After AMC's staggering success with its comic-book-to-screen adaptation of The Walking Dead [1], the network decided to try for the same magic with one of the Summer's most interesting new shows, Preacher [2]. Developed by Seth Rogen [3] and Evan Goldberg, the show is inspired by Garth Ennis's 1995 cult comic series of the same name, and although its premise is pretty out there, don't let it scare you off. The all-star cast and top-notch visuals will be more than enough to keep you coming back episode after episode. Keep reading to see everything you need to know about Preacher, and then check out the other new Summer shows you should be watching [4].
What It's About
It's hard to stick Preacher into one genre; it has elements of the supernatural, it's action-packed, and there's even hints of an old Western flick in there. This makes it hard to simplify, but in a nutshell, it's about Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), a down-on-his-luck, hard-drinking preacher in the forgotten-about town of Annville, TX, who has all but lost his faith in God. He's then serendipitously struck by a mysterious, massive ball of energy from the heavens that gives him supernatural abilities. We've only gotten a taste of what Jesse can do so far, but it sure seems like he has the ability to command people to do things (and his commands must be taken literally).
If that weren't complicated enough, Jesse also has to deal with the unpredictable and violent Tulip (Ruth Negga), the ex-girlfriend who's trying to lure him back to a life of crime, and Cassidy (Joseph Gilun), an irreverent Irish vampire who's on the run from vampire hunters and can't seem to stay out of trouble.
Who's Starring
- Jesse Custer: Annville's apathetic, alcoholic preacher who finds purpose in spreading the word of God after gaining supernatural abilities. He'll use these newfound abilities to deal with his town's secrets, lies, and twisted inhabitants, all while trying to bury the painful memory of his father's death and the years of violent crime that he engaged in.
- Tulip: A whip-smart firecracker of a human being, who can beat someone to smithereens with her bare hands. She's Jesse's ex-girlfriend, and although they had a vaguely hinted at falling out, it's clear there's still plenty of love there.
- Cassidy: A goofy vampire with a thick Irish accent who's hiding out from a group of vampire hunters hot on his trail. He's also tasked with keeping his vampirism a secret from the good townspeople of Annville, as well as his new BFF, Jesse.
- Arseface, aka Eugene Root (Ian Colletti): The son of Sheriff Root who's graphically disfigured [5] after a botched suicide attempt, earning him the nickname "Arseface" (because he looks like a . . . well, you know).
- Sheriff Root (W. Earl Brown): The abrasive, stuck-in-his-ways, antagonistic leader of the police force in Annville, who will no doubt end up clashing with Jesse and his friends down the road.
Why You Need to Watch
Overall, Preacher is a delightfully inventive, fast-paced, visceral, in-your-face display of television that's here to shake up your weekly routine. There's definitely going to be moments where you have to suspend your disbelief more than usual, but that's all part of the fun.
If you haven't read the comics, there's no need to worry about feeling lost when you start watching Preacher, since a lot of things that work on the page don't necessarily work on screen, and the show's writers appear to be taking quite a few liberties with its source material. Conversely, if you have read the comics, there's also no need to despair — the core characters and themes that you love are very much present in the TV adaptation, even if it's not exactly what you've been expecting.