Annville is still a smoking pile of rubble when Preacher‘s second season kicks off. It’s safe to assume that “On The Road” picks up just a few hours after the season 1 finale, given that Tulip and Cassidy are wearing the same clothes from the diner when they agreed to take this road trip with Jesse. Even though this trio had nothing to do with the methane explosion that leveled a whole town, bad luck follows them just as closely as the Saint of Killers.
We begin with a lively discussion about circumcision and specialized face creams, but when the inadvertent sing-a-long starts, fans know they’re in for a treat. Cassidy’s got deep and passionate opinions about pop culture (don’t get him started on The Big Lebowski), and when the first few bars of “Come On, Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners begins, the audience knows they’re in for a treat.

After refusing to stop for the State Troopers, a high speed chase ensues and comes to an abrupt end when Tulip’s ’72 Chevelle runs out of gas. Aside from Cassidy’s umbrella antics (which are still funny and evolving from season 1’s giant hat and poncho), they’re all surprisingly calm for having been yanked from the vehicle by several Texas State Troopers. Once Jesse tires of following orders, he uses Genesis to their advantage. He finds much of what he says to be funny, but Tulip does not like it when he uses the power.
Her distaste of the ability is a running theme through the first episode, so much so that Jesse consults with her (almost) every time he plans to use it. The gesture shows that while Jesse may be leading the road trip, Tulip is group’s conscious (for better or worse). Preacher spent the first season playing up Tulip’s dominance in what was for the longest a one-sided relationship. However, season 2 begins with them as a couple who make collective decisions, and wow are they dysfunctional.

Viewers got a glimpse of this last season with the whole Carlos story line, but now that they have truly reconnected, they are something else entirely. Unfortunately, Cassidy is still in love with Jesse’s girl, and he’s made it clear he doesn’t like keeping secrets from his best mate. Sure, the two of them raised all kinds of hell together in Annville, but Tulip has known Jesse for decades and she alludes to a darkness that not even viewers have been able to see yet. The unrequited love may prove disastrous as the series progresses, but for now, Cass has agreed to keep his mouth shut about him and Tulip’s one-night stand.
As we make our way through Texas looking for God, Jesse brings them “an old family friend” who happens to be a religious scholar, hoping to glean some insight into their search for God. The first meeting is reminiscent of Odin Quincannon’s speech after one of the Toadvine Whorehouse girl’s was killed running from QM&P men. Tulip is enraged to find a girl locked in a covered cage in Mike’s garage, but the minister is adamant that his deprivation methods work to heal people of their addictions. At first, the encounter seems jarring and out of place, but the more the girl talks, the more it sinks in that he really is trying to help break her of a cell phone addiction. Just par for the course with Preacher, honestly.

The show really set itself apart from the rest of what’s on television and the second season is already stronger and more secure in its established identity. Many of the characters we meet in this premiere episode are throw aways, emphasizing the focus on our three main characters and the immortal killer on their trail. Minimal distractions don’t mean the story is simple, because there are two very distinct plots with the Saint of Killers after Jesse and Jesse et al. looking for God.

Before Mike’s untimely demise, he does give Jesse a lead that takes them a strip club where God was a frequent patron. There is something off about the She She’s Club when they walk in, and it has everything to do with the jazz band on stage that plays live music to accompany pole dancing routines. But don’t let the music fool you, because this is far from an upscale joint. After Jesse tries to be reasonable with the owner, Tammy, he is forced to use Genesis after she is shot (by a stray bullet thanks to Cassidy’s inability to follow rules). Her dying breath tells them that God hadn’t been at the club for the girls, he was there for the music. God left heaven to walk the Earth in search of jazz? At least he’s got good taste in music.
God is a jazz man, the Saint of Killers is unrelenting, and Tulip and Jesse are the most interesting hot mess on TV. The second part of the Preacher season 2 premiere, “Mumbai Sky Tower,” airs tomorrow, Monday, June 26th, at the new time of 9/8c on AMC.
Jasmin
Related posts
Classics
Thank Me Later: Will Trent
[Warning: spoilers ahead.] I’m on record as loving and losing shows over at ABC so I’m usually very reticent to pick something up on the network until it’s been renewed, and I seriously hope I’m not jinxing it, but I took a chance on the deeply odd and very sweet…
Dennis Heaton Talks The Imperfects
Longtime readers at TV Goodness will know that Motive is one of my ride-or-die series, and as such, I am fiercely loyal to its creator, Dennis Heaton. He followed up that fantastic reverse procedural with Netflix’s The Order and is back on our streaming screens with The Imperfects, which dropped…
Kelly McCormack Talks Favorite Moments in A League of Their Own
[Warning: Mild spoilers for season 1.] Now that you’ve had a chance to watch A League of Their Own, here’s the rest of my chat with Kelly McCormack about her favorite moments of the season. Seeing the iconic Peaches uniforms for the first time wasn’t just a goosebump moment for…
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From on EPIX Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks EPIX’s From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People [streaming on Global TV in Canada and Roku…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
Pegah Ghafoori Talks From “All Good Things…”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode] Tonight on From, Fatima’s anniversary celebration turned into a Colony House of horrors when a misguided Kevin let his monster bae in and she promptly killed him and left the window open for her crew. While the party devolved into terror and sent everyone running,…
Shaun Majumder Talks From “Book 74”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight on EPIX’s From, Father Khatri made a bold move, kidnapping Sara instead of turning her in, and then recognizing her as a vessel for some big messages. That startling realization speaks to him on multiple levels–as a man of faith, a man trapped in…
Avery Konrad Talks About Sara’s Struggle in From “Silhouettes”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Over the course of the season so far on From, we’ve witnessed Sara’s battle against the voices telling her to to do terrible things, and tonight we saw her unravel further, threatening the Matthews and lashing out in a moment of terror with horrifying results….
Hannah Cheramy Talks From “Choosing Day”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight, on EPIX’s From, the Matthews participate in the show’s version of the sorting hat, choosing where to call home–the town or Colony House. At the end of the episode, Julie makes the decision to split from her family and instead settle in with Fatima…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…