Martin Carr reviews the penultimate episode of Preacher season 3…
Aside from the theological debates, sacrilegious moments of dramatic dread and Preacher’s propensity for exploding evangelists you have to question the sanity of creators Gareth Ennis and Steve Dillon. Voices of God concealed up rectal crevices, Dolly The Sheep levels of cloning and their inclusion of sassy assassins, historical dictators and demonic cowpokes makes Preacher a unique viewing experience. Throw in hijackings by jackbooted SS guards, sharp suited Angels of Death and Germanic operatic accompaniment into an already combustible mess and Schwarzkopf really goes off the chain.
Subtlety is an absentee landlord as Custer and Herr Starr bitch slap each other whilst sliding around in an All Father and Humperdoo soft shoes outside Grail headquarters. Character moments between Hitler, Tulip and Eugene Root make for the most interesting segues alongside any other lunacy occurring. As ever plot points, narrative cohesion and coherence are more guidelines than anything worth hanging an episode on. Ruth Negga, Ian Colletti and Graham McTavish represent the sensible elements of the equation in episode nine, while Torrens and Cooper continue their combined tour de force performances.
There appears to be no boundary they will not breach and few institutions Preacher deems sacred enough for leniency. This programme like many others will have its detractors who bad mouth, deride and undermine, but surely that is the sincerest form of flattery for a satirical sensibility. If people are not making a noise then you’re point is being missed, while lesser serials not so deserving of our attention bask in adoration for being safe and sanitary. Bravery in television is subjective and streaming giants like Amazon and Netflix are the most insulated when it comes to a matter of artistic freedom. They may have changed the landscape of viewing habits globally but their most important contribution remains the ability to make bold choices, indulge in risky ventures and therefore push boundaries free of repercussion or fear of impunity. Who’s the dickhead now?
Martin Carr
Originally published August 22, 2018. Updated January 8, 2019.
