Remember last week, when i grumbled that Reaper was just spinning its wheels, plotwise? Well, scratch that, as this week’s ep, "Acid Queen," took the mythology a big leap forward and offered us shocking revelations about several of our main characters. Like that Sock’s bathroom reading is Cosmopolitan and other women’s magazines. Or that the Devil is an ass man who pops Xanax. Oh, and actually important stuff about Sam, the Devil, and Steve and Tony, the demons next door.
We’ll get to that in a moment, but first: Sam and Andi OMG OMG OMG!!! Finally! Finally, Andi (Missy Peregrym, pictured) admitted that she has feelings for Sam! Finally, Sam (after a couple of botched replies), admitted he has feelings for her, too! Finally, in the show’s most romantic moment to date, they kissed! Alas, the kiss was ruined by an inopportune phone call from Cady, who all but dumped Sam last week and fled the state. Plus, the soul of the week went after Andi, leading to a car crash that put Andi in the hospital and left Sam wondering (à la Peter Parker at the end of the first Spider-Man movie) if he should shun the love of his life (or at least keep his secret identity from her) just to keep her from becoming collateral damage. This seems kind of unfair (and arbitrary, on the part of the writers) — Sock and Ben know, and they’ve chosen to stand by him; does Sam have so little faith in Andi that he doesn’t think she’d do the same if he told her the truth?
Steve and Tony know Sam’s secret — turns out they play racquetball with fellow demon Gladys. Sam’s initial fear of his demonic neighbors seems to have been misplaced, though it led to some classic comedy early in the episode when Sam, Sock, and Ben tried to end their friendship with the pair. The break-up conversation ("It’s not you, it’s us," offered Ben, weakly) was worthy of Seinfeld, and there were some wonderfully awk-ward run-ins in the apartment building. Eventually, Sam admitted to Steve that they’d been avoiding the couple because they’re demons, whereupon Steve huffed at how disappointed he was to learn that Sam and his pals were racist and "demophobic."
An apologetic Sam managed to patch things up with the couple, which is good, and not just because it meant the gang’s supply of gourmet muffins and couture sweaters would be restored. For one thing, publicist Tony was able to get the boys tickets to a fashion-model party where the escaped-soul-of-the-week — a jealous fashionista (CSI:NY’s Emmanuelle Vaugier) who drips acid from her fingers and disfigures her beautiful rivals — was sure to prey. (Quote of the week, from Sock, upon learning that the soul was a hot chick who maims even hotter chicks: "Is it wrong that I’m aroused and disgusted at the same time?") Even better, when the soul cornered Sam, a sudden appearance by Steve in full demon regalia (bat-wings and all) saved Sam’s life. Perhaps most important, Steve told Sam that he’s a rarity among reapers, in that the Devil actually talks to him, not to mention pals around with him. Taking Sam to a secret chamber in his apartment that he claimed even Satan’s spying eyes couldn’t penetrate, Steve suggested an alliance with Sam, noting that they both had their own reasons to fight the Devil. Not sure what he meant by that, but having a secret pair of demon allies wouldn’t be a bad thing for Sam — would it?
Questions: What’s Steve and Tony’s beef with the Devil? Should Sam trust them? Are you happy about the prospect of SamAndi, or would you be relieved if Cady comes back and busts them up? Should Sam tell Andi his secret, or should he continue to protect her by hiding the truth from her? How inept must Sam be not to be able to blow soap bubbles with a bubble wand (this week’s soul-capture vessel)? Oh yeah, and where the hell is Gladys?
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I was very pleased to see the show move forward, and I’m hoping that Steve and Tony are able to shed some light on why the Devil has such interest in Sam. Cute that Sam and Andi kissed, disappointing that he got all worried at the end: he should tell her and she’ll stick by him. Anxious to see if Cady goes nutso on him.
I was glad they at least referenced Gladys, but I have a feeling the actress either had another gig for these episodes (uh…she might be back) or got too expensive (whether she wanted more money or the show had to cut costs to add new characters…damnit). Though I love this show, I do wish sometimes there was a little more logic, as in if you’re just going to out the guy as a demon at the store, why not do it earlier rather than go through the breakup (about halfway through if they had that kind of reaction, I would think if they were going to kill me for knowing they’re demons, breaking their heart would make it even worse, just confess already!) Though I’m not sure I trust them (they ARE demons), Steve sure seemed suprised Sam was doing this because of a contract, almost like “Uh, there’s no such thing as parents being able to sign away a soul”. You know what, wonder if Cady isn’t the devil’s kid…but Sam is…
Oh man, the show won’t give us new episodes until the end of April! As Ironhide from the Transformers once said “awww, just when it was getting good”.
While the soul of the week is usually a “whatever” for me, the subplots on this show have got me hooked. The first kiss with Andi, the problems Sam has with Cady, his friends and demon neighbors have turned this into a great series. It reminds me of how Buffy’s crew grew as the show moved forward, so I’m happy to see the plots progress so quickly.
Man, I am going to be madder than a demon escaped from hell if they don’t renew this series next season. This is one of my favorite new shows.
And DUDE! My favorite Puerto Rican actor’s in a great, non stereotyping role. Where on earth did they get Sock from? I love this guy! Great show, great recap and I for one am at the edge of my seat until the new episodes return.
Ohhh, I love me some Reaper. I think the balance of Soul-of-the-Week to everything-else-in-their-lives is pretty spot-on. Reaper isn’t high art, but it’s quality TV. It entertains me, which not many shows do any more. And was that Sock’s real-life brother playing the other slacker character? Saw a Labine in the credits.
Gary, you may have forgotten due to the long layover, but in one of the earlier episodes, the Devil point-blank told Sam that if he told Andi the truth, bad things would start happening to her. Judging by what happened last night, I think he was telling the truth.
And after Sam’s conversation with Steve, I think Green Gummi is right. The missing pages of the contract explain that Sam is actually Satan’s spawn.
The escaped soul of the week was not Emmanuelle Vaugier, it was Erica Cerra from Eureka
Reading the updates, I’m super-glad that I dropped the show. What a disappointment. It could’ve been a fantastic modern twist of The Screwtape Letters… and instead we get a soap opera with special effects. LAME!!
I’d pretty much all but given up on this show since I could never even stay awake through any of the fall episodes, despite enjoying the premise and LOVING the actors. Now this sounds like what the show is cracked up to be!
I absolutely love this show and have watched it since the beginning. My personal favorite new series of this season. I, too, can’t wait until more new eps.
I love the addition of Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino to the show! And did anyone else recognize Jo from Eureka as crazy acid model? But ah my husband and I hate Andi soooo much! She is such a boring soccer mommish character and we cannot stand this stupid back and forth. Keep Cady and ditch Andi! Also bring back Delores (I mean Gladys) as her cameos are so entertaining. Finally how cute was it that Socks real brother had a little part? They look adorable.
The show is finally hitting it’s stride (so of course it’s on the bubble) Note to writers – the whole “I can’t tell her my secret she’ll be disgusted/it will put her in danger” has already been done to death on another CW show, Smallville.
I still really enjoy the show — the most fun I have watching TV every week. What I think this episode shows best is that, it can only get better.
I am looking forward to Cady coming back and opening a demonic bottle of whoop ass on Andi. I know that the “glasses of evil” from last week basically told Sam that she isn’t evil, but I’m going to hold true to the idea that it only comes out when she needs it to. Every week only makes me wish for more Ray Wise time. The concept of a dapper devil with blue eyes kills me and I couldn’t love it more.
Remember the Devil warned Sam not to tell Andi about being a reaper. That’s why he not telling Andi.
yeah, i was totally going to tell you that the demon-of-the-week was Erica Cerra from Eureka, but someone beat me to it. I don’t hold it against you though, I was staring at her for 20 minutes trying to remember who she was. Man, I miss Eureka!
As for Reaper, I love those boys. It was funny when they broke up with their neighbors and ducked in the parking garage. I think he should tell Andy about the devil, because if he doesn’t she’ll probably try to follow him one day and get herself into trouble. i can’t wait to find out what’s on that missing page of his contract.
This show looks semi-interesting, but the CW network died for me with the cancellation of “Veronica Mars”. “No Veronica, No CW!”
In regards to the “glasses of evil”, the devil gave those to Sam. Why did he believe so easily that he was telling the truth? Couldn’t he just have been trying to further cover up that Cady is his daughter? I mean he is the devil. I really hope she’s demonic and goes all nutty when Sam dumps her for Andy.
You dropped the show, yet you still read the recaps and pass judgment? You sir, are the LAME one. Oh, and you are also a poop-sandwich.
SHUT THE “F” UP ABOUT VERONICA MARS! If anyone had watched it, but you and the aunts that you live with it would still be on the air.
Love this show! CW-do not cancel and make me hate you even more(everwood, gilmore girls, v.mars etc. etc.)
I was waiting for a I’m a demon american line lol. I enjoy the episode and much better and update. though I’m missing half the story since I forgot there airing reaper on thursdays….boo on that. Still I like Steve and Tony and the vibe they give when there with Sam, Sock & Ben. Comedy gold appears. I like the semi-relationship of Andi with an I and Sam and do get the spider-man one vibe at the end…and now I wait for Sam to swing off a building and high drama fashion
As Beautiful as Emmanuelle Vaugier is it was not her, but equally as stunnig, and DID play “The Acid Queen”, is Erica Cerra. These two beauties look so much alike that even The CW site got them mixed up! lol. compare this picture of Erica on the show and her off the show, notice the birth marks? hmmmm…
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/Shadowhawk13/vlcsnap-418053.png?t=1206790799
http://scifipedia.scifi.com/images/0/0c/Erica_cerra-1.jpg
I’ve been watching Reaper drifting along all season, enjoyable to watch but never really living up to the promise of the pilot. But I’ve gotta say that these last few episodes have been starting to do just that, and this show finally is feeling like it’s starting to hit the right groove and it’s in position to start to get really good.
Which, means that this is the perfect time for the CW to cancel it. Let’s hope they have some sense and don’t condemn the show for getting off to a slow start.
Not letting Andi in on the secret just comes off as a false way to create dramatic tension. Near the end of this episode I was starting to get hopeful that she would witness Sam collecting the soul, and the secret wouldn’t be a secret anymore. But instead they gave her head trauma, and gave Sam enough room to keep lying to her. It’s so frustrating to watch. Hopefully Sam comes to his senses soon and realizes that Jerry’s obviously trying to keep the two of them apart for some reason.
That other “slacker” was totally Lebine’s real-life brother…didn’t he say “I recognize a brother when I see one” when the character came on screen? It wasn’t just a play on words….
Best episode since the pilot. It’s heading in an awesome direction with more drama and character development. Love this show so much! Please CW RENEW IT!!!
Where are the new Reaper recaps? Two weeks in a row I have hopefully pointed my browswer to EW looking for the latest recaps, but come up with nothing!