Personally I would say nothing is wrong with Reaper. It’s funny, it’s entertaining and has pretty good special effects. Looks and sounds great in high definition and Dolby digital 5.1.

This article by Tim Goodman begs to differ. And I must admit upon further review I have to agree with some of his points:

– More of the Devil. 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. The writers need to flesh him out more (recently they have, with his disdain for Halloween and hints that he may have been in love once). Anything to give Wise more screen time would help immensely. And give him more cutting lines. Charming and jaded and funny - that’s what he’s best at. Tighten up his dialogue.

– Mix it up. Only recently - and only once - has this series veered off formula (an episode started in the heat of capturing a lost soul, which normally comes in the last 15 minutes). “Reaper” may be a thriller (though it’s almost never scary) and it may be a comedy (that could be sharpened as well), but, ultimately, it’s a procedural. Sam gets a weird hint. The Devil shows up. Sam gets annoyed. Sam gets no other clues from the Devil. Sam gets a vessel. Sam figures out where the escaped soul is. Sam - and friends, but not Andi - capture the demon. They return it to the DMV.

That needs to be tweaked. Later episodes seem to be trying to break out but the first four or so really bogged down in formula. And why take one of the pilot’s great jokes - whatever place feels like hell on earth really is hell on earth - and limit it to the DMV? No doubt viewers thought there would be portals to hell all over the place: mall parking lots, long lines virtually anywhere, a fabric store. Come on, a little creativity here would be greatly appreciated. No doubt the biggest drain on the potential we all saw in “Reaper” was how quickly it became formulaic and sadly uninspired. Wake up.

Clearly I have to say I agree fully with these two points. Ray Wise is terrific as the Devil. The show could use more of that character and actor. Plus the DMV thing doesn’t need to be the only place. How is it that they capture the demon during DMV hours? I have to do my DMV via mail because it never seems to be open when I can get there!