I believe it was the 20th-century wit Tom Keifer that once sang “Don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” He was the first one, don’t dispute me on this! It was also the late-luminary-lyricist Guru that once rapped: “Nobody’s invincible, no plan is foolproof. We all must meet our moment of truth.” It is in these two musical stylings we find ourselves in the first gusts of the storm in episode eight of Preacher (AMC), “Fear Of The Lord.”
We open in on Herr K. Starr (Pip Torrens) being recovered by gents being kind enough to repurpose his Ken doll-like stump into a functioning spigot. Could this be some dream? Haze gives way to the Mr. Little Dusseldorf of 1979 Competition, of which (an adult) Klaus wins among a lineup of possibly more talented kids, thirsty for his blood. The ambiguous source of his vanity clicks into focus as we are dealing with a life-long prima donna. At this juncture, I can’t be too sorry as the losers donnybrook the shit out of him before Mr. Congeniality (3 years running!) carves a star in Starr’s eye.
Jolted awake by this nightmare, Starr is humbled by those showing him humility before being fed his own limb. He’s not to worry though since the Grail’s got his back… but the guy has to get his head back into the game (as it’s one of the few things that’s still attached to him).
Checking in with Jesse (Dominic Cooper), the refusal of the throne is steadfast and ironclad as ever, prompting Fiore (Tom Brooke) to turn up the heat. The angel’s opening gambit had yet to entice Custer, so maybe armies of ants up the rectum will do the trick. I mean, the digestive tract at least kind of looks like an ant farm.
On the road, Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) and Tulip (Ruth Negga) make a pitstop, intent to be their last stop. The setting is nearly perfect. Flood worthy thunderstorm, God’s fave in the backseat and one in the chamber. Stopping and tossing Humperdoo on the ground like a Scorcese movie, Tulip extracts the tool and expects an audience. She won’t go for the omnipresent bullshit.
CUT TO: Three Months Later.
The trio has now formed a near alliance, nay, family. Though Tulip is still waiting on God’s arrival so she can turn his only Beloved into Holy Ragu (now with more C4!), Cassidy has taken a huge affinity over him. Still, they have a drill of his dispatching when anyone comes for him. It’s called “Go To The Moon” in which he basically hides in his own blast container- a literal bomb shelter.
Back at Masada, Hitler (Noah Taylor) keeps giving an apprehensive Jesus Christ (Tyson Ritter) the hard sell on taking on the role of being Humperdoo. A very haggard and squeaky Herr K. Starr enters and Adolf tries to convince Klaus on what a fly Jesus could do. Thus ensues Christ’s crispy as fuck six steps, windmills and headspins to the blast of Run DMC’s “It’s Tricky”. Suffice to say, it’s not up to Starr and that Herr reiterates it’s Humperdoo, not Christ that he wants. One of the more tender moments and I don’t think I’d ever say this is Adolf consoling a downtrodden Jesus. It’s tender and in a nutshell, it’s what the series is about. I give Christ bonus points for rocking a sweet red and white jumpsuit with fresh and chonky white Air Force 1’s with a boss Kangol to boot.
Because Cass lost Humperdoo on a wood gathering sojourn while taking a piss (not on him in the British way because that would be mean) and (not in the American way because Humperdoo would think it’s playing), Tulip and Cass come across him in a clearing being very kind and genteel with fauns. Cassidy is moved fucking greatly and praises Humperdoo’s amazing way to connect with the well life around him. In his words, it was ‘Biblical’. We see a flash in Tulip’s eyes that their plan might have its ultimate flaws.
It’s nighttime at Masada. A very naked and inebriated sashed Herr K. Starr sashays into the darkened conference room. Armed with a bottle of vodka and cuffs on one wrist, he hoists himself upon the conference table, now 89% human. Therein lie the philosophy of killing oneself is worth it because you failed your task, or if your task was worth the act itself. This becomes VERY Waiting for Godot and though Klaus tries to hang himself with the only thing he’s able to give pride to, it gives way and catches his nipple chain, thus making him 88.88% human. Oh Starr, there’s a saying- “God only helps those who help themselves.” Now as an atheist, I found the saying laughable, but I did find the intent intense.
As Jesse is seemingly released from his jail from a break compliment of the Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish), he proceeds on horseback (where did he get a horse?!) into that good night. While taking a rest, the Saint of Killers is uncharacteristically nice with his whiskey and story… yup, too good to be true. It’s Fiore’s last attempt to give Jesse hope until he has his hench-angels force Jesse upon the thrown, not of his own volition. This gives Jesse George A. Romero life. He traverses the terra firma from which he was buried.
At their undisclosed location in the forest, Cass, Tulip, and Humperdoo are descended upon by Featherstone and Starr just as they.. well, more on that in a moment.
As the trio sits down for a dinner of (blueberry?) burgers cooked by Tulip prove to be a vomit party. Humperdoo projectile vomits on Cassidy. Cassidy lovingly reciprocates. It’s really.. uhmp. uhmp. Sorry. Turns out that was caused by their Sonic Nauseator they installed, so though weak stomach, Tulip is iron guts, blood bumping. They pull the “Go to the moon” routine, so their good egg is safe while Featherstone (Julie Ann Emery) busts in and Tulips pukes all over her boots. Pistol whipped, Cass comes to her, nope, slips on her vomit. As preps Humperdoo for airlift, Cass won’t relinquish his death. That’s met quick with an ax belted to his chest by Tulip, getting the detonator but as she sees Humper going into the clouds, she refuses to push the button.
If we’ve gone this far with such a show and have yet a vomit joke, I give them total respect. Hey, if you gotta vomit it all creatively, might as well make it worth a damn… Which this wasn’t. But I think that’s the point. The pointless nature of it all. Kudos, creators!
Now, with apologies exchanged, Tulip and Cass have one mission- to retrieve their guy.
As Jesse, now resurrected traverses the desert, he approaches something slightly drier… God’s (Mark Harelik) love. As God’s RV approaches, he may feel it a savior among the wasteland but in fact, it’s the worst thing he’s come across. There’s no artifice though. No trickery. God is truly there and though and exuberant Jesse embraces him, Custer’s not passed His Kobayashi Maru test. Nobody could. Not even his only begotten Son (with Mary Magdalene being his unbeatable glitch.)
As God wants thanks for the creation of mankind, Jesse grows impudent and is rewarded by his right eye being chewed out by the Almighty himself. That’s thanks for ya!
At the Grail, celebrations are in full swing, as Klaus is in his full eyed and untouchable glory (though he looks like a mediocre Bible salesman). I figure that’s the point. Imperfections are what make us awesome (not perfect imperfections, I don’t care how playful the lyric is, John Legend!) Ugh. Anyway, now there is an official “air date” for the Apocalypse.
Back at the Holy Grail and Bar, Cassidy and Tulip prepare for true war. Cassidy shares a moment of levity and they share what I assume several moments of intimacy over a flamenco guitar that…
…Is being played in an Australian jail. The dude is shanked to hell and Eugene approaches him. He picks up the guitar. I think Eugene is learning a little more than he lets on. Did he orchestrate this?
As Cassidy and Tulip bask in the afterglow of true feeling, a calmness washes over Tulip. Whatever may lie ahead, she feels good at the moment.
A rapping is heard at the door and both her and Cass find a beaten and eyeless Jesse, returning. The prodigal son has returned. Cassidy laughs and smiles.
As for this episode, I find this episode the most connecting of the trio, though Jesse isn’t reunited until the last few moments. I will say this here and now before I hate myself for not saying it- I see the trio as a Jules et Jim. I’ve always seen them and as they head into the storm together, I left you with two quotes and I will leave you off with one more:
