Rating: 4/5 stars
AMC took a risk adapting Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s “Preacher” from Vertigo comics. It is a rich and intricate tale that features the Catholic faith, vampires, the angel of death and a secret organization that has its hands in governments around the world, protecting the bloodline of Jesus Christ himself.
With such outlandish elements intertwining with religions, AMC had to be careful as to how far they pushed the envelope, so naturally they hired Seth Rogen (“Sausage Party”) and Evan Goldberg (“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”), two guys known for being on the controversial end of things and even enraging the nation of North Korea at one point in their careers. Alongside Sam Catlin (“Breaking Bad”), these guys were given full control to bring the beloved comics to the small screen.
Season one uniquely served as a prequel to the comic series, having an original story providing all of the background information needed to get to know the characters.
Season two truly began to incorporate well-known elements and storylines from the beginning of the graphic novels, and “Preacher” definitely has cranked the action up.
Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper, “Warcraft”) holds the almighty word of Genesis, a power that allows all hearing his commands to obey them. Alongside his immortal, heavy-drinking vampire buddy, Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun, “The Infiltrator”) and Custer’s longtime lover Tulip (Ruth Negga, “Loving”) investigate God’s disappearance from heaven. This causes them to roadtrip from Texas to New Orleans to find him and restore true order to the world.
As far out-there as “Preacher” may sound, it is impressive that they are convincingly able to ground the show back to reality with the emotional investment connecting the main trio of characters, along with complex and weird side characters that truly bring this berserk world to life.
Like most things Rogen and Goldberg produce, the show has hilarious moments, as did the graphic novels. The comic series, co-created by Ennis and Dillon, was notorious for its dark humor and the “This Is The End” co-writers and directors are the two perfect guys to have to bring that factor to the program.
Even though the showrunners took some liberties warping the original story, they stayed faithful to the most important aspects, which are perfectly executed. Especially The Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish, “Outlander”) and Herr Starr (Pip Torrens, “Versailles”) who absolutely crush it on screen.
McTavish has a conquering presence, being a soulless murderer cowboy sent from hell to kill Custer, while Starr is the sociopathic, socially unsophisticated head member of The Grail, the organization that does anything in its power to ensure Catholicism thrives throughout the world. For an organization based off religion, they sure do anything in their power to further their agenda. Ruthless, precise, sophisticated and deceitful, all traits both Starr and The Grail share.
For all the ways Rogen and company could have taken this acclaimed series, they have chosen the smartest route. The showrunners pay respect and homage to the source material while making it as fresh and cool as they can.
The season two finale sets up a giant piece of the comic book material and a storyline that will go to even more shocking places than what has been explored already, if that is even possible.
Photo provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment via YouTube.com
