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| Desmin Borges |
In the year 2016, the idea of a superhero TV series is nothing new. In fact, Preacher is far from the first series on AMC to be adapted from the colorful medium. However, the promise of gritty series with a penchant for dark humor is a promise not often met on shows like Daredevil. So, how does this story of a Preacher (Dominic Cooper) from Annville differ from everything else? For starters, it fully embraces the weird and gives one of the most entertainingly dark and satisfying Freshman series of the year. It may be far from perfect, often rambling in nothingness, but the characters have such a chemistry and dynamic that even the slow moments are filled with sharp dark comedy and one of the most bizarre supernatural themes of any show this year. It may be far from perfect, but it's one of the most perplexing and exciting comic book shows that have come out since Jessica Jones, and may be one of the most entertaining action-wise in quite some time.
While adapted from comic books, the first season actually reads more as a prequel of the main story. With exception to a few western-themed flashbacks, the series takes the characters down an origin story route that gives us a deeper sense of this religious world. Preacher is flawed because he sees the evil happening around him and it's very tempting. By the end of the season, he leaves the town due to its own corruption to find God. He believes that the savior that he spends his weeks preaching about will give him the answers to fight the corruption that he spends most of the 10 episodes dealing with; specifically against a megalomaniac (Jackie Earl Haley), who simply wants to build a food court where the church stands. It's a fight between commerce and religion in ways that may be broad and unfulfilling, but it does paint a nice picture that isn't as complex on any other series.
What's happening on Preacher is far too complex to get into in this TV Retrospective. To talk about the angels who come to visit or the character Arseface (Ian Colletti) will require too much back story. It's a universe that is best accepted at face value, and from there is given great rewards in the temptation between good and evil. Even as Preacher delivers on the promise of God coming to church in the season finale, it doesn't go in the route that one would think. For starters, the series has a more perverted (sexual, violent) heart that makes the wholesome context of a Catholic Priest story seem far richer. Yes, he doesn't pull out his fighting moves much, but when he does it makes for some riveting TV.
For those expecting deeper texts, you will likely be disappointed. Despite being co-created by Breaking Bad's Sam Catlin, it doesn't have the nuance or gravitas that made the ABQ meth dealer show so popular. It has characters who are eccentric and exist in a bizarre vacuum of mysterious history and strange takes on violence. It may go into surreal places - especially towards the final half - but it seems grounded more in style. The battles between good and evil are merely surface level action that are entertaining to watch, but lack any profound depth that made Walter White's journey clear. Preacher's journey is simple. He wants to do good, but has to face a lot of specific demons to do so. It's fun, but it doesn't have the extra oomph, even in the directorial department.
But is that a bad thing? The other co-creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg may be a striking difference from the norm of a series like this, but its team-up with Catlin definitely makes for an interesting equation. Together, it's drama and comedy, blending in a perverse scope of genres that make up Preacher. It is unlike anything else on TV, and it helps it to stand out as one of AMC's better new series in recent years. It is so defiantly itself that its audience will latch onto it quickly, even if it still needs to work out some kinks. Still, what does work is the energy and the sense of engagement it has for the community and its story.
Preacher may not be the best comic book series in recent years (that would be Jessica Jones), but it definitely has the heart to be a worthwhile experience. Providing a nice Southern Gothic mix to its violence and sexuality, the show is so rich with religious symbolism that it should appeal to those lapsed Catholics who still find conflicts with good and evil. It may have a ways to go before it can balance its comedy, violence, and action into a blissful package, but its first season is so assured that it lets us hold on a little longer. Hopefully when it integrates with the actual story it's based on that things will pick up. Until then, it ends the first season on a high note and becomes one of the funnest, weirdest new shows of the year.
OVERALL RATING: 3.5 out of 5
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