DISCLAIMER: This Preacher recap of “Bleak City” contains more spoilers than the number of times an angel or demon can regenerate during battle. Those supernatural buggers are like cats. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution.
Welcome back, Genesis worshipers! Can you believe we’re halfway through the final season of Preacher? Season 4 has pushed the envelope more so than its predecessors, and with a deftness only true experts can wield. The creative powers behind Preacher have mastered its execution and artfully delivered us all the aspects that make the series so brilliant. All the darkly comedic moments, the macabre gore, the supernatural lore, the drama, the suspense. This series is a bastion of the aforementioned and then some. And I can only imagine that, given we’ve only five episodes left in the season, the ride will get exponentially wilder from here.
Alright, ready to delve into “Bleak City?” Just be sure to set aside time for Jesus Christ to play arcade games. Our Messiah does gaming old school.
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We open with a lovely video courtesy of Melbourne Tourism highlighting the prized aspects of the Australian city. Suddenly, we see employees of said tourism company have been slain by the Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish). Eugene (Ian Colletti) is solemnly reciting the Lord’s Prayer over one of the fallen. SoK is hellbent on finding Jesse, and the needless body count is only growing from here.
Meanwhile, Jesse (Dominic Cooper) is attempting to rent a car while in Melbourne. However, one of the employees finds an online notice regarding our preacher, and how he’s armed and dangerous. Understandably, he’s reticent about allowing Jesse to rent a car. Jesse decides to put Genesis on the back burner and persuade the employee the old fashioned way – with a persuasive argument. He mentions that utilizing Genesis in the past has proven troublesome (i.e. his pilot friend perishing in the previous episode). Jesse takes care to mention that he’s not armed. Said employee acquiesces and hands Jesse keys to a car. See? He doesn’t need Genesis to get what he wants after all!
Unfortunately, prior to departing, Jesse uses Genesis to rid the man of his stuttering problem. The Saint of Killers can track Jesse via Genesis, so now the cowboy from Hell is aware of our preacher’s whereabouts.
Next, as Jesse is pulling out of a parking garage, he spots Eugene for the first time since inadvertently sending the boy to Hell in Season 1. Eugene urges Jesse to drive away as fast as he can, and we see the Saint of Killers brandishing his guns at our preacher. Jesse does as he’s bid. Run, Forrest, run!
Then, we see Jesse speeding through the countryside, effectively putting Melbourne in his rear view mirror. However, he’s plagued with a sense of overwhelming guilt – guilt involving Eugene. He doesn’t want Eugene to continue toiling away in the hands of SoK. Thus, Jesse quickly turns around and heads back into the city proper.
Meanwhile, Tulip (Ruth Negga) arrives at the Holy Bar and Grail to find a freed Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). Jesus Christ (Tyson Ritter) is in tow. The Messiah makes a break for the bar’s resident arcade game and begins playing. Tulip and Cass update each other on their lives. Cassidy is ready and raring to save Jesse. However, Tulip is less enthusiastic about reuniting with her ex-boyfriend after the latter abandoned her for the Outback.
Next, we see a maid bringing breakfast to the Emissary Suite in the Grail Headquarters. Said maid is taken aback to find the suite bereft of the Messiah. Herr Starr (Pip Torrens) is busy juggling his Allfather duties, such as answering incessant phone calls. Lara Featherstone (Julie Ann Emery) is ready to lay her life at Starr’s feet. She admits that she mucked up the mission. Tulip, Cassidy and the Archangel all escaped while on her watch. Featherstone has accepted her punishment – death. Starr nonchalantly procures his gun, but of course he’s interrupted by a barrage of phone calls. He hands the gun over to Hoover Two (Aleks Mikic) to finish the job.
However, Featherstone refuses to have her life cut short by Hoover Two. He doesn’t deserve the honor of killing her. Thus, when he fires, she leaps out the window. We see her employ the wings in her suit during her free fall and soar away into the desert beyond. Starr is preoccupied with news of Jesus Christ’s inexplicable disappearance to absorb Featherstone’s departure. That, and her insubordination. Priorities though, am I right?
Meanwhile, we see Eugene praying over the body of the car rental employee. The Saint of Killers wholeheartedly believes Jesse will return to the city, especially after spotting Eugene. Should Jesse fail to return, then SoK will kill Eugene. I’m not a fan of this outcome. SoK and Eugene wander into a construction site where we last saw Jesse. Jesse utilized Genesis to lure in the Saint of Killers – and it worked. Suddenly, a wrecking ball swings into view and smashes into the Saint of Killers. Alexa, play “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus.
Next, Jesse and Eugene flee the construction site while SoK is temporarily indisposed. However, the cowboy from Hell is not out for long, and we see him pick his hat up and forge ahead in his manhunt.
Then, Jesus joins Tulip in the garage while the former tinkers away on her car. He mentions that he isn’t charged with a lot of responsibilities, but he would like to mingle more with the masses. Become more of a people person. Tulip suggests they drive off to Las Vegas, and the Messiah eagerly hops aboard the Sin City train. Jesus asks if Cassidy will join them, and Tulip believes he will.
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Meanwhile, Cassidy is drinking with his Archangel friend (David Field) in the bar. The Archangel urges Cassidy to follow Tulip, to pursue his feelings for her. However, our Cass is clearly conflicted. He continues to assert that Tulip is his best mate’s girlfriend. Cassidy genuinely wants to repay Jesse for his honest attempt at rescuing him in the beginning of the season. If Jesse really is in trouble in Australia, then Cassidy hopes to save him.
Suddenly, the Archangel’s lover appears silently behind the pair. But she isn’t an ordinary lover – she’s a demon. An angel and a demon in love. The two engage in a dance number set to “Love of My Life” by Queen. The number ends with the Archangel’s wings enveloping his beau, and her red tail poking out to return the embrace. The imagery is beautiful. Two of my favorite things have joined forces in this scene – Preacher and Queen. Cassidy watches the display in astonishment. Methinks Cassidy is now thoroughly convinced regarding which path to follow.
Later, we see Jesse and Eugene break into a car. Jesse issues forth a heartfelt apology – for sending Eugene to Hell in the first place and for not rescuing him. In Jesse’s defense, he didn’t realize saving anyone from Hell was plausible. Eugene, his face streaked with tears, accepts Jesse’s apology. Colletti is a highly underrated performer, and this scene proves his immense talent at conveying so much while not uttering a word. Hats off. Jesse attempts to jump start the car via hotwiring, but runs into an obstacle when he combines the wrong wires, effectively setting off the car alarm. The duo immediately flee.
Meanwhile, Tulip and Jesus are smoking blunts inside her car. Time to go on a different kind of trip! Jesus admits that he’s the overlooked Messiah and that his own son Humperdoo is the shining glint in God’s eye. Tulip reveals that God is an a**hole. Only Tulip O’Hare could call God an expletive while smoking weed with Jesus Christ. This show is so twisted in the best way possible.
Now, we see the Holy Bar and Grail shake courtesy of the Archangel and his demon lover horizontally tangoing. Just like an earthquake in LA! Maybe that’s why we get them so often – because angels are going at it upstairs. Anyway, Cassidy confides in the bar owner, and realizes that he has free will at his disposal. He can do whatever he pleases, just as Tulip can do whatever she pleases. Cass can save Jesse and potentially get the girl. He’s the Han Solo of Preacher. Tulip and Jesus are ready to go, but Cassidy fails to join them. Thus, Tulip puts the pedal to the metal and makes a break for Vegas with the Messiah in the passenger seat.
Next, the shared enthusiasm for a life of debauchery has worn thin between Tulip and Jesus. Tulip tries to reinvigorate the conversation by mentioning they could rob a bank. We see a scenario play out where the pair do indeed rob a bank. However, Jesus accidentally shoots one of the hostages in the leg. The Messiah is having second thoughts. Tulip decides to turn the car around and head back to Masada.
Meanwhile, the Archangel emerges post-coitus. Cassidy reveals that he’s going to take the Archangel’s advice. Suddenly, the Archangel procures a massive sword from inside his suit and lobs it at the head of his demon lover. She keels over instantly. Cassidy is flabbergasted. Why would he kill the woman he loves? “Because she’s a demon,” the Archangel replies. Of course, being a demon, she immediately regenerates and the pair begin to viciously battle it out. They slaughter each other incessantly, and each time they return more invigorated than before. There’s a fine line between love and hate.
Later, we see Jesse and Eugene hijack a police car. The Saint of Killers is on their tail, slaying innocents left and right. He murders a police officer and picks up Jesse’s voice on the latter’s walkie-talkie. Bingo! Jesse is currently behind the wheel of the police vehicle while Eugene is in the backseat. Eugene is grateful for Jesse’s apology, but he cites that it’s not enough. Eugene shoots Jesse from the backseat and the car crashes.
Then, Tulip and Jesus are back in Masada. Jesus mentions that he must be present for a meeting regarding the impending apocalypse of 2020. He exits Tulip’s car and, presumably, makes his way back to the Masada Grail Headquarters for said meeting. While the Messiah walks away into the desert beyond, Tulip procures Jesse’s letter to her from her back pocket. She carries it with her, so something tells me she still loves him.
Meanwhile, inside the Holy Bar and Grail, we see the Archangel and his demon beau are still locked in a vicious battle. The proprietor of the establishment is cowering behind the bar as a pair of supernatural beings destroy his life’s work. We see Cassidy throw on a headscarf and sunglasses as he makes his way outside. Tulip is waiting for him. The pair drive off into the world beyond, on a mission to save their friend. This makes me happy.
Later, Jesus Christ meets with Starr and Hitler (Noah Taylor) for the Apocalypse 2020 summit. He forgoes shaking the Fuhrer’s hand out of knowledge of the latter’s atrocities. However, as the Redeemer, he isn’t opposed to a good, redeemable hug. The trio commence the summit for the issue at hand.
Next, we see Jesse crawling out of the crashed police car. He’s bleeding profusely from the wound in his back courtesy of Eugene. Jesse sprawls out on the ground while Eugene and the Saint of Killers tower over him. Uh oh. Jesse may have a tough time weaseling out of this situation.
Now, Preacher only has five episodes left. So many things could happen! While I’m heartbroken over the decision to end this darkly wonderful series, I’m glad Preacher can go out on its own terms. This means we can see the story unfold and end the way the Powers That Be intended. As long as the ending won’t tarnish its legacy and give these characters the best sendoff possible, I’m okay with whatever transpires. Bring it on!
Do you think Jesse can avoid death at the hands of the Saint of Killers, if the scene from the Season 4 premiere is to be believed? Will Tulip and Cassidy find Jesse in time? What terms will be discussed in the Apocalypse 2020 summit? Join me next week as I continue to recap Preacher, here on Geek Girl Authority.
Preacher airs Sundays at 10pm on your AMC affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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