Preacher Ep. 203 – Damsels
Damsels is a curious entry in the Preacher cannon that does more than delve deeper into the secret Tulip has been hiding. It also serves as an origin story of sorts for Eugene Root. The events that lead up to Tracy’s horrific injury and his own life changing disfigurement are replayed over and over at the top of the episode. Trapped in Hell, Eugene is forced to relive those fateful moments trapped in a bizarre version of Groundhog Day.
Enter New Orleans and the charms of Bourbon Street. After Tulip unsuccessfully tries to divert the lads to Mexico the trio go bar hopping in search of God. Their quest soon finds them deep below the streets in a lounge featuring a woman holding a chained adult in a Dalmatian dog suit. As strange as that visual might seems things get even crazier when the promise of seeing the aforementioned perform sex acts is brought into play. Dissatisfied with their results Jesse continues to scour the French Quarter while Tulip and Cassidy find accommodations.
Jesse’s travels eventually bring him to Laura, a sassy jazz singer who might know a thing or two God’s whereabouts. It doesn’t take long before things get interesting and Laura is kidnapped by a van full of nattily dressed thugs in white suits. However, Jesse saves the day by calling on skills he acquired before he earned his collar. With Laura home safe and sound Damsels ends its homage to noir film leaving viewers with several unanswered questions.
Tulip’s anxiety begins to put Cassidy on edge and even though her pacing is wearing out the floorboards in their new digs she refuses to come clean. Coming back to New Orleans is a bad idea in her mind and her preoccupation with Victor begins to have an effect on her interactions with Jesse. Frustrated she eventually leaves Cassidy and takes matters into her own hands.
Damsels is a subdued episode by Preacher standards and is more set up than anything else. A new antagonist is (re)introduced which promises to complicate Jesse’s search for God and it was good to see Eugene again. What the show decides to do with Eugene’s storyline will be interesting since it has already veered off from the comics. Tulip’s day of reckoning appears to be just around the corner and if she stays true to form the fallout will be explosive. Hopefully it will be…fingers crossed.
