Ask and ye shall receive. Like Sock himself (Tyler Labine, pictured), Reaper fans have been longing to see more of Gladys (Christine Willes), the saturnine DMV demon. Well, our prayers were answered in this week’s Gladys-centric episode, "The Cop," which began with Gladys making a suprise visit to the boys’ home turf and buying a lot of paper towels at the Work Bench (and what was that tarp-wrapped bundle in her car that looked suspiciously like a corpse?). This shopping trip only further whetted Sock’s fascination with her, leading him to a few discoveries (and some even more tantalizing secrets) about what makes this deadpan demon tick.
Sock and Ben actually tracked Gladys back to her house, and when she left for work, they broke in and found… nothing that unusual. It was just an ordinary suburban home, filled with middle-aged lady kitsch (including lots of angel figurines — perhaps Gladys’ way of pining for the celestial status she might have enjoyed before she and Lucifer and all the other demon rebels became fallen angels?), and with a greenhouse in the backyard. Still, even the neighbors find her creepy, especially the kids, who regard her as the local Boo Radley and egg her house. Gladys, in turn, seems hurt by the ostracism, but also by Sock and Ben’s invasion of her privacy. In a terrific sequence, Sock returns to her house to apologize and express empathy, Gladys softens, and the two start a furious make-out session on the couch. Alas, it turns out to be Sock’s dream, but as he learns later, a dream planted by Gladys herself. Wicked!
The Gladys storyline was yet another example of how Reaper’s subplots have become more engaging than the ostensible main plot, the escaped-soul-of-the-week. This week’s involved yet another fugitive serial killer (ho-hum) and would have been strictly dullsville except for a few things: the killer’s nifty ability to peel off his own tattoos (strands of barbed wire, fireballs) and use them as weapons; the guest appearance of X-Files costar Mitch Pileggi (as the menacing cop of the episode title, who turns out to have his own contract with Satan); Sam’s childlike glee in getting to use a taser gun to capture the bad guy; and Sam’s discovery that he doesn’t necessarily need Sock and Ben’s help (since they were both too busy stalking Gladys) to hunt down escaped souls.
Two other mild disappointments: First, not enough time with Ray Wise’s Devil (though his line about having a craving for a bloomin’ onion was pricelessly delivered), and the whole Andi subplot. I’m glad she dumped Greg, who went from being bland to being a jerk in about 10 seconds flat, but it was strange to see her then pull away from Sam. It’s one thing for her to worry that if she and Sam did become a couple and then broke up, it would ruin their friendship (à la Sock and Josie), but another thing to break down in tears when he offered her a necklace. I still think there’s something she’s not telling us, a possibly diabolical secret.
What do you think Andi is keeping from Sam? Does Gladys have a thing for Sock, or is she just toying with him? Which would you rather do: have to scrape all the gum out of a dumpster, or be treated to a lobster dinner but get stiffed for the bill? And how soon do you think Sam will get to use that Monopoly-style "Get Out of Hell Free" card?
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Is it just me, or does Sock totally look like the Heat Miser in that photo?
Ugh.. Andi is so boring. She says Sam is the most important person to her but they barely have any screen time together. She just weaves in and out sporadically throughout the episode. Give her something to do! Make her interesting!
This week’s episode was indeed better than the last couple, just because a few things happened that weren’t part of a generic formula. Sock’s fascination and dreamtime spit-swapping with Gladys were priceless, and at least the Devil proved he really is the Devil by toying with Sam in some majorly deceitful ways. That said, the Sam-Andi storyline continues to be frustratingly repetitious — the hilarious slap-fight between Sam and Andi’s bf notwithstanding — and the reviewer is right on the money in pointing out that the escaped convict of the week plot seems to be so uninteresting to the writers that they shove it into the background. As for the “tattoos that come to life” motif, I had the bad luck to run across the Jennifer Garner bomb “Elektra” on cable the other day, and one of the main bad guys in that movie did the same thing (had his tattoos come to life to attack people), so this week’s baddie was even pretty much a ripoff from a bad movie. The writers can do better than that.
I’m actually glad that the “damned of the week” thing has been pushed into the background. The tedium of working at The Bench and the interplay of the characters are far more interesting. Like Patton Oswalt, I hope we see more of Mitch Pileggi in the future. After all, he can be an escaped soul now, right? Plus, I think Sam will use the Get Out of Hell Free card not for himself, but for Andi or his dad. Which may spring him from the contract for a selfless act, a la Bedazzled and Constantine.
You totally know that Sam will use that card for someone else. I think it will be Andi, there’s something going on there, and with him knowing her for so long, something happened with the fathers. Otherwise it will be for his dad, but one way or the other it will be used for someone else, that he will have to make a choice about doing this forever or saving someone else, and he will chose saving someone else.
I’m shocked – I can’t believe it. Sock was not annoying last night. Thank goodness the writers have toned down his antics so you can see that he’s just a goofball/goober and understand why someone would want to be his friend.
As for the dream – the devil or his minions can’t tempt you unless it speaks to one of your desires. After all the Lord’s Prayer is “lead us not into temptation but deliever us from evil.” In other words the evil must be something you covet or would be tempted by. Therefore, I think that Sock might have a little soft spot for Gladys. They’re both misfits and she doesn’t take his crap. I think it will be fun to watch her toy with him.
And I totally agree about Sam using the “Get out of Hell free” card on Andi.
besides the make out session, which was hilarious…the scene with Sam and Greg in the car fighting was hysterical.
Sue, you really think Sock is annoying? wow, i think he’s one of the best characters (buddy’s) on tv.
Since Chuck and Reaper are incredibly similar shows (store employee grunt forced to combat evil with funny sidekicks), if you took the more charming Zachart Levi and combined him with Reaper’s more entertaining sidekicks you’d have one great show. Right now Chuck is getting better and Reaper is getting flatter but I feel they each lack something the other has.
I thought last night’s ep was great. Whereas last week’s theme was about Sam dealing with lust, this one seemed to be about controlling his rage. And I thought it was quite chilling the way the devil dismissed killing the cop as playing with one of his ‘toys’. Because Sam’s one of his toys, too.
I agree that Andi’s boring. And this may sound snobby but why would the Lawyer/D.A. character (black woman, don’t know her name) hang out with a gal and guys who work in a hardware store? And why did they drop the subplot about Sam’s Dad. That was like 3 weeks ago and they haven’t mentioned it since.
Has anyone mentioned the toolbox briefcase that Sock used in the interrogation room? It was fantastic. I’m glad they kicked him out though. No one would ever believe that Sock was a lawyer, even with his fake briefcase containing tools and a pad of paper. A poorly written show probably would have let that play out for way too long.
Sock’s reaction to his dream when he woke up was hilarious. He may have had tears of disgust, but I had tears of joy.
Maybe Andi has her own contract with the Devil and her punishment is she can’t be with Sam. Then someday if Sam gets out of his contract, he’ll strike up a new one to negate hers, so they can be together and he’ll still be working for the Devil.
Maybe Andi has her own contract with the Devil and her punishment is she can’t be with Sam. Then someday if Sam gets out of his contract, he’ll strike up a new one to negate hers, so they can be together and he’ll still be working for the Devil.
Last night’s ep saved Reaper for me. I was really about to give up, but the deeper look into Gladys’s life was priceless! Agreed that the GET OUT OF HELL FREE card will be used on Andi. I think her parents made the same deal as Sam’s, hence her father committing suicide (from the guilt), and her fear of letting herself fall in love with Sam.
I believe that Sam’s dad and Andi’s dad got into the same deal with the devil, except that andi’s dad decided to go back on the deal and the devil killed him to make an exaple of it. Remember that when the cop from this episode was kill, the devil mention that it would look as it was a suicide. The same thing could have happen to andi’s dad. Also I believe that andi will ultimately join Sam as a reaper. Or even better, that she will die at the end of the season.
I won’t be surprised with the “Get out of Hell” card is used on Andie’s suidicial dad. But I hope the writer’s put a twist on it and make Andies dad out to be an evil guy who should really remain in hell.
I’m also waiting for subplot about Sam’s dad reviewing his contract with the Devil to resume.
The Blooming Onion joke reminded me of Buffy and Spike’s facination with it.
Andi’s birthday and a get out of hell card in the same episode… sounds like Andi may be getting a special surprise birthday visit from the Devil too!
The Skinner appearance was great, and the guy playing the investigator seriously resembled Veronica Mars’ dad — Keith Mars!
I Tivo’d this show from the beginning but didn’t start watching the episodes until last week. Now the series has me addicted!
Kevin Smith’s made himself a real winner here, with some very well rounded side characters.
My hope’s that we’ll get to know more of Ben in the future (the guy’s Puerto Rican and Dominican, which means there’s room for a Santeria plot or at least a voodoo-esque zombie episode).
I predict the get out of hell free card will be used to keep Sam’s father out of hell. Something about that scene where Sam’s dad tore the page out of the contract leads me to believe he’s hell bound.
Socks rocks! His non-relationship with Josie needs more exploring. He’s funny now, but his character could use with the added depth a “we explain the failed relationship” episode might have.
Oh my, that super sized Corner Bakery coffee’s giving me the jitters. Or maybe the devil is watching over my shoulder right now?
Wildecat, He looks more like Ben Dixon from “robotech”. His personality is also very similar.
Just wondering. Why are the same shows discussed here week after week and some shows never discussed at all? After trying many of the new series this fall, I’m sticking with two, Life and Carpoolers. It seems PW doesn’t care for them. Are they owned by the wrong company/ies? I don’t *really* mind which shows are chosen for special attention here. Just kinda wondering.
I thought it was interesting that Pileggi’s character had also made a deal with the Devil and his final collar was himself. Maybe the page that Sam’s dad ripped out of the contract had some clause similar to that. I think it all ties in with the Get Out Of Hell card.
I’ve noticed that nobody thinks there might be an angel somewhere in the show. My pick would be Andi, considering her quiet friendship and disappointment with Sam when he breaks dates, etc. And the Devil doesn’t seem to like her being around Sam.
Sorry. This may be the greatest show ever but, “No Veronica, No CW”!
“No Veronica? No CW?” Will you losers get over yourselves?