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There’s no question AMC hit it out of the park with The Walking Dead when it debuted back in 2010.
Preacher – AMC’s adaptation of the comic book series created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon – is a direct result of The Walking Dead‘s wild, off-the-charts success.
AMC used to be a nice little network touting the likes of Mad Men and Breaking Bad, both of which made possible the unleashing of The Walking Dead. But when Robert Kirkland’s apocalyptic comic nightmare property eventually got picked up for the small screen, it ushered in all sorts of monkey business on AMC: Hell On Wheels, Halt And Catch Fire, Into The Badlands.
Which leads us right to the front door of this Sunday evening’s Preacher. And all I’ve got to say is hold on to your hats. It’s a freaky residence that houses that doorway, folks.
A couple months ago, I got the opportunity to attend WonderCon during Easter weekend down in Los Angeles. The big attraction for me was the Preacher panel featuring a couple of show’s stars, Dominic Cooper (Agent Carter), Ruth Negga (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and executive producer and show runner Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad) along with a promised viewing of the pilot episode. It was that pilot I was really interested in.
I’ve read most of the Preacher comic series. It’s one of those properties that is wild and uncomfortable and blasphemous. When I caught wind of it being picked up and eventually being beamed into my living room I asked, “How the hell are they going to put THAT on television … ?!??”
But guess what? The pilot didn’t disappoint. AMC’s done it. In all it’s gory, gruesome, incorrect glory. And let me tell you: It’s not for everyone. I’m still a little uncomfortable thinking about it.
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Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a small town Texas man of the cloth packed full of conflict about his faith and his violent past. He is unwittingly possessed by a supernatural presence which gives him an interesting, ominous power. (For the sake of those who haven’t had the opportunity to read the comic series, I’m being obtuse about that matter to avoid spoilers.) Strange as that simple premise might sound for a series’ lead, the kicker is this: Custer is the “mild and sensible” character in Preacher. Wait ’til you see the supporting cast who round out the show.
And AMC has stocked the pilot with enough characters and situations to keep you intrigued. The launch is frantic and somewhat confusing but it will leave you breathless in the end and begging for more when it closes.
Michael Noble
The biggest question among the Preacher fandom (who are a passionate lot) has been whether the show could and would be “done right,” faithfully to Ennis and Dillon’s vision. For the answer to that, all one needs to hear is what Catlin said that Friday night at WonderCon:
“… everyone (on the crew) wants to do Garth’s Preacher (right). It’s our bible, our road map … and why not? That world … that crazy, fucked up, upside-down world … why do anything less than that? Unless someone says ‘No.’ And no one has said no to us yet …” tweet
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If Catlin’s words are any indication, coupled with the raucous debut I witnessed during the convention, there’s the promise of nothing else like it that’s ever been seen on television before. Jump on the bandwagon and and be gleeful (or horrified) and you’ll see what I mean.
Preacher, bowing this Sunday evening on AMC, also stars Joseph Gilgun (Cassidy), Jackie Earle Haley (Odin Quincannon), W. Earl Brown (Hugo Root) and Ian Colletti (Arseface).
Are you excited for Preacher? Start a conversation in the comments section below!
‘Be Quiet!’ Official First 4 Minutes of Episode 1
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