Preacher - Pilot (Review)

Preacher lands in Tarantino fashion on AMC in a way that feels fresh. Some comic shows can feel formulaic, paint by numbers, and can be dull, at times. We've all seen it; the standard one-off villain of the week episode that holds you over until next week when the plot actually moves along! Garth Ennis' comic of the same name is a different type of story. It's a very unique story from the artwork style to the characters Ennis created. As a fan of his, I particularly enjoy his series The Boys, I was excited to see what this show had to offer.

Preacher's debut episode is directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (yes, the duo responsible for some great comedies like Pineapple Express & Superbad). They do a very good job with it. The episode feels very Tarantino-esque, in a good way. Dominic Cooper (Agent Carter/Captain America: The First Avenger) was a great pick for Jesse Custer. I wasn't sure what to expect from him. His work in the Marvel Universe has mostly been comedic in tone. He really sells the character of Custer and gets a chance to flex his acting chops. He's charismatic on screen and has a reserved nature while biting back his violent side. When Tulip (Ruth Negga) pops on screen during her big action scene in this episode feels like it could have been lifted straight from a Kill Bill movie with quirky dialogue and the way the action feels in the situation. Joseph Gilgun's character, Cassidy is shrouded in some mystery and provides some high octane moments in the premiere. I think his mysteriousness as well as the odd, mysterious exploding entity that's introduced, provide more than enough suspense to keep viewers coming back for more.

We are introduced to a few other important characters who help add intensity, mystery, confusion, comedy, and religious intrigue in a really good way. Overall, it was solidly written, directed, and a great introduction to the characters and the narrative. I think that if the quality maintains then this show is going to be one of the biggest must watch shows of 2016. I thought this episode was pretty great.