Why, as usual, ‘Reaper’ is my favorite show
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- November
- 14
OK. You’re probably sick, by now, of hearing from me why Ray Wise is the best Devil since Satan himself.
So today, here’s the San Francisco Chronicle telling you:
Wise instantly became one of the best characters on television when he nearly stole the pilot. Wisecracking and sardonic in a three-piece suit, he’s a smiling charmer who periodically has to flex his demonic side to prompt Sam to stop being a slacker and get the job done.
He was in full effect last night (spoiler alert  don’t continue reading if you haven’t watched it yet), seeming to frame Sam for the escaped soul’s murders. And sticking Sam with the bill for a lobster lunch at a fancy-schmancy restaurant.
You’ve gotta love how the Prince of Darkness is able to multi-task, helping Sam track down the evil soul while settling a debt with the former Top Cop-now District Attorney who once upon a time sold his soul to Beelzebub in order to achieve that status.
Let’s face it  we all knew Sam would get out of it in the end and wouldn’t end up in jail for murders he didn’t commit. But anyone who tells me they saw that twist coming is just lying.
Last night also made me fall just a little bit more in like with an oft-ignored main character on the show: Ben. Much more mild-mannered than Sock (great line [didn’t write it down verbatim, but it was basically the following] last night: “Don’t even try to tell me not to do anything stupid when you know very well that I will.”), Ben is just as mischevious and nearly as funny.
His affection for the dove that was the vessel for the escaped demonic magician a few weeks back was sweet, funny and, yes, a little creepy. His reaction last night to Sam’s new cardinal tattoo brought me one of my laugh-out-loud moments of the night. Never mind when he had to calm himself in order to be able to unlock the car, as Gladys is chasing the pair with a big old shovel.
Speaking of, Sock and Ben’s break-in at Gladys’ house was a revelation. The DMV demon’s home looks just like any other stereotypical middle-aged lady’s home, replete with angel statues, tchotchkes on little shelves and lots and lots of teacups.
I enjoyed Sock and Ben’s confusion over the angels and their quest to unearth why a demon would have such a collection. It was a reminder of the fact that Satan himself once was an angel and those who run Hell are all fallen angels. What if, Sock asks, Gladys just happened to choose the wrong side in the war between the Big Guy and Lucifer? Does she just miss the old days in Heaven?
The dream she plants in Sock’s head, too, was sheer brilliance. The sight of Sock and Gladys making out, with Gladys ripping off her shirt to expose all her pudgy self and red (natch) bra. When Sock realizes later at the DMV that it wasn’t simply a dream, that Gladys was aware of it, his horror was, like the Mastercard commercials say, priceless.
Final note: I don’t know if it was just me, but I didn’t hate the Sam/Andi storyline last night. It finally seemed to be going somewhere. And that slap fight between Sam and Greg almost had me falling off the couch.
Final, final note: Satan’s wisecracks du nuit were great  offering Sam a bat to hit him with, “Go all Barry Bonds on me”; and his observation of Ted’s managerial skills, “Ted’s a dick.” I mean, when the Devil himself thinks you’re a dick, there’s not much hope for you in the world.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pm by Amy Vernon.
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