Preacher Ep. 103 – Monster Swamp
Who knew there were phones in heaven?
Monster Swamp regains some of the momentum generated by the first couple of episodes of the series and introduces some interesting developments that could have satisfying payoffs by season’s end. Flashbacks are dotted throughout the episode giving viewers some insight into Jesse’s upbringing and the unfortunate outcome of a bizarre game of paintball make tonight’s episode one of the stronger efforts of the series so far.
Things get off to a humorous start as Cassidy tries unsuccessfully to warn Jesse about Fiore and Deblanc’s plan to hunt him down. Jesse’s mind is on things far more down to earth and dismisses the warnings as the ramblings of a trippy vampire. The black humor continues in the next scene as a dead woman is pulled from the ground after some late night hijinks. Quincannon’s flaccid speech to the ladies from the whorehouse and his workers is as ridiculous as the antiquated microphone he uses and the wooden box he stands on. His lack of empathy strikes a nerve with Tulip who seems to be the only one there who’s disturbed by the young woman’s death.
Emily gets suspicious when Jesse comes to her with plans to increase the size of his congregation. Their conversation turns to some of Jesse’s recent activities and as Emily voices her concerns it’s difficult not to notice her affection for him. Memories from Jesse’s youth cause him to be very introspective during Monster Swamp. As he becomes more comfortable with his new powers, his upbringing and the harsh lessons he learned from his father begin to have an impact.
The scope of Quincannon’s power is expanded upon in this episode. While it’s been hinted at previously, Sheriff Root’s reaction to his ridiculous speech at the site of the young woman’s death and Quincannon’s response to the mayor demonstrates that he’s well above the law in Annville.
Cassidy meets Tulip after a comedic case of mistaken identity ends with bloody results. Negga and Gilgun haven’t shared much screen time so far but the short scene they have leaves you wanting more. They both play their characters with gleeful abandon and are great foils for Cooper’s straightman portrayal of Custer.
Jesse’s plan to boost membership faces the ultimate test when he confronts Odin Quincannon about serving God. With the fate of his father’s land on the line, Jesse’s sermon leads to a confrontation that will surely have significant repercussions moving forward.
Although Monster Swamp is a tad light on the gore and black humor, its developments have raised the stakes on Preacher. As each character’s backstory threatens to claw into its way into the present there are other forces poised to join the fray. With six episodes left before the season finale on July 31 let’s hope Preacher continues its upward trajectory and ends even better than it began.
