Preacher 107 – El Valero
As the first season of AMC’s Preacher draws to a close there are several plot threads that remain open. Eugene’s fate, Fiore and Deblanc’s pursuit of the Genesis, Tulip’s quest for revenge and the simmering tension between Jesse and Quincannon are just a few of the ones that have been established so far.
El Valero touches on some of the aforementioned threads, advancing a few of them while bringing others to an unsatisfying semi-conclusion.
A flashback into Quincannon’s past offers some insight into the character’s moral motivations as well as providing some clarity to one of the flashback scenes from earlier in the series. The heartbreak Quincannon suffers resonates into the present to forge an iron will that is the equal of Jesse’s Genesis fueled conviction. The disagreement between the two concerning the wager involving Jesse’s land brings Quincannon’s Meat Men into the fray in all their confederate glory.
With guns ablaze, the Meat Men conduct a siege on Jesse’s church as Quincannon imagines what he’d do with the land once it becomes his. While this is happening, Jesse begins to understand the scope of his actions as well as the limitations of his ability to wield Genesis. El Valero, severed as an awakening for several characters. Not only for Jesse, Tulip and Donnie, but for Miles as well. He not only comes to realize who butters his bread but also the consequences that exist if he ignores that fact.
Miles’ discussion with Emily basically lays out the fundamental difference between sides, not only on Preacher but also in life in general. There are two sides to every story, the fantasy vs. reality, to paraphrase Miles and which one we chose often depends on what stake we have in the scenario. Whether it be one’s perception of Jesse’s true nature, Quincannon’s altered world view after a family tragedy or belief in a higher power, the things we believe in more often than not align with how we perceive the world around us, and our own moral leanings.
This is playing out in front of us everyday. Just look at how polarized things are all over the world. Religion, politics, economics, race – all of these can unite or pull people apart and when there is no compromise or an inability to see eye to eye, then like Jesse and Quincannon, things can lead to war. Unfortunately for viewers, the promise of fireworks in the episode fades and is unfulfilled.
El Valero is an uneven episode that starts out with promise but then peters out meekly. It tries to convey the harm Jesse has brought to Annville due to his misuse of the Genesis but other than a few brief moments they are glossed over. Whether to foe, friend or animal Jesse’s reach has affected many but the weight of all of it falls flat. Here’s hoping that next week’s episode delivers on some of what was touched on in this episode.
