Pass the paprika...

Word is that this show is on the bubble. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I can't help but feel that all the freshness and good work that was done with Kevin Smith in the pilot has just been squandered over time on this series. The writing just leaves a lot to be desired. It's not that the dialogue isn't great or that the scenes are fun, but its the characterization and the plotting that leave so much to be desired. Characters constantly do things simply because it's moving the plot along, but often behave differently than they logically should. And the plots of the episodes started off so slow in the beginning, hitting the exact same story beats over and over again with different types of souls, that all the fun was just leeched out of this series. Now that the show is trying to find some momentum with the storyline, its just an uphill battle and the writers continue to do things like kill off Michael Ian Black (who was stealing his scenes), yet reiterate Ken Marino staging a rebellion over and over again. I enjoy this show, but I can't truly say that I'll miss it when its gone.

The Dance of Joy(ous Sacrifice)

Back from the strike, with the threat of cancellation hanging over their heads, the creative forces on Reaper have certainly decided to go for broke and reach for those big ideas and those big storylines that their world should open up to them. However, I fear that its too little too late. Too much time was spent retreading the exact same template in the early episodes and wandering down avenues that apparently weren't leading anywhere at all (Cady, anyone?). I recently watch the first season of Buffy again (which was the forerunner for all of these teen mysterious/funny CW shows) and saw the ways in which a first season can be done right. In fewer episodes (which were in no way perfect by the way), that show was able to establish characters, as well as grow them, establish a big bad, as well as vanquish him, and build a solid basis for tension both in the supernatural world and interpersonal relationships for seasons to come. After fourteen episodes, Reaper is just now exploring “A” storylines that have nothing to do with Sam simply catching the soul of the week.

They're Wii-eally pissed off. (Sorry, had to)

This week's episode is actually the last ones that was shot before the writers' strike and why the CW decided to hold these two episodes until now (and put them up against Lost) I'll never know. Despite the odd out of season references (they're decorating for Valentine's Day), this episode shows that Reaper and Sam as well are straining to break out of out the routine that they've found themselves in and they've managed to make an entertaining episode over the hour in which the soul-catching actually plays a rather small part. I mean Buffy was a vampire slayer, but the show had plots in which she didn't have to hunt a new vampire every week, right?

Sock's new poppa.
Hey, remember Reaper? That show with the great pilot, directed by Kevin Smith, that soon after grew fairly predictable and stale? It's back! Word is that Reaper is one of the many shows that are on the cancellation bubble (blame it on the strike, if you must) and that the ratings of tonight's episode would have a lot to do with it's future on the CW. Well, I have to imagine that went well, returning from an extremely long hiatus, with a Christmas episode in mid-March, in a new timeslot up against a newly reinvigorated Lost. Bret Harrison, you better hope that poker movie that you're starring in is a lot better than it looks in that trailer.

Who's leading?

Word on the digital street is that this was the last episode that Reaper was able to complete before the writers’ strike. It’s a shame too, because I feel like the show is just now finally getting out from under the weight of their plot format and allowing their characters to have interesting interactions and grow. Again this week, Satan gives Sam more than enough information to go after his escaped soul and spares us the boredom of watching CSI: Reaper. Even more interesting is that with the introduction of Cady, Andi (what is with these names!) took a significant backseat, both in Sam’s life and in the episode itself. Hell, I think Sock’s ex (whose name I care not to remember) actually had more screen time than Missi Peregrym did. I wonder if she’s worried that she’s going to be written out and reduced to shooting Stick It 2.

"Soul Hunters calling!"

Reaper is finally starting to break out of the formulaic corner that they have written themselves into and is starting to have more fun with their plotlines. The characters were always having fun within the confines of the plot, but for some reason the task of capturing the soul started to feel like the writers were just filling in the blanks.

This week, however, they were able to tell the story of the boys catching a soul without feeling like they were going through the paces. They were able to trim a lot of the setup, didn’t feel the need to saddle Sam with an unnecessary “gift” and gave all the characters plenty to do and new people to interact with outside the “A” story of catching the escaped soul.

Explosions! Explosions are exciting, right?

This show is doing it’s best to break out of the mold that they set for themselves in the pilot, but I question why it has to be so difficult in the first place? I know that there’s a premise that they want to adhere to, but even My Name is Earl figured out how to do episodes where Earl has nothing to do with his list. Does Sam really need to be hunting in each and every episode? I mean Buffy The Vampire Slayer didn’t have Buffy slaying vampires every episode, they had a story arc where their characters evolved and did different things that made sense for those characterizations. Hell, now that I think of it, Sam isn’t even really a Reaper. He’s not like George on Dead Like Me. It’s more like he’s a re-reaper. Anyways, while the episode was humorous and it was great to see Sock and Ben escape the assembly line of the story room at Reaper, it felt like Sam’s hunting task felt entirely tacked on. Couldn’t Satan just frame him and mess with him outside the context of the job?

Doin' the Sock!

And the countdown of new material is on. This is the seventh episode of Reaper and the word on the street is that they could have completed as few as nine episodes prior to the start of the WGA writers’ strike. Sigh. And it’s only appropriate with the strike beginning that Reaper features a guest starring role with Curtis Armstrong, who somewhat famously killed time during the last strike with his impromptu performance on Moonlighting when the finale ran short. At any rate, enjoy Reaper while it lasts, because with the faltering ratings, this may be the last few that you ever get.

The power of monkey compels you!

Well, it’s good to see this show breaking out of its shell, even if it’s just a little bit. This episode certain felt less “fill in the blanks,” although the development of the Sam/Andi storyline feels like it’s just going in circles. And did anyone else notice that Sock’s ex-girlfriend wasn’t in this week’s episode? Yeah, me neither.

We begin with Sam and his boys already about to catch their demon prey. Wait. Did I tune in late? No, they’re just shaking up the format a little. Apparently the soul was going to hit the G8 Summit or something, but right as the boys are about to get the drop on a soul for once, Sock has to go and fuss around with a hula dancer figure that plays music and alerts the escaped demon to their presence. From behind a closed bathroom door, the voice of Ratatouille (Patton Oswalt) drifts out, trying to bargain with the guys and explain away the apparent craziness of his G8 planning board (his therapist had him make it). Sam demands that he come out as he prepares to use the vessel (a monkey in a snow globe – okay).

Average household slime.

So… I think the series is trying to bust out of the little box that they have built for themselves (or that Kevin Smith has built for them), but the show is still going to have to try harder than they did on this episode. There’s just too much of a pattern of Satan-Andi-Awkward “Skill”-vessel-soul-Andi angry-save the day despite losing the girl. They are weaving in a bit of intrigue though with Sam’s father apparently knowing more about the contract for Sam’s soul than he is letting on and him going to lengths in order to keep it from Sam.