Preacher – Deviant

By: Kelly Kearney

On this week’s episode Jesse unleashes his heroic rage on a group of orgiastic pornsters while Tulip’s stuck in a hospital bed in Masada, no closer to rescuing the guilt ridden, foreskinless Cassidy. It’s an uphill battle for our three protagonists and that’s no thanks to God, who mapped out all the horrors these three keep facing.

Cassidy’s Past Haunts Him

The opening scene starts off with a commercial for face cream, proving Cassidy’s (Joseph Gilgun) earlier theory right – wrinkle reduction lotions are made from foreskins. Little did the vamp know when he imparted this wisdom on Tulip (Ruth Negga) that the cream would be made from his rejuvenated man parts. Like some kind of blood sucking starfish, Cassidy’s penis regeneration is the key to reversing the signs of ageing and millions are slathering the cream on their sagging skin for a firmer look. Not that the vampire cares much. He’s in Bensonhurst torture room, depressed and ready to let the Grail’s goon end his misery. What happened to Cass’s spice for life? We find out when he’s taken back to his cell in Masada, after another round of slice and dice Brooklyn style.

After trying to cheer the vampire up with movie impersonations, his Archangel (David Field) cell mate asks Cass what his plans are when he gets out of his current predicament. Shockingly, the vampire has no plans as he’s given up and is ready to take whatever pain and suffering the Grail has in store for him. That’s when he confides in the Archangel about his past and why he thinks he deserves whatever he gets.

Flashback to Ireland in 1916 during the Easter Uprising. The Irish are at war with the British and Cass is heading off to fight. Before he leaves he says a final goodbye to his family, promising them that he will be back. Cut to the fighting and Cass is in the thick of things, just as his squad leader (Derek Joseph Draper) gives a rather uninspiring speech about how they will be remembered. When he likens war’s heroism to filling buckets with your blood for the freedom of your people confidence isn’t really flowing through the soldiers veins, especially Cass who turned to his friend Billy (Connor Leach) and shrugs off the pep talk as total exaggeration. The two men decide to high tail it out of the fight and just as they’re escaping down an alleyway an explosion rocks them both back. Billy’s leg is blown clean off and Cassidy watches from a safe and hidden distance as British soldiers finish off his friend. Feeling like a coward for not helping Billy when he had the chance, Cass goes AWOL and hides from the enemy until the coast is clear. He then manages to get attacked by a vampire that rises up from a swamp like some kind of creature from the vampy lagoon! He tries to fight the slimy fang monster off, but the beast is too strong and eventually sinks his fangs into Cass, dragging him into the murky waters below. After he’s turned Cassidy goes home like he promised he would, but after catching a glimpse of his grandmother (Francesca Waters) in the kitchen he decides to leave without ever seeing his family again.  The story of his past highlights the guilt that Cass is dwelling on. He tells the Archangel, “In the end it’s better they think I’m dead than see what I’d become.” He feels guilt over letting his friend Billy die, guilt over not keeping his promise to his family and guilt over the man he was meant to be and the vampire he became. The Archangel tries to soothe Cassidy by singing an Irish folk song and as a feather falls from his wings to sullen man’s feet, the vampire joins him for the sing along. When their duet comes to an end, the Angel reminds the vampire that Bensonhurst is full of Irish people. Maybe his winged cellmate wants him to feel less alone, but this piece of information does little to pull Cass out of his mood.

The Incredible Adventures of Eugene and The Saint

When we last saw Arseface (Ian Colletti) and The Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish) they were standing in front of the ruins of Angelville determined to find Jesse and get their revenge. Well, at least the Saint was since Eugene just wants an apology because he is far too sweet for this demented world. As the two men set off on their hunt, Arseface gets tired and asks the Saint why they need to walk when hitchhiking seems like the quicker option. The kid’s feet hurt and he’s hungry, but the Saint doesn’t seem to be interested in his complaints. The only thing that does catch his eye is an oncoming car whose driver ridicules Arseface’s appearance. The Saint might be a relentless killer, but he does seems to care for Arseface and he might be the only person who ever has. As the two continue down the road Arseface rambles on about Jesse and wonders if they’re getting closer to the preacher. After all, the Saint can feel it when Jesse uses Genesis and the two have been walking forever and the kid is starving. Arseface is like a kid asking his dad on a road trip, “Are we there yet?” Its annoying and the Saint finally gives in and takes Arseface to a diner in the middle of nowhere Texas. After ordering some turtle pie (they were all out of whiskey) The Saint asks Arseface how he knows Jesse. The teenager says, “He sent me to hell,” which is exactly what Jesse did to his new Saint friend. It seems these two unlikely travel companions have more in common than they know but their differences are still evident. Arseface tries to talk the Saint out of killing Jesse because, for the kindhearted kid, violence is not the answer. For the Saint, violence is the only answer. So, Arseface’s peaceful pleas fall on deaf ears. As the two wait for their food Arseface hops up to use the restroom where things take a decidedly awkward turn. While in the stall a man propositions him through the gloryhole that peers into the adjoining bathroom. Arseface, who is beyond innocent, has no clue what kind of foot taping sexual come-ons go on in a desolate diner bathroom. Naively thinking this all harmless, he winds up putting his Arseface to the hole and getting himself arrested for solicitation! As he’s being dragged out of the diner, the Saint saunters outside, shoots the men who arrested his pal and takes their car. There’s no need to hitchhike now! Arseface jumps behind the wheel and the two take off, but not before he asks God to forgive the Saint for killing his would-be captors. He lets the killer know that he isn’t cool with all the murder and the Saint responds with, “Tell God. It’s his plan.”

Tulip’s Plan Hits a Snag

Back in Masada, Tulip’s plan to infiltrate the Grail’s headquarters works until the attending doctor informs her that she needs a psych evaluation. This throws Tulip into a violent rage, proving the doctor might be right and her mental state is more lethal than stable. Once she’s calm and sedated, Tulip dreams of Jesse’s (Dominic Cooper) letter and things quickly turn into a nightmare when, in her mind, she hears her love call her a cheater and a lair. When she wakes the doctor is at her bedside and ready to start the psych test, starting with some inkblots that she describes as murderous and bloody. The results are what we could expect, “…Uninhibited deviant with a personality disorder. Prone to psychiatric outbursts.” Besides that, she has a gun fetish and a fear of abandonment, all things Tulip agrees are spot on but has no interest in fixing.

While Tulip is undergoing some brain shrinking Herr Starr (Pip Torrens) is bringing his Hoover Two (Aleks Mikic), a/k/a the replacement Hoover, up to speed. He’s also fishing for compliments about his looks, which is hilarious considering his penis carved head and his foreskin ear attachment courtesy of Cassidy. Hoover Two doesn’t stroke the boss’ ego and admits he doesn’t find their cunning leader attractive. This hits Starr in the feels, but he doesn’t get to dwell on it long because Featherstone (Julie Ann Emery) shows up with news on Tulip – she’s in the Masada. After an awkward introduction to her new and thoroughly unimpressive partner, Featherstone heads down to the infirmary to find her arch nemesis but the slippery O’Hare is gone! Thinking she must be on her way to rescuing Cassidy, Featherstone heads to his cell but Tulip got there first and (sad news) Cass is headed to back to Bensonhurst. Tulip is no closer to rescuing her friend, not that Cassidy seems to want to be rescued.

Jesse Plays Hero But Takes a Mighty Fall

Back to Jesse, who just boarded a plane to his final mountaintop meeting with God (Mark Harelik). While in the air he thinks back to the House De Sade, where he found his missing lighter. While there Jesse made a heroic choice to save a child (Kaan Guldur) from the clutches of Jesus De Sade (James Smithers) and his porno freaks. After punching his way through the house and to the kid, the young boy tells Jesse he has no interest in being saved. This is a third world country and he gets better pay from these perverts than he would anywhere else. Maybe it’s the dust a supposed witch blew in Jesse’s face, but when they kid refuses his help a hazy Custer loses it. He steps out into the hallway and takes on all the pornsters in one long and singularly shot fight scene. One by one he knocks down these costumed sex freaks and like some blood thirsty dance, the scene is choreographed perfection. It is gory, violent and everything you love about this show, making you realize that no matter how offensive and horrific “Preacher” is the beauty is undeniable and you can not look away.

During the fight the boy Jesse was trying to save dies when he’s struck by a bullet that goes barreling through the door. That’s when Jesus De Sade shows up complaining that Jesse broke his nose, but the preacher is not feeling very apologetic now that the boy is dead. He turns on De Sade and beats him to death while the pilot (Ditch Davey) who Jesse “Genesized” to drive him to the house watches on in shock. The two men leave together, but Jesse has to use the power of Genesis to calm the pilot down well enough for him to drive. As they head back to the airport God, dressed in his dog suit, watches on from De Sade’s upstairs window and it’s more proof that this whole thing is part of his demented plan.

Finally at the airport waiting to fly to his meeting with God, Jesse runs into Hitler (Noah Taylor) who is bragging about his new gig as leader of Hell. It’s a job that suits him, but his misery could use some company, namely Jesse. After all, this is all part of God’s plan and Hitler doubts the big man who bailed from the heavens will allow Jesse to ever find him. This ticks Jesse off, who then uses Genesis to force Hitler to strangle himself, showcasing his power. God can hide all he wants, but with the power of Genesis he can’t stay hidden forever.

The episode draws to a close as Jesse boards the plane to Australia. Once he’s in the air he spots a news bulletin on the plane’s monitor. After what went down with De Sade, Jesse is wanted by the police and there’s a manhunt out for his arrest. On top of that he’s also having delusions of Tulip, whose reminding him he should feel guilty for leaving her without a proper goodbye. That’s when the plane starts to shake and the emergency lights and sounds envelop the plane’s cabin. The pilot announces they’ve hit something and the plane starts to fall out of the sky.