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Reaper (CW)

common sense media says

Devilish supernatural comedy isn't for young kids.

parents & educators say
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
See all 5 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that even though the central character of this dark supernatural comedy series is forced to work for Satan, adventure trumps discussions about the nature of good and evil, and the Devil is portrayed as a rather genial boss (rather than, say, the ultimate embodiment of malevolence). The main characters are typical "slackers" who goof off, go drinking after work (they're all of age), and pepper their language with words like "d--k" and "crap." There are some fairly intense scenes when the guys face down the baddies, but it's nothing that veterans of shows like Buffy and X-Files won't be able to handle.

Positive messages: The show tweaks social conventions by making the main character an agent of the Devil but giving him the ostensibly noble job of tracking down evil souls. The Devil comes off as a decent sort, and even Sam's parents fare well despite selling the soul of their first-born child. Sam and his pals are typical slackers, who care little for authority and are more interested in partying than finding a decent job.
Violence: Some fight scenes featuring supernatural powers and magical weaponry, but little blood or gore. That said, some of the images (like a man filling up with fire and blasting a crater in the ground) could definitely be scary.
Sex: No sex, but some innuendo (a guy is teased about liking plastic girlfriends, a joke about batteries obviously references a vibrator, etc.) and plenty of flirting between Sam and his coworker Andi.
Language: Language includes "d--k," "crap," "bastard," "badass," and "asshat," as well as references to strippers and hookers (Sock makes a joke about going to Las Vegas to "kill a hooker").
Consumerism: Sam and his friends work at a Home Depot-like store that's stocked with all kinds of products; some specific brand-name items (a Dirt Devil vaccuum cleaner, for instance) pop up as the "vessels" that Sam uses to catch souls.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A fair bit of drinking, mostly in social settings (includes beer and shots of liquor). Mention of being drunk and alcohol poisoning. Sock makes a reference to smoking marijuana; in at least one episode, peyote and other "party enhancers" are discussed and shown briefly.
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More on Reaper

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about good and evil. Though he's working for the Devil, is Sam performing a good deed by returning the escaped souls of evil people to Hell? How does the Devil in this show compare to versions in other films and TV shows? What point -- if any -- is the show trying to make by having the Devil seem like a fairly decent guy? Do you think this show is likely to ruffle feathers among religious viewers? Why or why not?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In this entertaining show about the lighter side of working for the original Boss from Hell, Sam Oliver (Bret Harrison) turns 21 only to discover that, long before he was born, his parents sold his soul to the Devil in return for curing Sam's terribly sick father (they hadn't planned on having kids anyway). But Mrs. Oliver does get pregnant, and 21 years later Lucifer comes to collect his due. The deal is simple: Sam will be the Devil's bounty hunter on Earth, tracking down escaped souls that need to be returned to Hell. If he refuses, the Devil will take his mother's soul. It's a pretty easy choice, made even more so because the Devil (Ray Wise) is just so darn likeable, coming off as a well-meaning, well-off uncle than Satan himself. A standard-issue slacker because his parents knew of his short shelf life and never pushed him to excel in anything, Sam puts up little opposition to his new role doing the Devil's work.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Reaper's droll take on the Devil and Sam's awkward efforts to track down the wayward souls is quite funny, and Sam's best buddy Bert (Tyler Labine) adds some Jack Black-like madcap energy to the series. But at times it seems like the series is playing just a bit too fast and loose with morality's main characters. Making the Devil a sympathetic guy is a risky strategy, and Reaper could upset some religious viewers, though the script does make some efforts to head off such criticisms: "I've seen how this all ends," the Devil says while explaining Sam's new duties. "God wins."

It's no accident that Reaper's tone is reminiscent of Dogma, Kevin Smith's dark comedy about a pair of wayward angels. Smith, who helped define the slacker-comedy genre, directed Reaper's pilot and is still involved in the series, and it's funny and irreverent in the same vein as his best films, which can be both entertaining and annoying.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: CW
Cast: Bret Harrison, Ray Wise, Tyler Labine
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: CW
This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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What parents & educators say

14
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
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Most useful reviews by all members

J.C.
teen, 16 years old
13
 
best show ever
i know im 13 but i can still watch it. i dont care what everybody eles says.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (2)
I_Luv_My_Dog
teen, 15 years old
 
good show
Funny and exciting. I watch it every week.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
wensheri23
adult
16
 
It says there is no sexuality, and that's completely false. One of the main characters is extremely forward to many females in the show, and lots, lots of sexual humor. We had to stop watching it because it was just getting annoying, and we're over 20yrs old. If you like that sort of thing, enjoy it, because it is good off and on.
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KimmieSu
adult
 
cool show
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
shadow_slayer15
adult
12
 
I laughed all the way, watching it now...
I'm watching this right now and have seen every episode. I haven't seen one thing wrong with this, maybe some minor sex like a woman with clown paint saying, "Come on Socky, let's try again, but this time, with the clown nose." There's nothing horrible bad in this, iffy for 12 and under.
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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