Title: Preacher: “Call and Response”
Network: AMC
Air Date: July 31st, 2016
Genre: Black Comedy, Horror
“This world… Vampires, government agents, psychopathic Preachers. It’s just an unmitigated monster swamp.” The season one finale of Preacher has finally come and well… I found myself disappointed a little. I am a little mad at myself for missing the Breaking Bad Easter Egg for my review of “Finish the Song.” I knew there was something so familiar about that location when Fiore and DeBlanc were picked up. The same background shows up again here when Fiore returns from hell, so it was nice to be able to catch it again this week. Overall I did enjoy Season One of Preacher as a whole. The finale, however, just seemed like it was anti-climatic. I found myself numerous times during the episode saying, “What?”
Donnie suddenly welcoming Preacher in with open arms came out of left field. Did Jesse use Genesis on him and that’s how that all came about? If he did it wasn’t alluded to anywhere in the episode as far as I could tell. Donnie went as far as blowing out his eardrums to get Preacher for Odin. So him suddenly being so understanding and praising of Jesse just didn’t feel right. Not to mention Betsy also siding with Preacher. A few episodes ago Betsy was telling Donnie Preacher was going to get what’s coming to him. Well, she may have just been implying a shower because that’s what he was getting at their house when Tulip rolled in.
Who in God’s name is this Carlos guy? Throughout season one(Link to previous reviews) of Preacher, this guy was teased as royally screwing over Tulip and Jesse. Now in light of the reveal here about Tulip losing the baby, I understand the rage directed at this Carlos more. The character in general however has me wondering why in the world Jesse and Tulip would associate with this guy. He comes off as goofy and his motives are just bizarre. He screwed them over because they were happy? Then, armed with a tire iron and loaded revolver he takes what I would imagine is the beating of his life while seemingly failing to inflict any damage on Tulip or Jesse. Not only did Jesse and Tulip give Carlos these weapons, they felt it would make the coming fight “fair.” Why in the world… would anyone… pick that guy… to be a partner in a bank robbery?
I really enjoyed the scenes between Sheriff Root and Cassidy. They were tense, well written and had some solid emotion from Root. Root has finally figured out what Cassidy is. The manila folder doesn’t lie. Torturing Cassidy with gunshots and then providing him medicine to heal was a brutal way for Root to find out what he wanted. Where is Eugene? A small note though, apparently you can also look up medicine for vampires on the internet. When watching the scene again, it does appear that it is blood. At first, I thought it was some sort of different liquid which I feel would have been useful for Tulip not long ago.
When it came to the video call with God, I’m still on the fence about how I feel. For me, it changed the tone of the whole series. While Preacher does have comedic and supernatural elements thrown in, it still had a gritty realistic feel. God’s gone… yet the powers that be had an impersonator take his place? An impersonator that picks his nose and tells Preacher he has balls? I wasn’t digging it. Ruth Negga stepping in was the saving grace of the whole scene for me. Tulip has a number of solid moments in this episode but pointing out that (Impostor) God made a baby cry felt very Tulip.
In the comics, it was Genesis entering Preacher that flattened his church, killing all of his congregation. The twist for TV is that underground methane stockpile we’ve seen here and there all season finally blows. The news reports say that Annville is gone and there is thought to be no survivors. Where did Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy go for french fries? Was there no place in town that they could have gone? Are all the characters aside from our main three now dead and gone? While I enjoy cliffhangers and questions left to be answered later, these were just frustrating.
I did like the scenes following the reveal that God has left heaven, despite the quick change. One minute everyone was slowly getting up and the next its anarchy. With the entire town knowing God is gone, they give into their desires and commit sin. With God gone… there would be no real consequences. The little girls killing the creepy pedophile on the bus, the plant operator with the dominatrix, Tracy Loach’s mother suffocating her. Sure it’s against the law but even Root scoffs at that now.
For me, the Preacher Season finale was very “eh.” The Saint of Killers did show up for about three seconds just to say the word “Preacher.” Although he does kill the woman Adelphi Angel…but wouldn’t she just come back anyway? With all the build up through season one, I really wanted something more. Cassidy continued with his comedy after being let go by Root but he is still complaining about the Big Lebowski. Preacher has already been renewed for season two and Cassidy already let us know in the diner what we could expect. “Buckets of guns, sex and shady characters dressed in bikinis” is what lies ahead for the next season.
Did you like the finale of Preacher or were your feelings similar to mine? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and check back for future updates on the next season. You can also check out the previous reviews, starting from the “Pilot” episode here.
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