Preacher Review: Schwanzkopf (Season 3 Episode 9)

On Preacher Season 3 Episode 9, “Schwanzkopf,” the apocalypse approaches. As exciting as that sounds, this episode doesn’t really deliver.

The title, which is the German word for “dickhead,” really plays into Herr Starr and his sad misfortune of having a split down the center of his cranium. It could also be an indicator that now Jesse has Genesis back he is back to being an all-powerful dickhead.

Jesse finally getting Genesis back is probably the most exciting part of the entire episode. Which, is sad because it really doesn’t cover that much of the airtime.

The big fight between Herr Starr and Jesse to gain Jesse’s vial of Genesis lasts all of three minutes. I honestly, expected a bit more of a fight. Or maybe even a bit more hesitation on Jesse’s part to down it and be taken over again.

Jesse: Your head looks like a dick. It suits you.

Of course, he needs it in order to face off against his gran’ma to end his contract with her. However, he also needs to think of Tulip, who he loves so dearly.

One, Tulip hates him with Genesis and doesn’t approve of the entity. Two, Gran’ma dies then so does Tulip. Unless Jesse has somehow found a way around that he is sacrificing his love for the end of his gran’ma’s reign of terror.

Which seems a bit counter-productive considering he got back into this mess with his gran’ma in order to save Tulip.

By releasing all the Humperdoos Jesse says he stopped the apocalypse. In place of the apocalypse has he somehow created a new mass problem?

After all, Humperdoo is stupid as all get out and he just unleashed about a hundred of them onto the world. That can only have a negative consequence.

Meanwhile, the rest of our merry band of misfits are dealing with their own problems. And failing. Miserably.

Let’s start with Cassidy, since of the two stories his has at least a bit of interest.

Cassidy now knows of Eccarius’ terrible secret plan. Instead of merely walking away and doing all that he can to just leave, Cassidy stays and tries to persuade Eccarius’ followers of his evil.

Even I know that is a dumb plan and will bring you nothing but trouble.

Cassidy is playing with fire and he is now literally about to get burned. Eccarius does make a valid point when he’s explaining to Cassidy why their arrangement could have been better.

Eccarius: This is what you’ve been looking for all along. To be understood and accepted for all your flaws. Now accept me for mine. We are so close to happiness.

Cassidy: I’d rather be sad.

It’s like Cassidy has just simply given up. This is not a place I ever want to see my fearless, caustic vampire.

At a moment when Cassidy could be fighting back, making the events around him more memorable and daring, he is laying down and just letting the worst happen. I just hope that next week’s finale shows Cassidy with a second wind of vigor and passion.

If Cassidy is waving his white flag, then Tulip is the complete opposite.

She is refusing to lay down and accept her one-way ticket to hell. Which usually means action and snark and progress for our snappy survivor.

However, I found myself disinterested and bored through 98% of her scenes. Yes, she had snappy comebacks like always, but the comebacks were a million different ways to say the exact same thing.

Tulip: I should have called you errand bitch.

Tulip is nothing if not original and to me, this felt inauthentic.

Add in Hitler and Eugene as polar opposite foils and you should have a recipe for success. Unfortunately, and I hate saying this because I absolutely adore him, Eugene’s infallible optimism was just too much and came off as irritating.

Hitler was at least true to his character and an asshole. However, that did nothing to add to the story.

The crew is trying to build a “bomb” in order to escape the bus. While they are eventually successful it doesn’t seem like a success.

They are left vulnerable and wounded as a Nazi tank approaches. I am not even sure I can truly comprehend the meaning of that or how it even ties into the bigger picture.

All these loose ends and new problems arising right before the season finale has me skeptical of their ability to tie everything up satisfactorily. Who knows maybe they will surprise me.

I guess I was just expecting more from this episode. I knew that there were two major problems at play: Allfather with Humperdoo and Gran’ma. I didn’t expect both of them to be solved in one go, but I also didn’t expect more problems to be added to the list.

Fingers crossed Preacher manages to pull it off. It’s not unheard of, I’ve seen them recover from worse.

Further Preachings: 

• Once again the show successfully employs their positive music tactic on not just one but two catastrophic events
• Gran’ma was only in the last couple minutes of the episode and yet she managed to steal the show. CHILLS

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 8, “The Tom/Brady” right here.

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Preacher season finale airs Sunday, August 26th at 10/9c on AMC.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Karen Strassman Talks ‘Preacher’ Season 3 [Exclusive Interview]