Based on the 90s comic of the same name, Preacher is a brand new drama series which brings religion, vampires, demons, angels and a whole lot more together, popping them into a blender and opening the lid, allowing the results to splat all over the walls. Somehow, it works and the finished blend still tastes beautiful.
Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer / Credit: AMC
Dominic Cooper leads the cast in a role unlike many he's done before. Here he's Texan Jesse Custer, a clergyman with a shadowed past. There are a lot of secrets that for now, he seems to be holding close to his chest, but will surely unravel as the series progresses. As a child he watched his father's murder and that has clearly impacted the way in which he's lived his life to-date.
Though he's now trying to be a good man through inspiring those in his congregation, he's struggling in a modern world where technology has taken over whilst also tackling his own troubles. His heart's not in this job and there are times where he looks to be missing days gone by. That is of course until some of the first episodes final scenes, where he seemingly embodies a spirit that has killed preachers before him (including Tom Cruise), and finds his footing on 'the path to righteousness'.
Not the only Brit in the cast, Cooper is joined by Joseph Gilgun who glides into the shoes of Irish vampire Cassidy. He's charming and intelligent, disposing of hunters that wanted him dead whilst on a plane, before jumping out of the door to what should have been his death - thank God (or not, he's not a religious guy) for that cow. There's also Ruth Negga as Tulip O'Hare. She has a history with Custer and her first scenes are some that will stick with viewers. Brawling in a car that's ploughing through a cornfield, she gets her hands on a mysterious map before reuniting with Custer and instructing him to get on with the job that the map refers to - whatever that may be.
With all of the incredible action of course comes the softer moments, the most memorable of which was where Custer went to the house of a youngster that goes by the name 'Arseface'. Disfigured around the mouth area, this is a guy who wants to be accepted by God. He says he used to hear God reply when he spoke to him, but now he hears nothing. It was poignant and emotional - even for someone like me who doesn't hold religion dear. To see somebody so broken due to religion was extremely moving. A hat tip must go to the man who plays him - Ian Colletti.
Lucy Griffiths also provides some great scenes with her character Emily - my favourite being where she smashes her children's iPad to pieces to stop them from arguing, something I imagine many parents have wanted to do in their time. Heavily involved in the organisation of the church, her feelings for Custer are pretty transparent. Whether or not he feels the same way about her remains to be seen, but we may here be looking at a case of unrequited love.
Broken limbs, blood and guts and a final scene that will surely go down in history for making such a mark meant that this pilot episode was utterly bizarre, but incredibly engrossing. Preacher is for now a huge success, with clever writing and brilliant casting. For some it may be a little difficult to get used to due to the comic roots, but immerse yourself within the world for an hour a week and you'll come out of the other side having experienced, at the very least, one heck of a unique ride.
Preacher airs on Amazon Prime in the UK and on AMC in the US.