Preacher

:

Season 1
  • Network: AMC
  • Series Premiere Date: May 22, 2016
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 373 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 299 out of 373
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 373
  3. Negative: 40 out of 373
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User Reviews

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  1. Phil_T_123
    May 23, 2016
    5
    Preacher was one of my favourite graphic novels, and having Seth Rogen adapt it had me extremely excited for this show. Seth Rogen has a dark sense of humour and has never been afraid to mock religion - which the source text does ubiquitously, both outright and with its twisted mythology.

    To summarize the original comic without spoilers, Jesse Custer, a dubious preacher, receives the    Preacher was one of my favourite graphic novels, and having Seth Rogen adapt it had me extremely excited for this show. Seth Rogen has a dark sense of humour and has never been afraid to mock religion - which the source text does ubiquitously, both outright and with its twisted mythology.

    To summarize the original comic without spoilers, Jesse Custer, a dubious preacher, receives the power of the word, which knocks him down and kills his congregation. He then uses this power to go on a wild, wacky, weird and violent road trip with vampire friend, Cassidy, and unsuccessful hitwoman ex-girlfriend, Tulip, in order to hold God himself to account for walking out on creation.

    Would I hold it against the show's creator's for toning down the violence and sexual depravity to make the show TV friendly? Not particularly, the text is extreme. Would I hold it against them for changing the story and characters to make it a more TV friendly format? Yes, and I do.

    In the show, not only does Jesse's congregation not die, but he swears at the end of episode one that rather than walk out on them, he is going to save them. We also have the addition of a mother of two character as Jesse's best friend. Why are these two points significant? Because they tell us that the show is probably going to stay in Texas, with Jesse using his friends and his power to save different members of the congregation each week. They've changed the story to give the show a more consistent weekly format rather than the unpredictable and random road-trip nature of the comic - a consistent structure on TV sells better and is less commercially risky.

    Looking at the characters, there are major (and unnecessary) differences, for example: in the comics, Tulip, Jesse's hitwoman ex-girlfriend, was a pretty reluctant and unsuccessful assassin. In the show, she is a crazy cross between a ninja and McGuyver, happily engineering a rocket launcher from baked bean tins to take down a helicopter.

    So, the story is different, the characters are different, there is no religious satire and Jesse Custer looks like he's working for God rather than hunting him down, but the TV crtitcs will have you believe that this show captures the essence of Preacher, apparently all because it also contains comic violence.

    If I were you, I'd read the book, watch the show, and then make your own mind up. But I think if are looking for anything true to the original text then, like me, you are going to be disappointed.    … Expand
  2. ScienceAdvisor
    Jul 8, 2016
    5
    Have seen the first six episodes, and the development is far too slow, with the characterization being far too schizophrenic. The show is full of unique characters, far too many of them who are unique for no particular reason. The worst sin, is that few are actually likeable. So they are all just cannon fodder, including the Preacher (after episode six anyway).

    The back-and-forth    Have seen the first six episodes, and the development is far too slow, with the characterization being far too schizophrenic. The show is full of unique characters, far too many of them who are unique for no particular reason. The worst sin, is that few are actually likeable. So they are all just cannon fodder, including the Preacher (after episode six anyway).

    The back-and-forth between past and present is poorly spaced, and at times, incoherent. The showrunners cannot decide if they want grindhouse or not, and the result is a washed-out series of what might have been. If this survives to season two, hopefully they will try and plan things a little more coherently. Though after the character reversals in episode six, I doubt I will be returning even though it has been picked-up for a second season.    … Expand
  3. pattymom
    May 24, 2016
    5
    Had no clue what I was getting in to. Watched the 90 min episode...still have no clue. A vampire, hitman? and his lady? aliens? demons? Not sure what happened. I miss Damien..it was a good show...not sure about this one. I will watch the next one and see how things progress.
  4. shoulderoforion
    Apr 22, 2017
    6
    The first 7 episodes of this show were outstanding, then it fell into what, after writing up so many reviews these past couple years, i'm going to call the season fluff, and fell off dramatically in the last 3 episodes. When you're making a TV show it seems there's some core story, but often times, that core story, and the way they're telling it, simply can't be stretched out, so they putThe first 7 episodes of this show were outstanding, then it fell into what, after writing up so many reviews these past couple years, i'm going to call the season fluff, and fell off dramatically in the last 3 episodes. When you're making a TV show it seems there's some core story, but often times, that core story, and the way they're telling it, simply can't be stretched out, so they put filler in, it's happened over & over, I really dig a show, then the filler subplots ruin it for me, the last 3 eps were just about unwatchable. This gets a 6.… Expand
  5. andyjoefromindy
    Aug 9, 2017
    6
    Preacher is largely a cool show with a unique premise and characters. But, Preacher's first episode is really what set the rest of the season up for disappointment. The pilot is really good. Actually too good. Problem is, the first episode delivers these amazing character introductions, full of amazingly bad-ass stunts, only to dial things down to a simmer and allow its characters to talkPreacher is largely a cool show with a unique premise and characters. But, Preacher's first episode is really what set the rest of the season up for disappointment. The pilot is really good. Actually too good. Problem is, the first episode delivers these amazing character introductions, full of amazingly bad-ass stunts, only to dial things down to a simmer and allow its characters to talk ad-nauseam for 9 more episodes to a degree even The Walking Dead could only dream about. There is no sense of pacing. There's no sense of urgency. The mood is completely manic- sometimes overly serious, sometimes darkly comic. I expected for some character to stop at any moment and ask "Wait, didn't we used to be completely badass?" and let the ass-kicking commence. Sadly, far too few of these moments were to be had. Having said that, season 1 really only lays the groundwork for what sounds like a far more focused season 2. And when season 2 is released, I will definitely be there.… Expand
  6. Arfington
    Aug 6, 2016
    4
    I really wanted to love this show but the pacing absolutely kills it.

    I'm a huge fan of the Preacher graphic novels and I had high hopes. But I was disappointed. I don't always mind when an adaptation strays from the source — some things that work in a book or graphic novel simply don't translate well to the screen. But the graphic novel storyline was perfect for TV. The main    I really wanted to love this show but the pacing absolutely kills it.

    I'm a huge fan of the Preacher graphic novels and I had high hopes. But I was disappointed.

    I don't always mind when an adaptation strays from the source — some things that work in a book or graphic novel simply don't translate well to the screen. But the graphic novel storyline was perfect for TV.

    The main problems I have with this show are down to poor pacing and a serious lack of direction. People are fannying about aimlessly and the scenes absolutely drag. Had Rogan been more faithful to the source, and perhaps gotten some help from more experienced directors, this could have been something really special.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best TV Season of 2016
18
#18 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
19
#19 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Time
    Reviewed by: Daniel D'Addario
    Jun 2, 2016
    80
    It's thrilling to watch Jesse go from dour to empowered.
    Read full review
  2. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    May 23, 2016
    83
    Preacher is a black comedy, a horror funhouse, a mild meditation on belief and a wicked good time. There’s nothing left to say but: Amen.
    Read full review
  3. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Caroline Framke
    May 23, 2016
    80
    It'd be easy for Preacher to operate as a cut-and-dried adaptation; the comic is vibrant, with an incredibly specific tone and complicated backstory. But in reimagining it for television, AMC dug a little deeper, and came up with something more satisfying and complex.
    Read full review
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