Preacher

Preacher has to be one of the hardest shows that I've had to describe in all of my reviews. It was so bizarre that if I tried explaining it to you you probably wouldn't want to watch it. So I won't and you should. The biggest thing I can tell you about this show is that I promise you've never seen anything like it and I promise you'll have a good time watching it. It has plenty of violence, drama, comedy, mystery and thrills to keep just about anyone entertained. If you didn't watch this while it was on that's actually an advantage for you because this show is definitely better watched as a binge instead of waiting week to week and then months between seasons. It's not going to be on anyone's best ever list but it's still definitely worth the time to watch.

I worked in a comic shop after decades of X-Men Comics. I read a few of the Preacher comics but a friend/co-worker of mine was far more into them. When I realized that this was a Series, I purchased each season on blu ray. As someone who has been a "comic book geek" long before the term was cool, I can tell you that as an adaptation, Preacher was almost perfect! Far beyond any Marvel or DC movie. Try to prove me wrong but there are very few comic based adaptations I have seen that fit more than Preacher. The casting is as near to perfection as you can get. Cooper and Gilgun (especially) are perfect. Ruth Negga as Tulip is physically against the comic but Ruth is definitely a perfect Tulip! The casting is PERFECT!! The plots are pretty awesome! Great job!!

I had given it a 9 for seasons 1-3, but had to take at least 2 points away due to season 4 abysmal implosion. For the most part, Preacher was entertainingly engaging, especially for those of us who were raised in Catholicism, which eventually led to many of us ultimately rejecting all of its utter hypocrisy (eg: L. A. Diocese $1.5 Billion payouts), leading many of us into atheism. How can an insecure God create such a miserable existence, especially for children, while actually endorsing slavery?

Preacher is without a doubt intentionally cynical, yet hold's truths.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what happened to this production by the time it hit season 4, as it literally became so juvenile, so utterly absurdly ludicrously unrelatable, with its way, way, way over the top violence, as simple filler fodder, I found myself scrubbing through much of the final season. I'm by no means a prude, but whomever thought this would bring appropriate closure to the series, couldn't have been more wrong.

Watch and enjoy season 1-3, but don't feel bad about scrubbing through season 4 just to find out how it ends.

Not yet read Preacher, but I was a little aware of the concept before starting this adaptation. It was mostly the stars that encouraged me to watch, as I'm a big fan of all three leads, particularly Joseph Gilgun and I'm overall I'm happy I did, as I liked (but perhaps didn't love) this series.

Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) is a former criminal who has returned to his hometown to become their Preacher - as his father once was. Attendances are dwindling and Jesse is unsure of his place in the world, then he receives what he believes is a divine gift. When he speaks, those who hear are forced to act on it, regardless of what it is. With his church on the up, he reconnects with Tulip (Ruth Negga) a childhood friend who has a mission of revenge for them both to begin and meets Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) an Irish Vampire just looking for a good time.

The first season is a funny, daring adult fantasy with wonderful central performances from its three leads and able support from the likes of Jackie Earle Haley, W Earl Brown, Lucy Griffiths and Derek Wilson. It ends at a point that I was really excited to see where it would go, but from there the show repeatedly splits up its three central characters and the second season is a step or two down in quality from the first. The third is better, but repeats the trick of splitting up the leads and introduces an element of repetition into the story line, as does the fourth. The later seasons rely on this bond between the three but the bonds between them is really something that we're more told about, than seeing exist.

One other slight issue, now it feels like it's another aspect of the very busy "adult fantasy" market. "The Boys", "American Gods", "Legion", "Good Omens" have all come subsequently and all (to some extent) cover similar ground.

I don't want to give the impression that it's bad, at any point, but aside from the first season it's just a bit too peripatetic and repetitive for its own good.

Many people have criticised the show, some based on religious "blasphemy" and some on the fact that it isn't true to the comic. However, SEE beyond the face value. It's not about revenge, it's not about Justice. It's not about religion or atheism. It's about letting go. Surrendering to what you can't control. Humanity. Duality. Our light side and our dark side. There is a much deeper message embedded in this TV show. These writers have done their homework. They get it (as with many other writers). See past your ego for once and see the Universal Truth hidden within.