Preacher Review: He’s Gone (Season 1 Episode 7)

It’s backstory week on Preacher with the aptly named “He’s Gone.”

This week we take some time to take a look at the sort of man Jesse Custer was, is, and is becoming.

We learn through flashbacks to Jesse’s childhood that he was a spiteful, protective little thing, and he adored Tulip. We already understood that Jesse blames himself for his Father’s death, but now that we get to see the events that lead to Jesse praying for his Father’s death, one could wonder about whether or not Jesse somehow blames Tulip, as well, for bringing him to pray for something like that, since he was motivated by her being taken from him, after all.

What we see in the present is a man that I’m not convinced is one hundred percent Jesse — and neither is Cassidy. The Jesse we saw at the start of the season genuinely wanted to do good, to help people — this version of Jesse seems drunk on his own power, consumed by it. Cassidy seems to be catching on quickly to the idea that Genesis may just be messing with Jesse’s mind a little.

Or a lot.

We’re sort of hoping it’s messing with his mind a lot because what he did to Eugene is terrifying, and yet Jesse seems indifferent toward everything throughout most of the episode. It seems as though he feels nothing, at least not until the very last second.

This can’t possibly be the Jesse who tried to help Eugene feel as though he could be forgiven — the Jesse whom Eugene trusted and seemed quite fond of.

That being said, it’s also hard to rectify the Eugene we’ve seen with the sort of person who could do what we learn he did to Tracy Loach. Jesse isn’t wrong, Eugene is not innocent, and perhaps he always felt that way, but to feel no remorse over sending anyone to hell is unnerving.

Cassidy shares this sentiment and, out of puppy-like loyalty to Jesse, he more or less makes it his mission to pull his friend back from the edge and help him regain his sanity. He also performs the ultimate trust exercise by stepping into the sun and lighting himself on fire, betting his life on whether or not Jesse will save him, knowing what he is.

It seems a bit soon in their friendship for Cassidy to have such unwavering trust in Jesse, especially given how unforgiving Jesse is being regarding Eugene’s crimes, but, perhaps, that is the point Cassidy is trying to make.

Jesse — the real Jesse — is much more understanding and forgiving than this. At least, the Jesse Cassidy thinks he knows is.

Tulip seems to know a different version, which is a tune we’ve been listening to her sing all season. This week, Tulip’s Jesse is the judgmental son of a preacher — which, if we’re being honest, doesn’t quite jive with this whole other backstory we have in which he’s also a cold blooded killer.

Which is it here, Tulip?

And which version would be the most willing to save Cassidy?

It seems like the Cold Blooded Killer version of Jesse might be willing to spare Cassidy, so long as he doesn’t know about him and Tulip.

The Judgmental Preacher’s Son seems likely to let him burn for being an evil abomination or something to that affect.

The point is, we learn a lot about Jesse this week, but we don’t really know which is the real Jesse.

Which words and actions are Jesse’s own doing and which are Genesis’ influence?

It’s hard to say…

What did you think of this week’s episode? Let me know in the comments below!

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Preacher airs Sundays 9/8c on AMC.