It is an indisputable fact that currently, the most fertile and lucrative
source for movies and television are comic books. Those magazines we used to
spend our allowances on are now a multibillion-dollar industry responsible for
many of the greatest successes in entertainment. While much of the initial
attention focused on the most popular characters like Batman, Iron Man and
Superman, the immense need for new fresh stories has compelled the studios to
delve into some of the esoteric characters. Combined with the looser restriction
on content resulting from the proliferation of non-broadcast methods of
distribution and the audiences can now enjoy the darker, more mature subject
matter. One character that has made a significant impact on the genre comes from
a title published by the published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, ‘Preacher.’
The protagonist here is diametrically opposite to the stalwart bastions of
truth, justice, and honor our childhood comic exalted. The main character in
this story smokes, curses, drinks and fornicates, frequently to excess. This man
wears a cleric collar yet is disheveled having a bible in one hand and a gun in
the other. Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), is the eponymous preacher and he is
the epitome of the modern antihero, achieving popularity through its
three-season run on AMC. Originally the American basic cable’s, Movie Channel or
AMC built a well-deserved reputation for hosting some of the greatest series
television with iconic shows. This included programs as ‘Mad Men’, ‘Breaking
Bad’ and ‘Walking Dead’, the network made substantial progress in redefining
television often by blurring the distinction between genres constructing novel
approaches to quality, mature entertainment, typical for content derived from
graphic novels, ‘Preacher’ challenges the preconceptions traditionally
established for the hour-long drama. The formula, as it seems, is resulting from
a brilliantly unique blend of action, thriller, and horror with the synergy
enhanced through the nuanced infusion of satire and self-aware pop culture
references.
All too frequently a series of this superior quality and unorthodox
craftsmanship is misunderstood relegating it to the dreaded ‘Brilliant but
Cancelled’ list. Fortunately, the executives at AMC have ample experience with
the fact that complicated stories require time for world building. That
greatness builds, grown organically and not hatched fully formed. A couple of
seasons were required to fully build the principle characters and infuse the
situations with a robust mythos to bind characters and circumstances seamlessly
together. Before attempting to delineate a synopsis of the dominant plot points,
it is prudent to note that this is not a series for everybody, arguably it could
be stated it is nor for most people. The days when networks strove to please the
largest audience are over, supplanted by the era of niche programming.
‘Preacher’ is an example of replacing the generalized pablum created with the
sole intention of generating the largest possible following with entertainment
showcasing excellence over generality. A purposeful aspect of this series is to
offend the viewer. Not for the sake of challenging the validity of beliefs but
rather to liberate the audience to explore alternative concepts in
understanding. As is obvious from the title, religion is a fundamental premise
driving the action. Jesse is ostensibly a preacher for a small congregation in
rural Texas. For much of his life, Jesse has been a grifter, a con man, and
low-end career criminal. The first two seasons followed Jesses as the
transaction from a person concerned only with his personal needs to a part of a
dysfunctional community. Through a strange twist of fate and convergence of
circumstances, Jesse becomes the host of a supernatural power derived by being
of supernatural origins, Genesis.
Whenever Jessie speaks forcefully, anyone hearing his voice must obey,
precisely and without hesitation. An unintentional consequence of this power
provides one of the most surreal storylines of the season. Jesses, annoyed and
overwrought, shouts at a young man, Eugene (Ian Colletti), to go to hell.
Instantly, he finds himself literally in Hell, despite not deserving the fate or
being dead, Eugene is a very unusual recurring character. Due to a failed
suicide attempt with a shotgun in the mouth, much of his jaw is gone leaving his
lips in a permeant pucker resembling a sphincter conferring upon him the
lamentable nickname, Arseface. He goes on to h=share a very strange adventure
with Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor).
The world is thrown into turmoil when God mysteriously vanishes. Even the
angels that were hunting Genesis are clueless as to the whereabouts of the
Almighty, leaving Jesse determined to locate him. With only a few nearer and
ambiguous clue he sets off with his girlfriend, Tulip O'Hare (Ruth Negga), a
childhood friend, girlfriend, and conman extraordinaire, and best friend, the
119-year-old Irish vampire, Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). The interrelationship
between these three characters drives the emotional arc of the season. Jesse and
Tulip have been a couple since before puberty, albeit mitigated by drifting in
and out of each other’s lives. Following an age-old literary device, the three
are continuingly pulled apart and drifted back together. This allowed the
writers to explore each character individually, deeply diving into their origins
and motivational forces that shaped their current personas. ‘Preacher’ is an
example of the change in focus that the expanded venues and insulation from the
restrictive FCC oversight have accomplished. Graphic novels are a form of
serialized entertainment which permitted the narrator to examine characters,
their backstories, and circumstances in illuminating depth. Broadcast television
necessitated superficiality, in general, while the film had time constraints
firmly imposed. Series such as this can dedicate entire episodes to an
individual character’s story arc even if it requires a temporary departure from
the primary narrative. This season excelled in the use of this device providing
crucial biographies of Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy. In each case, the audience was
given intimate details as to the crucial circumstances that formed their
personalities, emotional composition, and psychological foundation. Surviving
their respective abuses tempered them into the resourceful and resilient adults
able to form a dysfunctional yet loyal family unit.
The principal characters are precisely crafted as fully formed, human
personalities. Still, in a story with such prevalent supernatural components,
the construction of the adversaries is more critical than ever. In this series,
they then to be human, albeit with access to the supernatural. A plethora and
villains are opposing the three protagonists far too many for inclusion here.
Besides, the greatest source of entertainment in this season is experiencing
each villain in turn and watching how they contribute to the whole. Of all the
bizarre and colorful members of this season’s rouge gallery, the standout is
arguably Herr Star (Pip Torrens). He is a formidable adversary, physically
imposing with a scar down his face, damaged eye, and penchant for white suits
and hats. It has no regard for pain, except as a tool. The Grail is an ancient
secret order charged with protecting the bloodline of Jesus Christ. Herr Star
commanded the Samson unit, responsible for black operations and ‘wet work.’ His
allegiance is to his survival and will betray or kill anyone in the way f that
objective. As mentioned, this season possesses a robust cadre of characters
expertly crafted and brought to life by an incredibly talented cast. The fourth
season has been approved, and all true fans are anxiously waiting for it to
start.