Preacher review: Your new favorite show

But as fascinating as Jesse is, it’s Tulip O’Hare (Ruth Negga) and an Irish vampire named Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) who elevate the show to a higher level. Just check out Tulip’s introduction; she’s a tough and charming criminal who has a complicated connection to Jesse’s past. Cassidy, meanwhile, is surprisingly complex, and never strikes as mean-spirited or threatening despite his dangerous lineage. After years of running from vampire hunters—you’ll love how Cassidy is introduced—he just wants to settle down and live the simple life.

Of course, making things even more complicated is the arrival of Deblanc and Fiore, two “government agents” seeking to take back the power now inhabiting Jesse’s body. These two characters are stoic and wickedly funny—something out of a Coen Brothers movie—as they try to navigate the delicacy of the situation without drawing attention to themselves as outsiders.

I went into the show having never read the comics, so my knowledge of the property only goes as far as the basic premise. So far as I can tell, however, the show has matched the comic in tone and intensity, using humor and violence interchangeably, and often together. I will say that even after four episodes, there’s still a lot I don’t understand, but there’s a lot of intriguing world-building taking place, and I’m eager to learn more.

Ultimately, Preacher is such a strong addition to AMC’s lineup because it captures small town living and the depraved residents who inhabit it. Taking place in Annville, Texas, the town has a distinct look of desperation and part of that has to do with Preacher’s distinct color palette, using plenty of dusty browns to create a somber mood that hangs over the town like a dark storm.

Even in such a depraved world, Preacher expertly mixes the supernatural with themes of faith, family, and right and wrong, all while keeping the show grounded. And through it all it’s immensely funny, despite its fetishism of violence. Early on, there’s a particularly hilarious sequence involving Jesse and Donny Schenck (Derek Wilson), a serial abuser and all-around bad person, that’s both shocking and gut-busting. It’s just one of many moments like it—there’s one later in the show involving Cassidy that’s sure to become a classic.

Preacher never feels cartoonish or over the top. Instead, it’s an assured adaptation of the comic, embracing its weird world with sharp writing, fantastic characters and plenty of funny moments. Viewers who know absolutely nothing about Preacher might feel lost in the beginning. But stick with it, and I promise you’ll love it.