Chris Bryant | On 18, Aug 2018

Warning: This contains spoilers. Not caught up with Preacher? Read our spoiler-free review of Season 3’s opening episodes here.

“For some profane reason, the Word of God has become attached to you. Not to worry, we will coax it out.”

A tale of deception and betrayal weaves together Preacher’s eighth episode, as The Grail separately work for and against our merry band of blasphemous anti-heroes.

In Grail HQ, Jesse is held captive in a lab as the white-suited fanatics attempt to find a more suitable host for Genesis – with an endless stream of genetically modified Humperdoos. It’s a typically grotesque series of blood-and-guts explosions that audiences have come to expect from AMC’s graphic novel adaptation, and offers a fine chance to discuss the complex workings of Genesis, as well as a suspenseful look at Herr Starr’s loyalties.

While the upper management of The Grail torture holy men and inbred clones alike, Lara Featherstone is forced to team up with Tulip and Jody in order to steal enough souls to keep Gran’ma happy. It’s a undeniably fun adventure, with Julie-Ann Emery and Ruth Negga playing well off each other, and their characters’ relentless one-up-manship.

With both threads pushing the story forward after a few episodes of enjoyable build-up, Preacher proves it can still surprise among all the blood and wonder. It seems an understatement to refer to Satan as ‘a spanner in the works’, but between Madame L’Angelle’s fear of death and Lucifer’s dislike of being outsmarted, Jackson Douglas’ Lord of Darkness manages to get in the way of every plan.

Cassidy however, is finally beginning to question the motives of his new friend. Overshadowed by The Grail’s agenda this week, Joe Gilgun and Adam Croasdell’s charisma keeps their story gripping, as they bring Hoover into the bloody fold, and try to keep Herr Starr off their backs.

Story-driven, but employing witty back-and-forth and more than enough gore to keep the stylistic edge, The Tom/Brady manages to be sufficiently functional to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, especially regarding who to trust, but retains the dark sense of humour and total surrealism to ensure that despite its themes of faith, Preacher needs to be seen to be believed.

 

Preacher Season 1 to 3 is available to watch online in the UK exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, as part of a £5.99 monthly subscription. New episodes arrive weekly on Mondays.

 

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