Preacher
Episode 2.8 “Holes”
Directed by Maja Vrvilo
Written by Mark Stegemann
Created by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Starring Dominic Cooper, Joe Gilgun, Ruth Negga, Gianna LePera, Graham McTavish, Tom Brooke, Ian Colletti, Julie Ann Emery
AMC
Air date: Monday, August 7th, 2017, 9pm

Last week on AMC’s Preacher we finally peeked behind the curtain of The Grail. The Grail is religious cult-like organization with one mission: protect the Jesus Messiah mythos by circling the globe and annihilating all other “godly threats.” Last week, a floating pig in Vietnam was being worshipped by villagers and Herr Starr (Pip Torrens) arrived to clean the mess up. Torrens was electric last week as we watched his ascension from potential Grail employee to leader of the organization. Jesse (Dominic Cooper), Tulip (Ruth Negga), and Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) are still in New Orleans searching for God, having dealt with the threat of the Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish)… for now. But all of them are preoccupied by their own personal demons to focus on the mission at hand.

Check out my review for this week’s Preacher here below (SPOILERS):

We return to Hell where Eugene (Ian Colletti) is now a boss, with prison tattoos and looking jacked! We jump to 1946 where Cassidy is fawning over baby Dennis. Old man Dennis (Ronald Guttman) is dying and begging his vampire father to bite him. Cass refuses. It makes a compelling discussion. Is eternal life a blessing or a curse? He asks Tulip but she’s distant and his torture is obvious. Last season I wouldn’t believe Cassidy could show this range of emotions, but Joseph Gilgun is unbelievable this season.

Tulip is still having her Saint of Killers nightmares and needs to take her mind off of things. Jesse is focused on his God hunt, and indifferent to the feelings of those around him. Maybe it’s the losing 1% on his soul. She is obsessed with the bullet hole behind the fridge and we get an amazing tracking shot through the hole across a floor full of apartments. What neither she, Jesse, or Cassidy know is that The Grail is watching them, particularly Lara (Julie Ann Emery).

Hell’s prison warden informs the inmates that one of them doesn’t belong and it’s wrecking with the generator. Of all people, Hitler (Noah Taylor) calls out him out. Eugene is dropped in “the hole” and sent back to his personal Hell with Tracy (Gianna LePera) and the shotgun. Except this time she accepts his kiss and they sing Semisonic”¦ until a new Hell is revealed, one with an interesting “climax.”

Lara is the queen of wigs, transforming from to brunette country girl when Tulip knocks on the door to spackle the hole. Tulip, perhaps reaching out for the first adult woman she’s encountered in a long time, tries to bond with her over Boo Berry. Lara responds, “Count Chocula can suck it.”

This episode lived up to its name in both the literal sense and in the philosophical one. There were physical holes scattered throughout the episode. But more prevalent are the holes in these characters. Jesse is all powerful with Genesis inside him, but every lead on the God trail comes up empty. Tulip is losing her connection with him and trying desperately to fill the void. And poor Cassidy is watching his son die knowing he is the only one who do anything.

This season started with a bang and some all out, balls-out craziness. Then it took a total 180 and leveled off into deep character study that I find fascinating. Sure they sprinkle in some Herr Starr lunacy, or hilarious Hellscape for Arseface in there to bring the levity in, but it’s so refreshing that they have the faith (pardon the pun) to let these actors act. Kudos to them and the writing team for another great episode in a near perfect season of TV.

Tune in next Monday night at 9:00 to AMC for an all new Preacher. In the meantime, get me some Boo Berry!

Video

Preacher: Next On: ‘Holes’ Ep. 208

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