Reaper returns on Tuesday to The CW and this is one mid-season premiere I’ve been looking forward to since the finale in May. While I’m grateful the show got renewal, I’m still wondering why a show this entertaining was brought back so late by a network with more holes in its schedule than Swiss cheese. It’s back though, so that’s something.
Here’s a brief description from The CW on what we can expect in the season two opener:
Sam (Bret Harrison) returns from a road trip with Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez) hoping to make things right with Andi (Missy Peregrym). However, when the guys return they discover they've been fired from the Work Bench and evicted from their apartment. With nowhere else to go, they head to Sock's house only to find a strange girl (Eriko Tamura) living there. Meanwhile, Andi refuses to talk to Sam and The Devil (Ray Wise) is back with a new assignment. Stephen Cragg directed the episode written by Craig DiGregorio.
In honor of the season two premiere, I thought I’d share some of the reasons why this show ended up on my TiVo season pass.
The Devil Made Me Do It
Let’s face it, Ray Wise, who plays The Devil, is this show. Sure, Bret Harrison does justice to the straight-laced, drifting through life Sam, who’s forced on his 21st birthday to become a bounty hunter for The Devil because his parents sold his soul. Who ever pictured Satan, though, to be the equivalent of a fast-talking used car salesman, complete with fancy suits and well-tanned skin? His tastes range from fine wines to homemade chicken fried steak, which makes him grateful that he doesn’t have arteries.
Anyone who can make the devil exude class, be good humored, and always carry that smile, yet underneath have motives of pure evil requires brilliance. Ray Wise has risen to the challenge. The show often gives glimpses of The Devil’s other qualities too, hinting there’s more to this monster than evil personified. His human side often comes out, showing a lonely guy with an interest in teaching Sam the ropes and who realizes that in the end “God wins.” He doesn’t let any of that get in the way though when it’s time to get the deed done for after all, he is the titan of the underworld.
Article comments
1 - Suze
I do like a spot of Reaper so I'm well pleased that it's back. You're right about Annoying Andi with her weird day-glo teeth, though. Now Being Human's finished I need something to drag me sofa-wards of an evening and this will do nicely.