Preacher Review: Sonsabitches (Season 3 Episode 2)

On Preacher Season 3 Episode 2, “Sonsabitches,” things get much more complicated and clear.

This tactic of starting each episode with a flashback to Jesse’s past is really enlightening and makes this fan really glad the writers are exploring that aspect of the story. I’ve been wondering for two whole seasons just how Jesse got on the path he is on, and now I am starting to better understand.

Jesse has been on a journey to correct his soul longer than originally thought. He has spent his whole life devoting himself to various people, and never himself.

First, he devoted himself to his father and his God. Then, he devoted himself to the service of his grandmother, Madame Langelle. All the while, his soul was not his own.

Now, Herr Starr owns his soul until Jesse decides to devote himself to being The Grail’s Messiah. Once again, Preacher has shown us that faith can’t be about someone else. It has to be about ourselves in order for it to mean something.

Jesse is devoting himself to both his grandmother and Herr Starr, but not on a faith level. He’s not doing it so that he can believe in something. He’s doing it to escape.

Miss Marie: You’ve been gone a long time, Jesse. There’s a lot of souls you owe me.

Jesse: Or you could say, ‘It’s good to see you, Jesse.’

I believe that Jesse doesn’t fully know or understand who he is because this whole time he’s been living his life for others, not himself.

This inability of Jesse’s to fully commit to one person or faith is going to be invaluable when he fights the ultimate battle to break free. Jesse has a talent for turning his allegiance at the drop of a hat. This is made easier by his lack of faith or belief in anything.

To break free of both Herr Starr and his grandmother, he is going to have to do quite a bit of quick thinking and double-crossing. “Sonsabitches” shows us a bit of what is to come in that regard.

Dominic Cooper is fantastic at giving the audience clues through body language when Jesse is going to do something different from what he verbally says.

A prime example of this is during “Sonsabitches,” when they are all walking to the swamp to “put a bullet in the brains” of The Grail operatives. As the group is walking ahead of Jesse, he lags behind and his face tells us all we need to know about what he’s doing.

From that moment forward, it’s clear Jesse is about to cross Jody and his grandmother. It doesn’t surprise me, then, when he finds a way to separate from the group with Jennie.

Usually, I am overly critical of shows that use the expected to move the story along. But in this case, I am happy about it. If Jesse hadn’t tried to backstab Jody, then I would have been angry and not willing to finish the episode.

While Jesse always being a slippery snake about alliances is an interesting character trait, it makes him not that reliable. His friends have been pretty loyal to him despite this in the past. But now that Cassidy has wised up to the problems this poses, their relationships are that much more complex.

As I said in my review of Preacher Season 3 Episode 1, “Angelville,” I prefer Cassidy and Jesse fighting to them not acknowledging each other. However, what I didn’t elaborate on is why. I want them fighting because it shows me that Cassidy isn’t blindly following Jesse any longer.

That blind faith in Jesse is a bit disheartening and unfounded. He has never once proven to follow through on any of his promises. He says things to get the acquired result, but rarely follows through on them.

I’d be interested to see if Cassidy is going to be proven wrong this time — that Jesse will get Genesis back (in order to free himself of both Herr Starr and his grandmother) and then stop using it. However, I’m not holding my breath.

Jesse’s whole plan to get Genesis back hasn’t been successful yet, which definitely intrigues me and makes me want to continue watching. If Jesse had gotten his soul, the whole showdown to free himself wouldn’t be that exciting further down the road.

As it is, Jesse is still without a soul and is still tied to his grandmother. Cassidy is still wary of all that Jesse says he’s gonna do. Tulip is still vengeful and out for blood.

All in all, everyone is still the same as they were at the start of the episode.

Cassidy: You always said Jesse had a dark side.

Like Cassidy says, Jesse’s dark side is bound to come out now that they are stuck in Angelville.

Watching Jesse sink further and further from the light could make for an even more exciting redemptive tale — or it could send Jesse so far down the hole that he will never get out, and he will stop being the Jesse Custer we know and love.

Further Preachings:

• I’m a little disappointed that Tulip’s resurrection has yet to show any consequences beyond her visions.
• Using the song “Get Together” by The Youngbloods during Herr Starr’s shoot out really lightens the scene and gives it a loving feel instead of a sinister one — which makes it even more terrifying, in a way.
• Cassidy/Tulip holds more of my interest than Jesse/Tulip. Can we just end Jesse/Tulip now?

What did you think of this episode of Preacher? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Catch up on our review of Preacher Season 3 Episode 1, “Angelville” right here.

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Preacher airs Sundays at 10/9c on AMC.

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