Reaper takes a simple premise and turns it into a sitcom about a man who hunts escaped souls for the Devil. Sam Oliver, played by Bret Harrison, learns on his 21st birthday that his parents sold his soul before he was born. Now he has to repay the debt by becoming the Devil’s bounty hunter. The show runs for two seasons, 31 episodes, on The CW, first airing September 25, 2007, and last airing May 26, 2009.
Sam Oliver and the Soul Debt
Sam is a 21-year-old slacker who dropped out of college and works at a home-repair store. He spends his days hanging out, playing video games, and pining for his co-worker Andi Prendergast, played by Missy Peregrym. On his birthday, his parents act strangely and Sam sees hellish visions. His father admits that years ago he was very sick, and in return for restoring his health he and his wife promised their firstborn child to the Devil, played by Ray Wise. They planned to cheat the deal by not having children, but Satan convinced their doctor to lie and tell them they couldn’t conceive in exchange for wiping his gambling debts clean. Sam was born shortly after.
The Devil informs Sam that he must serve as his bounty hunter, or “Reaper,” tracking down souls that have escaped from Hell. Sam balks at first, but the Devil tells him that refusing means his mother’s soul is forfeit. That threat closes the deal.
Vessels and the Wooden Box
Sam’s tools are called vessels, objects hand-made in the bowels of perdition by the iniquitous and the vile. Each vessel is specially designed for a specific job. They arrive inside a long wooden box with the Italian inscription “Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate” — “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” — as written on the entrance to Hell in Dante’s Inferno. Throughout the series, vessels include a Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner, a Taser gun, and a cigarette lighter.
The vessel mechanic is the show’s best idea. It gives Sam a different weapon for each case, and the objects themselves carry the humor. A vacuum cleaner that pulls a soul out of a person is a funny image, and the show plays it straight even while it’s ridiculous.
The Cast and Its Changes
The show’s casting drew attention early. Bret Harrison won the lead role in February 2007, though his commitment came second to his Fox show The Loop, which was canceled before Reaper started. Tyler Labine, formerly of Invasion, was cast as Sam’s best friend and sidekick, Bert “Sock” Wysocki. Nikki Reed, co-writer of Thirteen, was originally cast as Andi but was replaced by Missy Peregrym, fresh off a recurring role on Heroes. Rick Gonzalez and Valarie Rae Miller were cast as Ben, Sam’s co-worker, and Josie, Sock’s ex-girlfriend. Anthony Head and James Marsters both auditioned for the Devil before Ray Wise was cast in mid-March. Kyle Switzer was cast as Sam’s younger brother Keith, whose name was later changed to Kyle and who was written out after two episodes.
Eriko Tamura was cast as a season 2 recurring character, playing Sock’s new stepsister and love interest. The show’s production credits sit with ABC Studios and The Mark Gordon Company, and the rights have been sold to Fox for broadcast in Asia.
Comedy, Drama, and the Devil’s Deal
Reaper is a comedy-drama that never decides which genre it wants to be. The Devil is a constant presence, played by Ray Wise with a mix of menace and camp. The show leans into the absurdity of its premise without losing the stakes. Sam’s relationship with his family, especially his father, played by Andrew Airlie, gives the show its emotional core. The show also touches on Sam’s fear of being alone, and the idea that he has to work for the Devil to save his mother adds weight to the jokes.
The writing handles the soul-hunting premise with care. Sam doesn’t just catch souls and send them back; he has to find them, bargain with them, and sometimes fight them. The cases vary from mundane to supernatural, and the show uses the vessel mechanic to keep each episode fresh.
The Verdict
Reaper is a clever show that doesn’t get enough credit. Its premise is ridiculous, but the execution is sharp. The vessel system gives the show a unique hook, and the cast sells the mix of horror and humor. Sam’s journey from slacker to reluctant hunter is genuinely touching, and the show handles the Devil’s presence with a steady balance of dread and wit.
The show isn’t perfect. Some episodes lean too hard on the monster-of-the-week formula, and the pacing can drag in the middle of seasons. But the best episodes land with real force, combining Sam’s personal struggles with the supernatural cases he faces.
Reaper deserves more viewers than it got. It’s a smart, funny, and occasionally moving show that rewards patience. The vessel system alone is worth the watch, and the performances carry the weight of the premise.
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:00 p.m. Eastern / 7:00 p.m. Central |
The show ran on Tuesdays at those times on The CW. It ended after two seasons, but not before proving that a show about a soul hunter could work on network television. Reaper remains a cult favorite, and its blend of comedy and horror continues to draw attention.
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