For a full recap of the episode, visit the Preacher Wiki here.
SPOILERS may occur so read at your own risk.
Last week, I remarked about how Preacher has really been taking advantage of its bizarre content by making so much of it mysterious. They’ve been consistently driving this home with the cold opens, and “The Possibilities” is no exception. While we do get to meet Danni, the person Tulip mentioned last episode, Danni leads us to yet another enigmatic figure. Much like the introduction of the Cowboy, we don’t return to this character later in the episode but he’s left a strong impression. I love how the show is using these moments to satiate fans by showcasing important characters they recognize, but it also keeps the entirety of the show’s narrative enticing. The showrunners know who you want to see, and though we may not be getting them right away, these cold opens are solid promises that all the stuff you are anxiously waiting for is coming.
Thankfully, Preacher also understands that it needs to dole out little bits of information so that the audience doesn’t get too bogged down in the strangeness. Fiore tells Cassidy that he and DeBlanc are from Heaven, and Cassidy responds in the same passively dismissive way Jesse did when Cassidy said he was a vampire. We’re starting to see the curtain get pulled back inch by inch and the show is handling its mythology exceedingly well. It may seem slow-going for fans but that’s irrelevant; things are moving at exactly the right pace for the show.
As the episode’s title indicates, “The Possibilities” deals with Jesse figuring out this new ability he has, and that becomes frightfully intense when he’s confronted by a vengeful Donnie in a gas station bathroom. Dominic Cooper has added an interesting layer to Jesse Custer that I never experienced in the comic version of the character: the potential for evil. Comic Jesse was practically a modern day knight whose only fault came in the form of abandoning Tulip under the pretense of protecting her. The television version of Jesse seems on the cusp of being a truly bad person, and it’s his conflict with that internal struggle that is so fascinating and relatable. You can see on Jesse’s face that he really wants to make Donnie kill himself, but something inside of him pulls him back from such darkness. That’s compelling drama even if it does deviate immensely from the original incarnation of the character. As long as the show keeps crafting excellent moments like that, I say keep the deviations coming.
Admittedly, this is the first episode of the series that feels a little less propulsive and more contemplative. That’s not a complaint, though. The show can’t always be a relentless assault or else we’d start to get numb to the insanity. “The Possibilities” gives us just enough forward momentum without feeling like its barreling forward without looking where it’s going. More than ever, I trust the path Preacher is leading us down. The cast has more than proven they are perfect for their roles, the tone has been cemented with confidence, and the oddness surrounding these characters all feels in service to something assured. With Jesse now aware of his ability and how he needs to use it, things are going to get even more fun than they already have been.
Best Moments of the Episode:
We have opening credits! They are delightfully fun and help establish strong visual cues for all of our main cast members. I especially love Ian Colletti’s, but that could be because I’m so in love with his portrayal of Eugene. I was worried that he wouldn’t show up but we got a nice scene between him and Hugo towards the end. I need my weekly dose of Arseface!
Jesse testing out The Word on Cassidy. “Sing me some Johnny Cash!” “Meee some Johnny Caaash.”
Tulip’s roadside stop with the highway officer. Ruth Negga is so fantastic in this role. “Well, what do I look like then to you?” That smile she gives would give a shark goosebumps.
Odin Quincannon sitting in his office and listening to the sounds of the slaughterhouse. Jackie Earle Haley sells a scene without saying a single word. I hope they go for broke and adapt Odin’s infamous reveal from the comics, or at least something in a similar disturbing vein. Seeing Haley play that will be a grotesque television milestone.
We got our first peek at the criminal past of Jesse and Tulip, and they both looked mighty fancy. Gotta say though, I’m siding with Jesse when it comes to his current choice of hairstyle. Sorry, Tulip. Please don’t hate me.
“Clones.” Joseph Gilgun, you are a comedy treasure.
Next Week: “Monster Swamp”
