Reaper

Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman

It's a lot of fun. It's funny. And stars Bret Harrison and Tyler Labine have better chemistry than most duos on TV.

San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman

The writing and acting are hit out of the ballpark on this one, and that's not a vibe you pick up out of nowhere.

Entertainment WeeklyGillian Flynn

Wise steals this, show, and his costars aren't easy prey. What's more, the dynamic is quite clever. [28 Sep 2007, p.94]

Kansas City StarAaron Barnhart

Reaper is remarkably well-paced and hilariously well-written.

Seattle Post-IntelligencerMelanie McFarland

Besides being the funniest pilot, it has the best cast.

Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall

The CW's Reaper and NBC's "Chuck," the two shows featuring the aforementioned Sam and, um, Chuck, are an unusual pairing in that they're not only both good--with ABC's "Pushing Daisies," they're the best new shows of the season.

USA TodayRobert Bianco

Wise has been given a great chance to shine, and he makes the most of it, stealing scenes with such aplomb it may almost be a sin. Still, the show has to be carried by Harrison and Labine, and they seem up to the task.

LA WeeklyRobert Abele

Kevin Smith directs the pilot episode with his typically expert comic timing. But he also handles the dark action bits nicely. Because even though Reaper is generous with its humor, it’s not entirely wink-wink.

Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm

Reaper is right up there with the best new shows of the season, better, actually, than NBC's "Chuck" because it dares to be more radical.

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

Wise is one lucky devil. And so are viewers who appreciate lighthearted, supernatural dramas.

The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley

Reaper is not at all grim; it’s actually quite rewarding.

Washington PostTom Shales

Reaper works on its own cleverly devilish level and proves one of the happier, snappier surprises of the season.

Los Angeles TimesRobert Lloyd

Tyler Labine makes a most excellent wacky bearded sidekick, and Rick Gonzalez and Valarie Rae Miller round out the Scooby Gang. Auteur of slackerdom Kevin Smith ("Clerks") directed the pilot, which maintains a nice fairy tale tone even as it stresses the banality of the infernal.

Orlando SentinelHal Boedeker

Wise's acting is the most awesome asset.

Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen Gray

Geek TV is really the stories of people who've had greatness, not geekiness, thrust upon them, mostly in the form of unrequested superpowers. It should probably disturb me, but somehow doesn't, that the best of these, the CW's Reaper.

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

All the details have color, and so do the characters, right down to Sam's guilt-ridden parents, with whom he still lives. And there are fleeting hints of drama in the scenario that will surely gain momentum and weight.

Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron

Reaper is a fun show to watch but not to think about. The concept is imaginative, and the characters are enjoyable. The pilot is a hugely entertaining hour of TV.

NewsdayDiane Werts

It's all sharp and snappy.

VarietyBrian Lowry

In pulling these tried-and-true elements together, Smith and series creators Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters also garnish Reaper with several deft little touches--like pegging the Dept. of Motor Vehicles as a hiding-in-plain-sight portal to Hell, or the appropriate strains of Blue Oyster Cult's 'Don't Fear the Reaper.'

Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan

With its young, often winning cast and its sparky, humorous dialogue, Reaper pays homage to the memorable shows created by Joss Whedon.

Miami HeraldGlenn Garvin

Reaper is a hilariously fractured commentary on Gen Y.

New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley

If I sound too enthusiastic about a series that ends up, in the pilot, being a bit too obsessed with special effects, I apologize. The Devil made me do it. Or at least Ray Wise did

New York PostAdam Buckman

Of course, it's a ridiculous, far-fetched sce nario, but it works be cause the producers of Reaper never take their subject too seriously.

Detroit Free PressMike Duffy

With its sharp writing, wonderful cast and wacko spirit, Reaper is one helluva good time.

Arizona RepublicRandy Cordova

There are lots of laughs and thrills here, and just the occasional misstep: Someone, anyone, please get sidekick Tyler Labine to tone down the obnoxious Jack Black impression.

PopMattersMichael Abernethy

The series is essentially light-hearted: Sam is a sweet-natured superhero with a dust-buster. He may be working for the source of all evil, but one can’t help but cheer him on.

New York MagazineJohn Leonard

Reaper is strictly for fans of movies like Superbad.