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Episode Recap: "Coming to Grips"
Dear God,
Were you watching Reaper tonight? Because this show about the Devil is about 1,000 times more awesome than 7th Heaven ever was. Sorry.
<3
Sandy
Okay, seriously. This episode may be my most favorite ever, after the pilot. Last week's episode turned a new corner in storytelling for the show, but this week's cranked it up to 11. It even came close to making me cry. There, I said it. I'm a big baby. WHO'S WITH ME?
Did I say this show is awesome? Oh, I guess I did. Well, it is.
Since the start we'd all been waiting to see how the storyline with Andi was going to pan out. Some of you had hoped that Andi and Josie would join the team and hunt Demons with the guys, but that seems to have quelled once we all realized that bringing anyone else into the fold would be really dangerous for them. Sam seems to have had no choice tonight in showing Andi how deeply involved he is with the underworld after she witnessed him killing a demon, and put himself on the line to both save his own butt and to make common ground between himself and Andi, who's at long last being acknowledged as his girlfriend. Finally, the secrets between them are over. But from the looks of next week's episode, I don't think that means their problems are.
Despite major setbacks, a nonexistent Sword of the Archangel Michael and the possible death of Steve (Tony didn't seem all that broken up about his soulmate being dead, did he now?), Tony's still on a crusade to rid the world of Satan, and not through Steve's Ghandi-like peacenik methods He's promising a real showdown and wants Sam to be on his side of evil. I was surprised to find out that that whole "circle of truth" business was for real, and that it keeps people safe from the prying ears of the Devil. However, I wouldn't be surprised if that was another ruse on his part. You never really know what's honest coming from that guy.
The soul this week was pretty fantastic as well. The guy must have "Jack King Adorable" stamped on his business card, because that's sure what the narcissist thought he was. (He was played by Ian Gomez, husband of Nia Vardalos and showed plenty of face time on The Drew Carey Show.) His fancy power was the ability to regenerate from any severed limb, making his falling out of the ceiling naked (er, reborn?) one of the biggest laugh-out-loud moments I've seen in a long time. His parts were tied into the show very seamlessly, and left me thinking that this right here is the perfect balance of demon-catching to the rest of the drama in the series.
Regarding Ben, I'd started to wonder why exactly it is he hadn't been getting any attention from girls. And then I realized that Ben is a sucker. Come on now, $1600 to get married to someone you don't care about, in order to keep them in the country? I mean, its pretty awesome that new wifey Sara was played by Lucy Davis from "Shaun of the Dead," but didn't he listen? His Phil Collins was still out there! And maybe he's really found her in nurse Cassidy (Kandyse McClure of Battlestar Galactica and every other cool sci-fi show made in the last 10 years). I hope we do get to see where their romance could go in spite of Ben's shiny new wedding ring.
Let's get back to Sam, turd that he is. How could he make another deal with the Devil? How? It's bad enough that he's got one deal with the Devil that he didn't even have control over hanging over his head. Now he's got two, one of which he asked for. In a way, I can see how he may have had no choice I doubt the Devil would have negotiated the consequences for letting Andi in on Sam's secret life. But that doesn't mean Sam shouldn't look before he leaps, or believe that this would keep Andi permanently safe in any way. He was very quick to agree to the broad consequences the Devil laid down(Sam owing him any favor at any time), only to find out the favor is to betray his friend Tony by being a spy for the Devil's side of the impending rebellion. Good going, studly. You really are the Devil's puppet.
(SPOILER ALERT) I have to address the scene where Sam told Andi he loved her. There was a tenderness in there that has so far not at all existed in this show. And mind the term, but it gives it some actual soul, some real dimension. I love that Andi couldn't honestly tell him she loved him back, but that he frightened her. And seeing Sam get stabbed in the shoulder by the demon's knife was great too, to remind us that yes, this wimp is human and barely makes it out alive every week. It's been looking a little too easy up until this point to capture these supernatural creatures, and tonight I think we saw the very human side of Sam's situation: Someone could very well die in this demon-hunting process any time. And from what I hear happens in the finale, someone will. Oh, boy. (END SPOILER ALERT)
Here are some other events that made my night...
Sam listening to Sock's "Tunes 4 Humping" disc.
The scene where they had Andi sexily shaking her own hair in the wind of the standing fan.
Andi kicking the crap out of anyone who gets near her. Seriously, it would takes six Sackens (Sam + Sock + Ben) to equal the brains and muscle of just one Andi. She should get on their team!
Quotes:
"Im going to rebuild the army. Pass the paprika." Tony
"We would just like to see you happy making a woman miserable like were both doing." Sock
The guys out-credentialing each other at the sperm bank: "I research alternative power sources." (Sock) "I have a four-foot vertical leap." (Sam)
Sock: "Did you hook up with Sarah?" Ben: "No, I just got married."
"Please do not pee on the carpet, I just put it down." Tony
"In the end, only love matters. Love is worth any sacrifice" Tony
Hey, Reaperholics, know where you can get your daily dose of your favorite demon-hunter? Our Online Video Guide, of course.
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Apr 30, 2008 12:57 AM
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ITA, Sandra. This was by far my favorite episode of the season. The writers are really hitting their stride. I was busting a gut right up to the point where the Devil was calling in his favor. I didn't think it would come up so quickly, but you just had to know that it would take the air right out of Sam when he let him know what he wanted. Poor Tony. Just when I was enjoying his culinary skills with his tail.
My funniest line... when Sam said he was in the mood for a ham. That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the severed neck. Too funny.
On a side note, Sandra, in the future when you drop the "gonna die" bomb could you please put it at the end and note it as a spoiler? Please??? I really enjoy the heck out of your commentary, but I'm one of those who don't even watch the previews 'cause I know how those network hacks like to wreck surprises with all their "Tune in next week to see who's gonna die" teasers. I'm probably in the minority on this, but I doubt I'm alone.
Just a thought. Thanks.
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Apr 30, 2008 3:34 AM
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I have to agree with the first commenter. Where do you get off thinking it's okay to tell us that someone is going to die in the finale? That was really out of line, especially from someone working at TV Guide. I am so pissed off right now that I can't even think. The fact that you would ruin something like that for the fans of this show is appalling.
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Apr 30, 2008 8:13 AM
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I agree that the show has really been great. I fell off it for a while when it started getting too routine, but I started watching again and was delighted to find other storylines going on. I just hope they can come back from, what I saw as, a so-so middle season. The show is doing great now and it's showing that it can avoid being just a routine "soul of the week" kind of show. Absolutely LOVED last night!
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Apr 30, 2008 9:12 AM
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This was the best freaking episode I have seen on this young show so far. And yeah the spoiler has me thinking on who it could be now, oh well I will try and block that out.LOL. But Sam should know by now the Devils version of deals being put on the table are always sideways. He is the master of temptation and he knows Sam wants Andi so bad he would do anything for her, and he played that against him. I like that they are all finding love interest but show like Angel and Buffy come to mind at this time. Whenever someone got close to experiencing any happiness, it was easliy replaced with heartache and saddness,we'll see where they go with this one. Sock is hilarious on this show because he has the best lines of the show and keeps balance to Sam's consistent whining(I could understand by the contract he has) and Ben's serious nature. Have we all forgot about Cady, maybe she left so pieces can be moved in place because I still think she is a minion of the devil. Maybe not his daughter butwho knows, I have to say that when Sam said he loved Andi, I really believed and her response was real "You frighten me" because if I knew someone was a bounty hunter for the devil I would be concerned as to what else could they possibly be doing. Cant wait for the rest of the shows coming up exciting
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Apr 30, 2008 9:47 AM
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I love this show, so much that I am now sitting through commercial breaks for it. I stupidly looked to see what next episode is about, and it looks like it might just be a super funny jam packed episode with all sort of snarky Devil one liners (and I am not worried about Sam and Andi because of it, also there is someone else I am not worried about too).
I thought Ken Marino was so funny and sweet (and kind of scary too, way to expend the costume and make up time and cost).
I really like Sam (I don't think he is as much of wimp as people keep saying, but I suppose I keep thinking about who Sam is, he and Andi are the youngest group members and he was treated like a lump his whole life and seriously, as indicated many times last night, this is only a couple months after Sam is all involved in this).
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Apr 30, 2008 9:52 AM
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Unless Sandra changed her recap, I don't anything mentioned about someone dying.
The only reference was "Finally, the secrets between them are over. But from the looks of next week's episode, I don't think that means their problems are."
Never mind, I missed the last sentence
This was an awesome episode. I'm glad that Andi is now in the loop.
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Apr 30, 2008 9:56 AM
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Sorry to have caught anyone off guard with that. I didn't consider that to be a spoiler as much as a teaser because it had no specifics in it, but I see it from your perspective too. It's been edited to have an alert on it, and I'll do so in the future. Thanks for speaking up.
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Apr 30, 2008 11:22 AM
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In Sandra's defense, she didn't say which character was going to DIE. Heck the Ausiello report on the front page gives out more information!!!
I enjoyed the write up and agreed on everything that was written. This was definitely my favorite episode so far...and only goes on to make me angry that The CW has yet to renew this AWESOME show!!!
I don't know what I'm more peeved about, the fact that a renewal hasn't been discussed or that this show could be replaced by a 90210 spin-off...UGH!!!
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Apr 30, 2008 11:32 AM
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This show was AWESOME! My favorite part was the naked demon riding on Sock's back. I was really entertained by that scene!
I really enjoy this show and so hope that the CW has the sense to renew it.
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Apr 30, 2008 11:35 AM
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Aw, Sandra! You left out my favorite line when Tony gave the gang a lift back to the Bench after Andi ditched them following Tony's reveal and Sock had him do the thing with the lollipop and said something like "I see why Steve would appreciate you" and Tony said "inappropriate" with a wry (wistful?) smile. I fell off the couch laughing.
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Apr 30, 2008 11:56 AM
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If you like the show and want to see a second season, be sure to write a letter to The CW to let them know. Here's the address:
The CW
ATTN: Executive in charge of Reaper
411 North Hollywood Way
Burbank, California 91505
This show needs to be saved, and fans doing their part is the only way it's going to happen. Get on it, folks!
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Apr 30, 2008 12:44 PM
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Nice idea. Decisions might be made as soon as the week of May 12, when the networks have their annual upfront presentations.
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Apr 30, 2008 1:01 PM
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Thanks for the information Stinger97...I'm so on it!!!
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Apr 30, 2008 1:32 PM
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