Preacher -- The New Show / Old Comic Now Airing on AMC

[Tarwater]

If you can survive plowing into the earth at terminal velocity, I doubt that guns are going to bother you that much.

As a reader of the comics, it’s interesting to read how newcomers are confused by all of the goings-on in the pilot. Stepping back, I can see how that might be the case. Goldberg and Rogen are both huge fans of the comic, and it seems like they’ve assumed erroneously that people coming into this fresh are going to understand what’s happening.

From what I understand, subsequent episodes slow down considerably. Hopefully that means the showrunners are putting more work into building out the story.

[ftg]

@Tarwater

If you can survive plowing into the earth at terminal velocity, I doubt that guns are going to bother you that much.

But that comes after the plane melee. Taking things from the point of view of watching things in order and trying to understand what’s going in that order is a large part of enjoying a show.

During the melee, there’s apparently (or maybe not :mad:) a holy water sprinkling thing attempted, to no avail. At that time I assumed he wasn’t like a demon. And so the old style weapons were for safety in a plane reason, not like they might be silver tipped or anything.

Even after watching the whole episode, I have no clue whatsoever what the Irish guy’s deal/backstory/etc. is.

[levdrakon]

The TV guide synopsis is this:

A possessed minister teams up with his ex and a hard-drinking Irish vampire in search of answers in this drama adaptation of the Garth Ennis/Steve Dillon comic-book series of the same name.

Those of you who didn’t know about the vampire, how did you come across the show?

I’ve never read the comics, but I’m pretty sure I knew there was a vampire before I watched it. I wouldn’t have tried it at all if I hadn’t read *something *about it.

[Drunky_Smurf]

@ftg

Completely crap story arc. Holy cow, what a mess. “Confusing” doesn’t begin to describe it. Over and over: Who is this now? Why did that happen? Why didn’t this other person react normally?

@ftg

Even after watching the whole episode, I have no clue whatsoever what the Irish guy’s deal/backstory/etc. is.

You should know that this is how it was in the comics too.

They throw a whole bunch of, “What the shit is going on?” at you to get you interested in the mystery. And then over the course of the comics run they explain things.

I thought Cassidys’ introduction was brilliant.

[Drunky_Smurf]

Also it’s one of those type of stories that just gets better and better as it progresses. It starts slow and mysterious but then as it rolls along the pace picks up as you learn more and more about its universe.

[Miller]

And the comics, at least, explain everything by the end. I don’t think there were any dangling plot threads by the end of the series.

[CarnalK]

@Drunky_Smurf

Also it’s one of those type of stories that just gets better and better as it progresses. It starts slow and mysterious but then as it rolls along the pace picks up as you learn more and more about its universe.

Yeah, I accept that I don’t know everything about all the characters/backstory yet. I just don’t need to know the whole story by the end of the premiere.

And come on. He bites a guy’s neck and takes a pint of blood for the road in the plane fight scene. I’m watching a supernatural show. I figure I can assume he’s a vampire until further developments point elsewhere.

[Drunky_Smurf]

@CarnalK

and takes a pint of blood for the road in the plane fight scene.

Yeah, that was pretty cool.

And little things like that and what some of the other AMC shows do but keep the overall story makes me think this could be a good show. If they’ll put the money into it.

[Biffster]

@Drunky_Smurf

You should know that this is how it was in the comics too.

They throw a whole bunch of, “What the shit is going on?” at you to get you interested in the mystery. And then over the course of the comics run they explain things.

I thought Cassidys’ introduction was brilliant.

Likewise. The storytelling technique is called “hide the thumb”—basically show the who, the what, the where, the when—but not the why. Many great stories use this technique, including The Leftovers and Breaking Bad. Remember the toy eyeball in the swimming pool in season 2 of BB? That remained a mystery until the final episode of the season. There’s nothing wrong with a little mystery.
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[Biffster]

@Sam_Lowry

Cassidy was hired to work on the plane, but when he went to the bathroom he found that Bible with all the weird stuff scrawled in it, which indicated to him that the men were part of a secretive organization that wants to kill him. Possibly because he’s a vampire, but maybe also because he seems to be working with some organization of his own indicated by his phone call at the bar. It’s unknown to us for the moment who exactly they are, or how Cassidy would know who they are and that they would want to kill him, or why they were flying him somewhere instead of just killing him at the airport or something, but I’m sure that some of the blanks will be filled in as it goes.

Tulip and Jesse knew each other and dated when they were younger, got into various troubles together and split. Tulip’s car scene was a flashback, she’s back in town wanting to get Jesse to run off, but so far he’s not going to. He said in his sermon at the end that he’s going to try harder and be the preacher that they need. But it does seem unlikely he’ll be sticking around in town for too long.

You’ve pretty much got everything right with the force from space and the power and the investigators. I’m sure that will be explained more as the show goes on.

Tulip’s adventure was no flashback, unless by flashback you mean the previous day. She still had the guy’s ear in her car, remember? She claimed it was from her lunch when she was talking to Jesse.
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[EllisDee]

I just wish I knew what device and service Biffster uses to post.

[Biffster]

@EllisDee

I just wish I knew what device and service Biffster uses to post.

iPhone using Tapa…ah! I see what you did there.
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[Biffster]

Looking forward to the second episode tonight! Although technically, this will be Episode One, since the pilot was called Episode Zero. I kid you not. Like a pre-emotive strike.
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[neofishboy]

If anyone is interested in a re-watch before tonight, AMC has the pilot on their website with moderately amusing commentary from Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg.

[dasmoocher]

Looks like the Saint is played by the actor who played Dwalin in The Hobbit trilogy.

[Biffster]

Good episode. Not quite as intense as Episode Zero, but very interesting all the same. It is interesting to see Jesse torn by the duality of his nature.
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[simster]

I don’t think he’s torn as much as confused at this point.

[SykoSkotty]

I’m digging this so far and I’m sure most of my questions will be answered eventually but I have one big question after last night’s episode:

When the two “government” guys came to find Jesse unconscious and did their ritual, I’m pretty sure it was to rid him of this “spirit” that also possessed the other holy men in Russia and Africa, right? OK, but it didn’t work - was that because Jesse was under the influence of that drink he took from Cassidy’s flask?

[Gatopescado]

@levdrakon

I’ve never read the comics, but I’m pretty sure I knew there was a vampire before I watched it. I wouldn’t have tried it at all if I hadn’t read *something *about it.

Aren’t vampires and zombies mandatory for any show on AMC?

Watched the second episode. Not really working for me.

[Maus_Magill]

@SykoSkotty

I’m digging this so far and I’m sure most of my questions will be answered eventually but I have one big question after last night’s episode:

When the two “government” guys came to find Jesse unconscious and did their ritual, I’m pretty sure it was to rid him of this “spirit” that also possessed the other holy men in Russia and Africa, right? OK, but it didn’t work - was that because Jesse was under the influence of that drink he took from Cassidy’s flask?

I think it’s because Genesis likes where it is.

My conjecture is that Jessie didn’t blow up like the Christian Reverend in Africa, the Satanist Priest in Russia, and Tom Cruise, because, unlike those three, he was having a crisis of faith. His duality (a Bad Man[sup]TM[/sup] trying to be Good) reflects Genesis’ nature.