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Episode Recap: "The Leak"
"Sam is the son of the devil." — Tony
Holy hell. We were right.
I mean, I suppose there's some chance this is all one big misunderstanding, but then how do you explain "Someone very carefully went through this [contract] and removed every page that references who Sam’s father is"? And "The kid just got the DMV demon released. When was the last time you saw the devil show mercy?" WHAT? Is it really true? Is Sam even actually under contract? Is his mom his real mom? Would the Devil actually ever harm him?Does Sam have to keep reaping? Someone needs to slap me.
This episode is undoubtedly the most important of the series so far and all melted into one big dun-dun-DUN in the end. We all had our suspicions about Sam's origins, but to have it spelled out like this is something I didn't expect.
And who knew Gladys would play such a pivotal role in Sam's life? The DMV demon just helped to out Sam to Tony and what are probably his new footsoldiers. These kinds of things don't seem to end well with demons. Short fuses, you know? I am glad that Gladys wasn't sent to eternal hell and away from us forever though. Three separate times this episode, I sat biting my nails, hoping it wasn't the last time I'd ever see her be a jerk to Sam. And now Sam saved her from her "reassignment" back to hell with his puppy dog eyes and a "please." Seriously, if the Devil isn't Sam's dad, he better freaking be in love with him or something because no ruler of the underworld could be that soft. How did the Devil have such a nice, kind-hearted kid anyways?
Ok, I need to breathe.
Richard Burgi was most excellent this episode as the Casanova demon of the week, Mike Volta. Seducer of the ladies, adulterer extraordinaire, Volta pissed off the Devil with his fun ways, leaving a path of destruction everywhere he got busy (I'm just glad he didn't get Andi).
Speaking of Andi, my other wish came true: she's part of the demon-hunting team now. I suppose it happened on a fluke, filling in for drunky drunk Ben, but the girl stuck around and helped deal with Gladys' stabbing and the hunt for Volta. I don't know if there are plans to keep her fighting underworld scum in the future, but I like how it fits her. And though it hasn't been mentioned, I wonder if Josie knows or will know about Sam's other job now as well.
Volta was using his connection with Gladys to keep out of getting sent back to hell, even after being captured with a vessel. Did she make the fake deposits for the nookie? From the sound of "I just got tired of being lonely," it sure seems that way. Speaking of lonely, what about the Devil? Volta sure opened up about the Devil deep-down being miserable, not knowing a good time if it bit him on the ass. I feel like these clues are going to play an important role some day.
Volta was eventually captured by Sam with the help of Sock and Ben, but only after, like usual, Sam was pinned down on the ground and about to have his insides pumped out by the demon. Aren't there other ways for Sam to appear defenseless?
Ben's marriage took a turn for the worst tonight as immigration caught up with his and Sara's scheme and threatened to jail him and deport her. Despite all those naked family photos they showed the officer? How is that possible?
In the end, Sara the Manipulator got the last laugh, pretending to need a bribe for the immigration officer so she could take all of Ben's savings and run off. Think we'll ever see her again? Because I'd personally like to see some giant snake from Hell come out of the ground and much her up. Oh wait, that already happened to someone in this episode. My bad.
This night was just all so heavy. Sam isn't even aware he might be sharing turkey jerkey with his dad, the Prince of Darkness, and the rebellion seems to be bubbling up again. Poor Tony looked so distraught when he realized that he and Sam belong on opposite sides of evil and eviler. It was a little like what was going on with my face at the time, actually. Poor Sam. Just when he was starting to get accepted into a community, albeit a demon community, this had to happen.
Also, the scene where the Devil made pina coladas in Sam's apartment with his minion Winston — priceless. Isn't that the same name as the bird from the magic episode that Ben took a shining to? Maybe Winstons will be following us throughout the series.
And did anyone else think that the scene where the Devil shows Sam the husband and wife who killed each other post-Volta very much resembled a gory dream sequence a la Six Feet Under?
I can't wait to hear what you guys have to say about this episode, and I can't wait for the finale next week. Hopefully you've all heard the good news by now that Reaper was renewed for a second season. If you want some scoop on what's in store for the finale, you can check out the Q&A I did with Reaper exec producers Tara Butters and Tom Spezialy.
Bonus: The song in the bar when Gladys was chugging away was "Comfort Eagle" by Cake. How badass!
Some "Quotes" for you "people"
Volta: "Do you have any idea how hard it is to shoot a man who’s crying like a little girl?"
Devil: "It’s not that hard."
Devil: "Me — Devil. You — minion."
Sam: "I think you just got official demon approval."
Andi: "Ooh, that’s going on my resume."
Sock: "Josie and I have enough photos of each other’s junk to fill a library."
Ben: "I feel the night air on my nipples! I’m alive!"
And how about this for a nice little shout-out: "Go ahead, do it, see if I care. Seriously. You could have picked anything in the whole big, bad universe to use as a human shield. You picked the one thing that I care the least about. you could have grabbed that old TV Guide over there and held a knife to it and I would have been more conflicted.”
Nice to know you care, Sock-y. (c:
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TVGuide Links:
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May 14, 2008 12:16 AM
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If I remember correctly, in the episode when Sam gets the contract or soon after it, his "father" starts to read it and is shown tearing out pages and burning them in the fireplace. At the time I was thinking it was to hide any chance Sam had to get out from under the contract (loopholes) or it told an alternate story as to why the Devil had Sam's soul.
But after this episode, hmmmmm, not so much now.
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May 14, 2008 8:04 AM
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And Andi was looking good in that dress at the wedding. I thought for sure when she entered the church without the guys, she was going to the next "notch on the bedpost" for this weeks demon.
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May 14, 2008 8:06 AM
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I think the Devil's son idea would serve the show fairly well (after all we can keep the Devil deliciously evil and not just lonely and in need a friend), but I am worried that we hear this at the end of the second to last episode of a season. I first started thinking, well, this could be who dies next week, Sam, but it doesn't mean anything because the Devil wants him alive. Oh well, I will be anxiously awaiting next week.
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May 14, 2008 9:38 AM
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The Devil, "I have debated with Daniel Webster, and, you sir, are no Daniel Webster." As Gladys staggers off after returning from Hell, "She can walk it off." Nice stuff.
I know most of you folks here think Sam is the Son of the Devil, but something about that just does not sit right with me. It just seems like a slight of hand artist distracting everyone in one direction, "Oh look, Sam is the Son of the Devil," while making something happen where people are not looking.
Look at the preview for next week. Spoiler alert!! The Demons have Sam in some kind of Rune protected Pit. Out in the open. The rebellion Demons are there. I did not see a circle anywhere in sight around them so the Devil can see them all. I think that the Devil is using Sam, again, as bait to draw out the Demons.
As for who Sam's father is, I think it will be someone, or some being, that is totally unexpected. Andi is killer as part of the team. Sitting in the car, she takes Sock's smartass comments and throws some smack right back at him.
Congratulations to everyone on "Reaper" for being renewed for next season even though it is for only 13 episodes, and a mid season show at that. Getting a long term gig with people, judging from the rap video, that work well together is tough to find at times. Good for them.
Not to sound cruel, but I hope that one the new CW fall premiere shows stinks so bad that the Network decides to push up the new season of "Reaper." I never buy season DVDs of shows, but I am going to with this show.
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May 14, 2008 10:37 AM
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I'm inclined to agree with you, sw. It seems too in-your-face to not have another twist on its way.
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May 14, 2008 10:46 AM
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I agree
A great episode.
Great Demons. Cassanova Demon was fun to watch. Glad Gladys is alive. I thought she might be. I love to see Tony in full demon make-up speaking so Eloquently. Reminds me of some of the memorable Buffy demons.
Not sure why Sam's Dad destroyed the pages that refered to who his Dad was, but a) I can't imagine the Devil putting references to himself in the contract in the first place
b) the show would loose a lot of the tention if Sam turned out to be the son of the Devil. A rebellious son has no hope because they would still be family in the end. I think it is misleading us, but it will make for some interesting conflicts for Sam in the future until he knows for sure.
It was odd that Sam just said please and Gladys got released. Seemed very out of character for the Devil.
We shall wait and see.
We have next season to see how things work out. Yay!
I also hope for more than 13 Episodes if CW know what is good for them.
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May 14, 2008 11:10 AM
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Sam is the Anti-Christ!
Well, my theory is that was how it was intended to be. Remember, this episode was filmed at least two months ago, yet even the producers didn’t get a heads up the show would be renewed. So I’m wagering this and next week were created as possible series endings.
They may have tweaked next weeks ending to give somewhat or a cliff-hanger and have a possible “out” from the son-of-Satan idea, but I’ll wager the Devil and Sam do end up having something that helps bind them.
My question is this: Ben helps capture souls and he hasn’t yet sold his soul, so my guess upstairs AND downstairs are a bit pleased with him. Think either one was responsible for his short sentence??
SPOILER FOR NEXT WEEK
I kinda knew Gladys was coming back though since TV Guide let slip Sock and Gladys were going to make his wet dream, a few episodes ago, a reality.
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May 14, 2008 12:11 PM
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Oh, I forgot, I hope Tony doesn't die. I really like him
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May 14, 2008 12:13 PM
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Gimply, the producers told me they intended the finale as a season finale only. Makes you wonder then, what would have happened if they' didn't bring the show back.
I wasn't sure if you were referring to my interview with the producers regarding Sock and Gladys, but they did not say that the demon Sock gets it on with is going to be her.
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May 14, 2008 12:49 PM
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Gimply, the producers told me they intended the finale as a season finale only. Makes you wonder then, what would have happened if they' didn't bring the show back.
That was what I meant. They wanted to try and work in a bit of closure in the instance they DIDN'T get renewed
I wasn't sure if you were referring to my interview with the producers regarding Sock and Gladys, but they did not say that the demon Sock gets it on with is going to be her.
The interview convinced me, Sock's demon-crush on Gladys for the season, his heartbreak at Gladys' "Death", Gladys saying how she's tired of being lonely plus the look on Sock's face when she said it, well, in my plebeian mind it's not a stretch
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May 14, 2008 1:05 PM
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Ooh, what if it is her? I honestly didn't even consider it. I still remember what a shock it was seeing them in that dream the first time around.
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May 14, 2008 1:18 PM
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Demons don't die, they just get reassigned.
My question is this: Ben helps capture souls and he hasn’t yet sold his soul, so my guess upstairs AND downstairs are a bit pleased with him. Think either one was responsible for his short sentence??
He'll still be a federal felon. No small thing. Usually immigration marriage fraud doesn't result in long prison sentences (think less serious than Martha Stewart benefitting from insider stock information). But they do go after the marriage brokers and confiscate any money paid to the American partner. Of course, Ben works for The Work Bench and his bride conned him out of his savings. They probably took pity on him.
I'm hoping next season we see more of Sam's mother & father and hear from that missing brother.
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May 14, 2008 1:24 PM
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I think most viewers knew that the demon would say there'd be something wrong with Sam's contract, remembering back to the episode when Sam's father tore out certain pages and burned them, as wziggy5 mentioned.
It seems unlikely that Sam would really be the son of the devil, but there must be some other connection between the two. As Tony mentioned, Sam's special.
As for Tony and his renegade demons, it's a good thing that they now suspect something amiss with Sam. Keep in mind, Sam is supposed to spy on them for the devil. So as long as they don't try to overplay their hand, and instead feed Sam false information about their activities, they might end up foiling the devil's plans.
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May 14, 2008 5:57 PM
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