The mysterious and mystical stirrings of Texas is slowly being revealed, piece by piece, in the third episode of AMC’s new series. Episode three is the show’s tamest thus far, and it may even be the best.
Opening to yet another head-scratcher, Tulip meets Danni, who needs her husband killed. As the scene progresses, we flash back to a time that will be further revealed in the episode. Questions, so many questions.
Following Custer’s visit to an ailing, comatose daughter, Emily Woodrow, Custer’s right-hand lady has visited following suit of Custer’s miracle. Preacher’s controversial blessing has made its way through town, to the dismay of Donny, who is still recovering from his broken wrists. Being labelled as the guy “Preacher sucker-punched and made a weird sound” has not resonated well with Donny.
Coming to grips with his newly adopted powers, Jesse toys with Cassidy, showcasing his oddball powers to the vampire’s surprise. From hopping, boxing and admitting his appreciation of Justin Bieber, Jesse’s powers seem all too powerful. The scene showcases the comedic brilliance the comic remains notorious for, delivered to perfection thanks to Joseph Gilgun’s performance. Confused and consumed, Jesse is well and truly bewildered by his powers and the endless possibilities of what they could entail.
Following the enigmatic appearance from Jackie Earle Haley in last week’s episode, the character and his masochistic tendencies are finally somewhat revealed. Essentially the man who runs the dilapidated Texas town, Earle Haley’s Odin Quincannon seems decidedly creepy, finding solace and satisfaction listening to animals being slaughtered as if it were music. Reserved and mysterious, Earle Haley’s usual finest showcases the actor’s sombre and quiet qualities, moments that suggest something surely fantastic to come in later episodes.
While the show’s frequent head scratching may have left some viewers in the dust, more crucial information about these enigmatic characters are slowly being revealed. Having worked in crime-fuelled adventures years ago, Jesse and Tulip’s spree led to the death of an officer. Danni’s husband, from the episode’s opening scene, is revealed to be a character named Carlos, who fled the scene when a collaborative crime went south. This triggers Jesse’s rage, pushing him to leave with Tulip in search for and to kill Carlos.
Meanwhile, DeBlanc and Fiore, resurrected after Cassidy’s supposed butchering, return to the Preacher’s church once again armed to the brim with ammunition and gunfire, only for things to go south once again as the two are run over and killed again by Cassidy. Confused and intoxicated, Cassidy thinks nothing of the sorts and again, resurrected for the second time this season, DeBlanc and Flores reveal to Cassidy their plans and who they are. They’re angels on a mission, but they’re not after Cassidy or wanting to kill him as he believed. They are after Preacher.
During a quick stop on their way to find Carlos, Jesse is approached by a gun-toting Donny in a gas station bathroom. Despite being on his knees with a gun pointed directly at his head, Jesse utilises his powers and threatens to kill Donny and make the murder appear as a suicide. Showing him mercy, Jesse leaves him unharmed and, as a result, leaves Tulip as he returns back into town.
From this episode, it appears Preacher is about to kick into high gear. Juggling these various characters may prove difficult in the long run, but AMC has brought us a stellar start. The gruesome violence and hilariously dark comedy compliment each other perfectly, making Preacher one of the must-watch shows of the year. We’re still left with unanswered questions, as repetitively done so in the first two episodes, but this provides viewers will all the more reason to keep going on this wild, and deliciously insane, adventure.
THE REEL SCORE: 9/10
Next time…
– T.L.
