After a two-week break since airing the Preacher pilot (to give everyone an opportunity to watch the excellent opening episode), the series returned last night with the second episode of the run, “See.” Showrunner Sam Catlin continued to build the Preacher universe, develop its main and secondary characters, test the newfound powers of Jesse Custer, and leave us with many more questions than answers.
Here’s the ten most pressing questions we have after “See.”
Who was that man in 1881?
Directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and writer/showrunner Sam Catlin do not seem to be in any hurry to explain things, leaving viewers (especially those without comics knowledge) in the dark on certain mysteries. The cold open, for instance, presents a man from 1881 who rides a horse three days to get to the town of Ratwater, Texas, but the episode never follows up on it. Viewers who are familiar with Garth Ennis’ comic know exactly who that is (spoilers in link), but for everyone else, that’s a scene that’s going to take some time to pay off. It is worth noting, however, that the series would not cast Outlander’s Graham McTavish for a throwaway role, so expect to see more of the mysterious cowboy.
What to make of Emily’s look when Tulip showed up at the baptism?
As Emily is a series-created character, her role may not be immediately apparent. However, that look she gave when Tulip appeared at the baptism certainly suggests that she is not only wary of Tulip, but interested in Jesse romantically. It seems as if Catlin is setting up a love triangle, of sorts, and will ultimately divide Jesse’s romantic affections between what is best for him (the true believer, Emily) and what is more natural for him (the skeptic, Tulip). Emily also seems to serve a functional purpose as a character who can facilitate transactional duties at the church.
Why did Arseface try to kill himself?
We learned this week why Eugene’s face looks like an arse — because he tried to kill himself using a shotgun — but the details surrounding his suicide attempt have not yet become clear. Based on the way the series is developing the character — as a man feeling uncertain about his faith, fearing that God has abandoned him — the reason underlying the suicide attempt is likely to depart from the comics, as well. In the meantime, his visage offers plenty of opportunities for shocking comic relief.
Why did a townsperson call Sheriff Root a murderer?
In another instance where Sam Catlin has no interest in explaining things right away, we are left wondering why some believe Sheriff Root is a murderer. Does that accusation have anything to do with why his wife appeared basically catatonic in the pilot episode? Does that murder accusation have anything to do with Arseface’s decision to attempt suicide? Is it possible that the townsperson was referring not to Sheriff Root as a murderer, but to Arseface? Arseface’s response — “Dad, it’s OK” — seemed to suggest that he was telling his Dad that he need not defend him. If that’s the case, then it’s possible that, underneath his annoyance and embarrassment, Root has a reservoir of affection for his son that he does not otherwise display.
Who is Odin Quincannon?
Here again, Sam Catlin is keeping his cards close to his vest. We know that Odin Quincannon owns and operates a meatpacking business that employs a lot of the citizens of Annville, and we know that he’s important (because he’s played by Jackie Earle Haley). However, his role in the story remains unclear. The fact that the temperamental Donny — who attempted and failed to kick Jesse’s ass in the pilot — is Odin’s right-hand man suggests that Odin may be the season’s big bad, or one of them.
Who taught Jesse to fight like that?
Here again, Sam Catlin is planting the seed of a backstory. When Cassidy asks Jesse, “Who taught you to fight like that? Was it your Dad?” Jesse pauses for a moment. “No, it was someone else.” Who taught Jesse to fight and why will almost certainly be revealed in the episodes to come.
What’s Cassidy’s story?
At the church, Cassidy tells Jesse that at least he lives an honest life. What Cassidy says should be taken at face value, so when he tells Jessie that he’s a “119-year-old vampire from Dublin City currently on the run from a group of vampire hunter vigilantes who keep tracking him down,” then that’s exactly what Cassidy is. He’s also a right-handed Sagittarius, he loves Chinese food, and he wrongly believes that The Big Lebowski is overrated. That’s practically sacrilegious.
Who are Fiore and Deblanc?
They’re two men who are extremely interested in what has possessed Jesse. They believe they can remove Genesis by singing a popular children’s poem, “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” to it, or failing that, cutting it out with a chain saw. They’re certainly not above violence and, oh yeah, they cannot be killed. I don’t think we have to go to far out on a limb to suggest that they are murderous angels.
What is Tulip’s plan for Jesse?
Grounded in Annville, Tulip is hellbent on recruiting her ex, Jesse, to join her in some kind of scheme that involves handing a map over to someone named Danny. That map, as we saw in the pilot, wasn’t easy to come by, suggesting that the scheme is one with very high stakes. Jesse, however, continues to resist both his feelings for Tulip and his (likely) itch to return to the crimes of his past life. While Tulip waits for Jesse to come around, she’s at least having a good time playing poker in a brothel.
Will Tracy’s eyes open?
Much of this week’s episode was about Jesse coming to terms with his new powers and discovering what he can do with them. We know he can quiet dogs. We also know he can make a pedophile completely forget about a young school girl with whom he was obsessed. We also know, from the pilot, that he can command (even unintentionally) a man to remove his own heart in front of his mother. The question the episode leaves us with, however, is whether Jesse’s powers extend to the ability to compel a teenage girl in a coma to open her eyes. With potentially the power of God coursing through him, that seems easily manageable.
