The Preacher Review: “Pilot”

Preacher hit the airwaves this month. Its first episode brings with it exploding clerics, protagonists with dark pasts, and an Irish vampire.

Cast and Crew

Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Writers: Sam Catlin, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Adapted from the graphic novel by: Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon

Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer
Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy
Ruth Negga as Tulip O’Hare
Lucy Griffiths as Emily
W. Earl Brown as Hugo Root
Tom Brooke as Fiore
Anatol Yusef as DeBlanc
Ian Colletti as Arseface
Derek Wilson as Donnie Schenck
Ricky Mabe as Miles Person
Jamie Anne Allman as Betsy Schenck
Brian Huskey as Ted Reyerson
Thomas Barbusca as Chris Schenck
Irungu Mutu as African Preacher
Miriam Fease as Kansas Girl
Elias Hanlon and Elias Hanlon as Kansas Twins
Andrei Lapionak as Russian Witness
Matt Peterson as Gary
Judith Rane as Mrs. Reyerson
Miles Wartes as Deputy
Tabatha Shaun as Goth Guitar Girl
Kristen Loree Kristen Loree as Mrs. Root
Ronnie Gomez as Bartender
Steven Davis, Travis Jenkins,Walter Johnson, David Miller as The McCready Gang

Premise

When a supernatural force comes to earth, it affects the life of several people. Some of them blow up. More dramatically interesting consequences face a Texas Preacher and a woman with dark pasts, and an Irish vampire with enemies in pursuit.

Challenging someone’s well-established reputation for “being some kind of bad ass,” especially when you’re a drunken abusive redneck in a TV series, is generally an extraordinarily bad idea.

High Points

Dark comedy has been a part of many shows, including such current favorites as Orphan Black and Better Call Saul. It has been surprisingly absent from comic-book adaptations.

Preacher’s first episode is often hilariously dark.

Low Points

The actors play the stereotypes well, and I suspect the characters will develop. It’s hard to miss, however, that the self-proclaimed hard-drinking Irishman (even if he is undead), the small-town, smaller-minded Texas rednecks, the Man of the Cloth with an unholy past and a future destiny, the fiery-preaching African cleric, and sundry others, are rooted in familiar stereotypes.

The Scores:

Originality: 2/6 Fan though I am of graphic novels, I have not read the source material. Obviously, the series loses “Originality” points for being an adaptation. Equally obviously, this show contains some inventive and bizarre elements. In a world where unusual shows have become part of the mainstream landscape, Preacher stands out.

Effects: 6/6

Acting: 6/6 The actors are strong; the dialogue presents some challenges, but I want to give full credit to the first episode. Pilots are challenging beasts.

Story: 5/6 The first episode proceeds at a slow pace, but it certain got my attention. Whether I’ll watch it weekly (when I’m already following two fairly insane series) or binge-watch the season remains to be seen—but I am intrigued.

Emotional Response: 5/6

Production: 6/6

Overall: 5/6

In total, “Preacher: Pilot” receives 35/42

One reply

  1. I hadn’t read the source material at all but I’ve heard about it here and there. It was a bit of a slow burn at first but it has me hooked so far.

    One particular high point for me: I like the way they handled the scene with the kids in the storm cellar while the attack was going on outside. Sure it saved the special effects budget to not show it, but it worked for me. I like it when the focus is on the people instead of just showing the explosions and whatnot.

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