And just when I start thinking that Preacher might be taking a few too many liberties with the plot and characters of the original comic book, they toss these people, places, and things together in new and interesting ways that still echo the story with which I’m familiar, but keep it all fresh and fascinating. I’m still loving this show, and all its…possibilities (sorry).

Season 1 Episode 3: “The Possibilities”

Tulip sits on a bench with Danni, and, after Tulip explains that she will not kill Danni’s husband, they exchange paper. Tulip hands over a blueprint from Grail Industries, and Dani hands over a tiny slip of paper. “Last known address,” she says.

Flashback: it appears that Tulip and Jess were royally screwed over by the guy who lives/lived at that address. Vengeance appears to be the order of the day.

Later, Danni hands the blueprint over to a mysterious man in a white suit who is sitting in a theatre, enjoying Houston’s 4th Annual Snuff Film Festival.

Fiore and DeBlanc meet with Sheriff Root, passing themselves off as government lawmen tracking down a…thing that escaped. They explain that they need full autonomy on their mission. Fiore says, “Don’t tell anyone.” After the sheriff leaves, they reveal a full-on arsenal to help them with their crusade.

Coma-girl’s mom explains to Emily what Preacher did to get her eyes open. Meanwhile, Donnie-broken-arm explains to his son that his mom actually likes the beatings he gives her. “Adults are complicated.”  They walk to the school bus, where Donnie is teased by the kids for losing the fight with Preacher.

Cassidy is trying to help out at the church, delivering coffins and bodies and such, when he notices Preacher sitting quietly in a chair. Cassidy asks if he’s feeling okay; Jesse leans forward and says “I wanna show you something.”

Tulip gets pulled over by the highway patrol, and, with her gun stuck under her thigh, she gives him an effective sob story about speeding to try and save a friend who’s in trouble. The officer lets her go.  Meanwhile, Jesse uses his power to puppeteer Cassidy into hopping and boxing and admitting his favorite singer is Justin Beiber.

At Quincannon Meat & Power, Odin relaxes while listening to cows being slaughtered on his intercom. Later, Donnie reads a letter to him proposing some kind of new business arrangement from an unknown. Donnie also finds it difficult to clear the lunch dishes away with a broken arm.

Fiore and DeBlanc suit up with body armor and assault weapons, ready to take Preacher’s power back. Cassidy notices them as they drive by on their holy mission. He grins from under his blanket and rice paddy hat.

Tulip catches up with Jesse on the highway and they have yet another conversation wherein Tulip tries to get him to join her.  This scene kind of made me not like Tulip so much, ‘cuz she’s kind of a bitch to him, making fun of his choice to work the church. Then she holds out the paper with Carlos’ last known address on it. Flashback to Jesse’s point of view of that fateful betrayal, and he is now on her side. They drive off together.

Fiore and DeBlanc drive up to the church and are almost immediately run over by Cassidy. They’re dead. Again. Cassidy freaks out, muttering about clones, and heads to the church.  A bright flash of light illuminates the bodies for a second. Inside the church, Cassidy hears something and finds Fiore beneath a pew and starts whapping him with a candle extinguisher. DeBlanc calmly says, “We’re not here for you. We’re here for the preacher. He has something of ours and we need to put it back.”

At a gas station, Jesse goes into the bathroom and, quelle coincidence, Donnie is there with a gun. Donnie threatens him, but Jesse turns his power on and makes Donnie stick the gun into his own mouth. He’s quite surprised by this development. Jesse tells him to pull back the hammer, and Donnie is terrified. Jesse suddenly realizes what he’s become, and tells Donnie to go home.

Jesse tells Tulip he’s changed his mind. Tulip starts bashing a gas pump in frustration.

Cassidy, Fiore, and DeBlanc discuss Jesse’s situation. He’s surprised that they’re not vampire-killing vigilantes, but is suspicious of their motives. Fiore lets it slip that they are actually from heaven, but it doesn’t quite register with Cassidy. They all agree to work together, letting Cass try to convince Jesse to voluntarily give up the power so it can be safely put away.

Finally, Jesse presides over the saddest and loneliest funeral ever as they bury poor friendless Ted Reyerson, the guy who yanked out his own heart for his mom.

I’m trying to be very patient and enjoy this ride as it comes, but I think my foreknowledge of the comic is coloring my enjoyment of this show. I know (or, rather, think I know, since things are sometimes not as they were on the printed page) what’s coming up soon, and, because it’s so crazy and weird and blasphemously good, I hear a little gremlin in my head, imploring the makers to “Hurry up, hurry up.” I’ll try to keep him in check.

Be that as it may, this is still a good show, and I am having loads of fun watching it.  I’m a little disappointed with the short shrift that Tulip and Jesse’s relationship is getting, and I can only hope that it’ll be shaded in sooner rather than later. The scene-stealer of the year, though, is Joseph Gilgun.  I love his take on the character of Cassidy, and I could watch him just recite the phone book (are there still phone books?) and still enjoy the heck out of it. More Cassidy, please!

Join me here again next week for more Preacher? Of course you will! See you then, kids!