new show review: Reaper
September 27th, 2007 by screenwriterguy
Just as Kevin Smith promised, he’s finally working on projects that aren’t rehashes of his mid-90s breakout work. But it’s safe to say that the man has a defined taste. Smith didn’t write the pilot for CW’s Reaper–it looks to have been created by a pair of Law and Order: SVU writers, of all things–but it smacks of Smith’s style. And you know how Kevin Smith movies are simultaneously kinda interesting and yet have an annoying quality to them? Well, that’s present in this project, too. However, I really dug this pilot. (But then again, I liked Dogma. There’s a guilty pleasure aspect.)
The concept of Reaper is that Sam Oliver’s parents accidentally sold his soul to the devil. It’s an interesting twist on the tried-and-true Faust legend that allows a nice interplay between hero and villain. After all, unlike most sell-your-soul stories, our protagonist isn’t guilty of having given in to the Devil’s temptation. Further, the show smartly sets Sam to the task of recapturing escaped damned souls. So even if his boss is ultimately Satan, at least he’s fighting the good fight against bad guys.
Overall, it’s Ghostbusters with a slacker bent. The Devil, embodied very masterfully by Ray Wise, is here presented as a perfect combination of slimy charm and true evil. You feel Satan’s temper, severity, and ultimate threat just behind a slick veneer. Resultingly, one understands Sam’s motivations over the course of the episode. And the exposition is there early on, to help us understand and enjoy Sam’s struggle throughout… a refreshing change from Journeyman or Chuck earlier this week. The action sequence stuff is a bit fluffy, but still satisfies.
Tonally, the show offers up a mixture of sincere occult horror and stylized Gen X/Y sarcasm such that I can’t help comparing Reaper to–dare I say it?–Buffy. It’s not Buffy yet by any stretch, but then again, neither was Buffy when it started out. If they can keep the supernatural aspects, as Joss Whedon always prescribes, coming from the emotional state of the characters, this show has promise.
Best aspect: The best friend, “Sock”
Worst aspect: The best friend, “Sock”
Verdict: I will check out at least the next episode.
Odds of success: 50-50. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s not perfect. But it’s witty and clear, with a fun edge. It doesn’t take huge numbers on the CW, so maybe a cult following is all this one needs to succeed.
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