WiC Watches: Preacher season 4

Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Episode 406 “The Last Apostle”

As we coast our way into the second half of Preacher’s final season — and “coast” is the key word for “The Last Apostle” — questions are beginning to be answered and subplots are starting to fall by the wayside as the show rediscovers some of the magic it possessed earlier in its run. That doesn’t mean the episode is perfect, but at least we’re getting a clue as to what’s actually going on. Sort of.

First and foremost, we learn what the mysterious Penis Rock is all about; its a natural rock monument in the Australian outback where the Grail intends to detonate a nuclear bomb. Rather than incite a global war between regular genre antagonists the United States and Russia, the Grail plans to incite the apocalypse by pitting well-known warmongers Australia and New Zealand against each other. We also learn that Jesus and Hitler have been negotiating for the souls of the people who will soon be dying in this global conflict.

Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, Ruth Negga as Tulip O’Hare – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

But while the grand plot moves forward, it’s the episode’s more personal moments that are the most enjoyable. Cassidy and Tulip impersonating American law enforcement officers to interrogate Eugene is quite hilarious. Unfortunately, we don’t get much time with Eugene, but the whole sequence is still quite fun. The same can be said for most of the duo’s screentime this episode, including their thrilling rescue of Jesse in the climax.

On the flip side, Jesse and the Saint spend the episode slowly marching across the Outback, and it’s only mildly entertaining. The Saint is out to kill God, and we presume needs Jesse to accomplish that. Jesse, despite cursing God as recently as two episodes ago, declares his refusal to help the Saint for whatever reason. The interaction between the two is rather dull, and lacks any of the pair’s chemistry and conflict from season 2. Even when the Saint murders a family of innocents to motivate Jesse, it lacks any sort of emotional impact, mainly because it occurs offscreen and we aren’t allowed to see Jesse’s reaction.

All of which brings us to the thrilling conclusion of the episode, where Tulip and Cassidy briefly rescue Jesse with the help of some flame retardant and an airplane. It’s a fun action sequence, and seeing our trio of main characters reunited for a moment is a treat.

Mark Harelik as God – Preacher _ Season 4, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Lachlan Moore/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

If only it lasted longer. God, who appears to be readying a new form of life to take mankind’s place after the apocalypse, sets off the bomb, which knocks Jesse out of the airplane. Cass attempts to save the padre, but after Jesse uses Genesis to force Cass to let go, we finally discover how Jesse falls to his death in the season premiere.

The climax of the episode works, as does Tulip and Cassidy’s search for Jesse leading up to it, but the episode again feels uneven. With only four episodes to go after this one, its hard to see the series sticking the landing, but maybe that’s not the point? Preacher has always been an oddball show, so a clear and linear conclusion might not be in the cards. Perhaps we should just sit back and enjoy the ride? I guess we’ll find out soon.

Random Observations:

• Herr Starr’s continual mutilation has long past the point of being funny, robbing a once charismatic character of his gravitas.
• If we don’t get even a hint of what’s in Jesse’s letter to Tulip, I will be mildly disappointed. You’ve been warned, Preacher.