'Preacher' Recap: 'South Will Rise Again'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

There's really only two words that properly summarize this week's episode of Preacher...at last. After weeks of toying with storylines, quietly introducing them and leaving us without any answers or clues as to what may be going on in this quirky and fascinating universe, 'South Will Rise Again' finally delivered all kinds of surprises answer wise and story wise, making it the best episode the show has offered up to date, because it covered so much in such a short period of time and everything it provided us with was oh-so satisfying.

Take for example the Cowboy. We met him a few weeks ago in the cold open, only to return to present day quickly and more or less forget about his story. But this week, we went back in time to learn more about him, and well...his story was nothing more than a grand tragedy and set the tone for this week's episode by reminding us that sometimes, good men are going to suffer by way of the evil that other men do, and suffer is all the Cowboy did this go round. He was beaten, mocked and torn down by the world around him for trying to ensure the safety of the innocent and his reward? Arriving too late and finding who we can only assume to be his wife and daughter dead from the illness he went off to find the cure for. It was a stark way to open the show and well...the anger and vitriol we saw in this cold open didn't end there.

Once we made it back to present day, the story continued to be filled with fury. Eugene's father was filled with resentment toward his son, even going as far as to tell him to finish the job suicide wise. Tulip continued firing her resentment toward Jesse's choice to be a preacher instead of the bad boy she fell in love with. Donnie continued to express his disdain and distrust for Jesse, the anger simply just kept coming. In fact in many ways the town of Annville seems to be a pressure cooker waiting to blow and at the center of it all is Jesse, enjoying his new found celebrity status after getting Odin to convert back to being a church going man and spending his days now dishing out advice with a touch of that power within to the good people around town. Heck, he even got Tracy's mom to forgive Eugene. Jesse truly seems to be the only town's hope for salvation at this point...and just when it looked like that's where the series was headed, it took one hell of a left turn.

At long last, we got a showdown between Jesse and the two angels who, finally tired of waiting confronted our beloved preacher face to face to let him know that what is inside him is not in fact the power of God sent here to make the world a better place; but a powerful mistake that has been used too much already and well, the show hinted that there may be an inherent flaw to his power weeks ago when Jesse told one of his flock to open his heart to his mother, thus prompting the man to literally rip out his heart in front of his mother. It seemed like a fluke but the fact of the matter is, whatever Jesse is hosting from beyond another plane can indeed be used for good, but there is the risk that if there is evil or malice in one's soul...the message gets lost in translation and the person under the influence adapts it as they see fit. Case in point, that wild and crazy ending where Odin brutally slaughters the competition with a high powered shotgun in his office.

It's going to be tough from here on out for Jesse because it's clear now that Odin's 'misinterpretation' of Jesse's command is only the beginning. Others will follow, especially considering how many people received his kind words and direct influence at the diner and once he learns of Odin's act and the other ugly ones to follow...Jesse will most certainly be shattered internally and put at a crossroads. Does he try to figure out how to use this power for good since it clearly is capable of doing so, or does he hand over the being to the angels from Heaven that have come to claim it? Either way, this episode was an absolute joy to watch through and through. It was nice to finally have some answers and have a great conflict for the rest of the season set up and well, this particular tale did such a great job, it made the slow burn we've been suffering through completely worth it. The stakes are raised, and well...Sunday can't get here soon enough. Until next time.

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