WiC Watches: Preacher season 4

Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 5 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Episode 405: “Bleak City”

Like last week’s episode, “Bleak City” inches us closer to the finish line. This is a jolly good time, but as with most of the season, I still wish we were making more progress. The episode drags most noticeably with Cassidy, who finally escaped Masada last week thanks to his angel cell mate (who might be more pivotal to the plot than we originally thought), but more on that in a minute. Elsewhere, Tulip tries to persuade Jesus Christ to take a road trip to Las Vegas, and Jesse gets himself shot in the back by an unlikely party. Lots going on here!

Let’s start with Preacher Jesse, who is now wanted for the murder of innocent “sex tourists.” After the use of Genesis resulted in Pilot Steve’s death, Jesse is attempting to reign in his super power, which unbeknowst to him also serves as the means by which the Saint is tracking him. So when Jesse uses Genesis to innocently cure a car rental clerk of his stutter, it quickly draws the Saint, with Eugene in tow.

Jesse manages to escape, but is compelled by guilt over sending Eugene to Hell in season 1 to turn around and try to “rescue” Eugene. With help from a literal wrecking ball, Jesse manages alright, and during one of his more honest moments apologizes to Eugene for sending him to Hell, and for not caring that he did so. And then comes a proper plot twist as Eugene shoots Jesse in the back. Eugene thought an apology would be enough, but when it came down to it, he couldn’t quite let go of his grudge.

Ian Colletti as Eugene Root/Arseface – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

It’s a wonderfully deep moment, and emblematic of the questions Preacher has long raised about religion, faith and deed. Eugene has spent his entire arc being a far better example of Christianity than anyone on the show,  and yet when confronted with the man responsible for much of his suffering, he takes revenge. Considering what Eugene went through due to Jesse’s actions, it’s hard to blame him. At any rate, Jesse’s wounds allow the Saint to catch up to him, and leaves him in quite the predicament for next week.

Cassidy likewise has a great episode — his plotline examines the nature of friendship, love and the mystical oneness of it all. Of course, this is Preacher, so while that’s happening there’s an angel and a demon alternately having sex with and murdering each other in the background.

Still Gilgun acts the hell out of his reunion with Tulip, and his resulting inner struggle about his friendship with Jesse. His A New Hope analogy was solid, even if it was lost on the barkeep.

Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, David Field as Archangel – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 5 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Still, I can’t help but wonder where exactly this newfound turmoil comes from. The last time we saw Cassidy and Jesse together, Cass demanded to be left behind after feeling cast aside during season 3, and because of his love for Tulip, to some extent. Was it his reunion with Tulip that inspires his soul searching? It seems so. I just hope its genuine, and Jesse isn’t shot in the back again later this season.

As for Tulip, it’s her turn to represent the directionless nature of the season. Initially, she sets off with Jesus on a road trip to Las Vegas. How they are going to drive from the Middle East to Vegas is beyond me, but it doesn’t matter, as Jesus quickly decides he’d rather return to Masada as Heaven’s representative at the apocalypse conference. It seems Jesus has some unresolved daddy issues. Without anything to do, Tulip returns to pick up Cassidy and the duo set off to rescue Jesse, who they rightly assume is in danger.

Noah Taylor as Adolf Hitler, Pip Torrens as Herr Starr – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 5 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

The two shows have very little in common, but I can’t compare the final seasons of Preacher and Game of Thrones. Thrones seemed intent on getting to the end as quickly as possible, rushing through major events without giving them time to breathe. On the flip side, Preacher seems to spin its wheels — literally and figuratively — advancing forward only to pull a u-turn.

Don’t get me wrong: this was a fun episode — most Preacher episodes are — but where Thrones rushed forward, Preacher seems hesitant to take a step. There’s little sense of urgency right now, and one can hardly tell this is the final season.

Random Observations

• WolfMother’s “Joker and the Thief” blasting when Cassidy finally decides to leave the bar was fantastic. I immediately downloaded that under-appreciated classic.

• Cassidy’s cell mate initially appeared to be some sort of random Masada captive like Cassidy himself, but given his love affair with the unnamed demon, we might be looking at Genesis’ parents.
• From Hitler to Herr Starr to Featherstone, there’s little of interest going on inside Masada. Those characters, removed of their more intriguing counterparts, just aren’t much fun.