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'Preacher' Recap: When You Don't Need Pinky Or The Brain To Help You Take Over The World

By Brian Richards | Preacher | August 1, 2017 |

By Brian Richards | Preacher | August 1, 2017 |


Previously on Preacher: Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy did some research on who and what the Saint Of Killers is, and in order to save Tulip, Cassidy, and Dennis from death at the gun-toting hands of The Saint, Jesse gave up one percent of his soul and convinced The Saint to consume it (don’t ask, just watch the episode or read the recap) which finally made it possible for Genesis to work on him. Which Jesse used to his advantage before locking The Saint in an armored car and dumping him at the bottom of a swamp.

THE STORY SO FAR: Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy continue their search for God in New Orleans, Tulip is still traumatized by her encounter with The Saint (in which he not only came close to killing her, but grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up as if he was The Undertaker and about to choke-slam her) and is out to prove how much of a death-wish she has by allowing herself to be shot (while wearing Kevlar) for money, Cassidy not only finds out that Dennis is dying, but wants to be turned in to a vampire so that he can survive and then live forever, and we finally get to meet and know more about Herr Starr, who works for the Men In White Suits And Red Ties/Tom Wolfe Fan Club/’super-secret crypto-religious fascist organization with designs on total world domination’ that is The Grail and is one of their deadliest operatives.

WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Pretty much every scene with Herr Starr, because Pip Torrens is clearly having an absolute fucking ball playing this character. From his present-day arrival in Vietnam to investigate the presence of a floating pig that everyone is now worshipping (which is most likely what the folder on his desk was referring to when we last saw him) to the flashbacks that show how he was recruited in to The Grail in the first place, and how he used every unorthodox method at his disposal in order to triumph at all of those training exercises against all of the other candidates. Are you (yes, you! The Person Who Is Reading Pajiba At His Or Her Desk When You Should Be Working Or At The Very Least, Playing Galaga!) willing to start masturbating in the middle of a fight in order to distract your opponent and then beat his or her ass? You’re not? Well then you’re clearly not Herr Starr because that’s the sort of thing he’s willing to do as proof that he gives no fucks whatsoever when he is focused on achieving a goal.

But you had better sure you validate his parking first, because he won’t accept or tolerate anything else.

Cassidy getting so incredibly pissed as a fart that he ends up passing out in the muddle of the street, is taken off of the street, along with everyone else who passes out in the streets of New Orleans who can’t handle their liquor, and ends up locked in a drawer at the morgue. Which apparently isn’t the first time something like this has happened to Cassidy.

Saltonstall, the Grail agent who is training and recruiting Starr and the other candidates to join his ranks is played by “Hey, It’s That Guy!” Fredric Lehne, who played U.S. Marshal (and sworn enemy of Kate Austen) Edward Mars (no relation to Veronica or Keith) on Lost.

WHAT’S NOT SO GOOD ABOUT THIS EPISODE?: Outside of Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy scamming people for money by allowing Cassidy to get shot (while wearing Kevlar) for money and then fooling everyone into thinking that the Kevlar failed and he ended up dead, the other storylines aren’t nearly as fascinating or interesting to watch. Yes, we see Jesse realize that selling a portion of his soul (no matter how miniscule it is) is still a huge price to pay that will eventually have to be answered, and we see Tulip trying to get Jesse to understand how troubled she’s been feeling since their encounter with The Saint but to no avail, but not much else is done after Cassidy’s realization of what Dennis wants, and it just seems as if everyone is sitting around and waiting for Herr Starr’s arrival to kick things into high gear again as everyone seems like they’re mostly treading water in this episode.

ANY MENTIONS OF THE VAMPIRE-HUNTING VIGILANTES LOOKING FOR CASSIDY?: None whatsoever.

ANY MENTIONS OF EUGENE A.K.A. ARSEFACE?: No.

ANY MENTIONS OF HOW MUCH CASSIDY REALLY DOESN’T LIKE THE BIG LEBOWSKI?: None.

TO SUM IT ALL UP: The sooner that we get to see Jesse and Herr Starr cross paths, the happier I’ll definitely be. And the sooner that Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy are given more to do either in New Orleans or on their way out of New Orleans, the happier I’ll also be.

This episode of Preacher has been brought to you by “Piggy” by Nine Inch Nails: