Angel figurines?"

"It was very classy of you not to go for the crotch."

"I hate you, so much."

"Reading gives you migraines."

"I'm gonna give you 10 seconds to get out of here before I beat your face with a phone book."

A demon shops at The Work Bench. Meanwhile a soul is going to kill people using his tattoos as weapons. Sock is tormented by a dream of making out with Gladys. Sam is set up for murder. Andi's boyfriend Greg is a tool but then so is Andi. There is a twist in the tale about the cop and Sam gets a Get Out Of Hell Free card. Goodish.

Guest Starring: Melinda Clarke ('The OC', 'Xena: Warrior Princess', 'Nash Bridges', 'Firefly', 'Return of the Living Dead 3')

This was my first episode of 'Reaper'. So Sam (who looks like a poor man's Ryan Reynolds) and his buds Sock and Ben meet Satan's girlfriend. Satan (Ray Wise - 'Twin Peaks', 'Dead End') lounges around being menacing and sporting too much fake tan. Ben's psychic relative stands around glaring and the trio fight a giant ash monster with a hairdryer.

It's a bit blah but it has promise.

Comments:

• Sock was better on 'Invasion'.

"Hell is like the worst run business ever!"

"I was gonna get naked and roll around in it."

Sam dates Satan's daughter, Katie. And the trio get tempted by $6 million dollars.

Again a bit blah, but I'll stick with it.

Highlights:

• Sam inadvertently having phone sex with Satan.
• Sock's tacky belt buckle.
• The health insurance joke.
• The trio's 'love interests' noting their weird behaviour and discussing it.

Comments:

• How do the slackers afford a Wii?
• Katie's presence kills fish and flowers, yep she's the antichrist.
• Is giving $6 million to a gambling addicted ex-con really such a good idea?

Sock's mom kicks him out. Sock mopes. Sam's girlfriend Cady threatens Andi. Satan smacks Sam down. Jamie Kennedy can't act. An uh of an episode. There where some good bits to distract from the dross: Sock's mother shows some spine, Cady going 'Fatal Attraction' on Andi and the big stunt at the end.

Sock, Ben and Sam move into an apartment and end up living next door to Steve and Tony, a pair of gay demons. Meanwhile Sam's suspicions of Cady wrecks their relationship. The devil continues to manipulate Sam coming across in a really creepy molester manner. The devil gives Sam a pair of evil detecting glasses which prove Cady is normal. A good episode.

Comments:

• Sock has the bowling bowl from 'Mystery Men'.
• So if Cady isn't causing all the weird events, who is?

"You are special Sammy. The question is why are you so special?"

"The devil talks to you Sam. Do you have any idea how rare that is? For the Princes Of Darkness to sustain a friendship with a Reaper?"

Sam has to hunt down another escaped soul. What kind of place is hell that souls keep escaping from it? Anyway Andi and her orange fake bake tan gets mangled in a car crash thanks to the latest demon. Tony and Steve the gay demon neighbours turn out to be plotting against the devil. Sam is kind of sort of recruited to their plotting amidst hints that Sam is special. An okay episode. We get a hint of Steve's demon form. And why is Sam so special?

Sam (and his ugly new hairstyle) gets involved in a demon rebellion against the devil. Of course it seems the devil has been planning for this all along and totally plays Sam. The demon rebellion is mostly wiped out but Sam better sleep with one eye open from now on. A very good episode. The ice-cream scene was totally freaky, it was like something out of a 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' episode. Also the devil seems amused that Sam betrayed him and saves his life again (after the incident in 'The Cop').

Comments:

• How does Sam get home when the devil leaves him places?
• How does Ted know gay porn terminology?
• The devil set Sock up with the condo.

"She sort of saw me chop Jack's head off."

This is the Andie Finds Out Episode. It took six seasons on 'Smallville' for Lana to find out Clark's secret and it only destroyed most of the characters and the integrity of the show to get to that point. But bitterness aside on that one. Andie sees Sam reaping a demon and leaps to conclusions. Sam asks the devil for permission to tell Andie the truth and ends up owning el diablo a favour. In the end Andie is ok with Sam's other job and el diablo calls in that favour. Good. Sam and the devil have the weirdest relationship. But old scratch is always looking out for Sam, wonder why?

Highlights:

• Demon!Tony deboning Sam's chicken.
• The Beckham joke.
• Sam gets a scythe! About time!
• Sock's 'Highlander' joke.
• Tony's tongue trick.
• Sock vs the naked demon.
• The demons name: Jack King. Gross.