Short lived, but memorable! Perfectly, describes Showtime’s series
dead like me. The series only had two seasons before
being canceled (2003-2004). With a direct to DVD
dead like me: Life after Death
movie in 2009 (that tried to provide closure for fans who wanted a reboot).
In dead like me, Reapers are not the stereotypical cloak and scythe.
Reapers “pop the soul” before death so no pain is felt,
and then guide the soul to their unique set of light (the beyond). The Reapers reap souls in
specific divisions. The Divisions mention in the show such were
External Influences, Natural Causes, Pet, and Plague.
This series is follows the post-mortem life of Georgia “George” Lass
who resides in Seattle, Washington. By divine choice, George becomes a
Reaper, and because her death was an accident she reaps in the
External Influences Division (they reap the souls of accidents,
homicides, suicides, etc).
This Division's Regional leader is Rube. He is given a list of names,
ETD (Estimated Time of Death), the reaper assigned.
Rube then hands off this information (name and ETD) to the assigned Reaper
on a Post-it.
Penny
c.1880-1912
Transferred
to the
Natural Causes Division
Penny became a Reaper on April 15 1912; by either hypothermia/drowning. Penny, was on the Titanic when it went sank; causing her disdain of iced drinks. She used to work in the External Influences, but was transfer (before 2003) to the Natural Causes Division.
Rube Sofer
1876-c.1927
Regional Reaper
in the
External Influences Division
Rube became a Reaper circa 1927; presumably by gunshot. The matter of how he got his “promotion” to Reaper is only speculated. Most assume it happened during a Police shootout. Since one episode show his wanted poster as a bank robber.
Betty Rhomer
1899-1926
Retired
from the
External Influences Division
Betty became a Reaper in 1926; presumably by drowning. She was cliff diving with her fiance (who survived since he didn't jump off). Betty had an early retirement in 2003, by hitching a ride onto another soul’s afterlife.
Daisy Adair
c.1910-1938
Replacement
in the
External Influences Division
Daisy became a Reaper on December 13, 1938; by smoke inhalation. It happened on the set of “Gone with the Wind” when a fire broke out. She transfer over (from New York to Seattle) to replace Betty.
Mason
c.1939-1966
Slacker
in the
External Influences Division
Mason became a Reaper in 1966; presumably by blood loss. He drilled a hole into his temple to gain a “permanent high”. He is also a transfer from the UK, but it is unknown when/why he came to Seattle.
Roxy Harvey
c.1950-1982
Assistant
to the
Regional Reaper
Roxy became a Reaper in 1982; by murder. Roxy invented the leg warmer changing fashion in the 80s(sadly, it lead to her demise). Roxy's roommate was jealous and strangled her with a leg warmer.
Charlie
c.1988-1997
A Reaper
in the
Pet Division
Charlie became a Pet Reaper circa 1997; by a vehicle manslaughter. According to Charlie, he passed away after being hit by a drunk driver.
George Lass
1985-2003
Newest Reaper
in the
External Influences Division
George became a Reaper in June 27, 2003; by being "torpedo" (how Betty put it). She was promoted on her lunch break outside a park. When a flaming toilet seat from a de-orbiting russian space station struck her.