WiC Watches: Preacher season 4

Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Episode 409: “Overture”

Finally, it looks like we might actually be getting somewhere. There’s more narrative crammed into “Overture” than the rest of the season combined, which makes me wonder if the last several episodes had to be so meandering. Still, it’s nice to finally get answers to many of our questions, and to see the story finally moving towards its conclusion. Also there’s a strap-on fist dildo in the middle there. Welcome to Preacher!

To me, much of season 4 has felt highly unnecessary. Unlike the previous three seasons, which all felt like they had a story that required an entire season to tell, season 4 has been all over the map, literally and figuratively. Like Tulip’s magical car, which can drive from the Australian outback to New York City and everywhere in between, we’ve jumped around a lot. Thankfully, we’re nearing our destination.

Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, Ruth Negga as Tulip O’Hare, Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Anyways, back to the episode: God might have lurked on the periphery of the show’s first three seasons, but in season 4 the Almighty has slowly come to the forefront, culminating in his central role in “Overture.” We’ve clearly established God is an asshole by this point, a selfish and vain creator, but this week it all gets taken up a notch. Sure, it’s hilarious to watch Him randomly murder Grail flunkies for looking at him the wrong way, but when God turns His eye on our trio of heroes, it gets mighty dark, mighty fast.

After Tulip confesses to Jesse that she and Cassidy have slept together once again, Jesse shrugs it off and the three head to Masada, nominally to kill Humperdoo and prevent the apocalypse. Why Humperdoo plays such a central role is lost on me, but God stand in our heroes way, and like his now deceased counterpart the Devil, tempts each of them in ways only God could. For Cassidy, it’s the promise of returning to his pre-vampire life, a hero to his friends and family in Ireland. The torment on Cassidy’s face is plain; Cassidy has felt used and discarded since season 3, but for the moment we’re led to believe he rejects God’s offer.

Mark Harelik as God – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Sarah Enticknap/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Tulip is next. God doesn’t tempt Tulip with an offer, but simply wants to torment her while keeping her away from Hump. God insists on rubbing Tulip’s daughter’s death in her face, saying he “can’t remember” why he let the child die years ago. It’s brutal and painful, and naturally sets Tulip off, but God simply knocks her out and leaves her locked in a Masada closet.

Which leads to Jesse and God’s confrontation in a Masada church. The entirety of the Grail is off celebrating the looming apocalypse, and it’s clear the world’s fate will be decided in this room. We learned earlier that Genesis was indeed the product of the unnamed angel and demon’s love for each other, but we also learn that God cannot take Genesis from Jesse for some reason, leading to a stalemate. Enter the Saint, whom Jesse believes has arrived to kill God. But God greets the Saint as an old friend.

Pip Torrens as Herr Starr, Tyson Ritter as Humperdoo – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Here’s the thing, though: despite to quick explanation of God and the Saint’s friendship, we’ve seen the Saint profess his desire to kill God the entire season, so it robs the twist of any weight, since it seems pretty obvious the Saint will end up killing God in next week’s finale. Likewise, we see Cassidy guarding Humperdoo in the scenes from next week’s episode, meaning he took God up on his offer and has now switched sides. I don’t entirely believe that turn, either.

Still, overall “Overture” is a good episode, and it was satisfying to see the plot finally move forward sans detours. Putting God in the spotlight was a good choice — Mark Harelik shines in the role, and it highlights what Preacher can do right when it really tries. Gilgun and Negga continue to really play the hell out of Cassidy and Tulip respectively. With one episode to go, there’s still a lot of ground to cover, but we’re almost there.

Random Observations:

• Eugene decided he wants to be a rockstar and then immediately gets run over by a taxi. It was…lame. If we’re not going to get emotional catharsis for him shooting Jesse a few episodes back, please just let us be done with this character.
• Jesus finally turning on Hitler was fun, as were Jesus’ continued attempts to impress his dad with his breakdancing. Hopefully there’s a proper end in store for those characters.
• Herr Starr and Featherstone’s “sex scene” was wildly awkward, but I loved Starr discovering his plans for the apocalypse still include his own destruction thanks to a couple of unsent faxes.