AMC’s Preacher
Season 4, Episode 5: “Bleak City”
Directed by Jonathan Watson
Written by Susan Hurwitz Arneson

* For a recap & review of the previous episode, “Search and Rescue” – click here
* For a recap & review of the next episode, “The Lost Apostle” – click here
Australia! Land of many venomous things, koalas and kangaroos, rugby, nature, and all sorts of good stuff. And there’s a real piece of work that just arrived there, as the Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish) looks into travel options, slaughtering a tourism office full of people. He and Eugene a.k.a Arseface (Ian Colletti) are awaiting the use of Genesis, to alert them as to the location of Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper).

The preacher’s likewise trying to get some travel going, having difficulty finding a car rental because he’s a wanted man. He’s been trying to cut back on using Genesis, given what happened to the pilot recently. He’s still got a power of persuasion without any supernatural aide. But Jesse uses Genesis for good, to help a stuttering employee at the rental place. This lets the Saint of Killers on to his trail once more.
Simultaneously, the “Pervert Rampage” is all over broadcast media, and there’s a manhunt. Almost literally everybody is trying to find Jesse. He gets himself a car, and as he heads onto the street who does he see? Eugene, who warns him to go, just when the Saint walks outside. YOWZAH!
Custer gets away. It’s a shock to see Eugene again. He did banish the young dude to Hell after all. Yet ole Arseface, in all his wonder, chose to help the preacher. Probably why the man of God turns around and go back to find him instead of fleeing. He makes the mistake of using Genesis while attempting to pull together a plan.
Or does he?
At a construction site, the Saint follows Jesse, running into a wrecking ball that flattens him. The preacher and Eugene take off into the city. Only moments before the Saint rises in Undertaker-like fashion to dust off his hat and keep stalking his prey.

In the Bar and Grail, Tulip (Ruth Negga) and Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) are reunited, hanging out with Jesus Christ (Tyson Ritter). The vamp catches his lady friend up on his adventures, as well as his latest haircut. The Archangel (David Field) gets to have a triple S finally: a shit, a shower, and a shave. Cass and Tulip chat about the situation with Jesse, and she punches him in the face for letting it slip about them having sex. They also get wind of the preacher’s mess. Tulip is going to hit Las Vegas with the “lonely, handsome” Jesus, which gives Cassidy things to contemplate re: what he’ll do next. Christ is busy trying to figure out his holy obligations v. what he’d like to do with his own life.

Lara Featherstone (Julie Ann Emery) takes responsibility with Grail for the escape of Cassidy. She’s about to be shot by Herr Starr (Pip Torrens) when he gets a call that Jesus is gone. This gives Lara time to leap from a window and flying squirrel her way to freedom again. Things aren’t well with Starr and Hitler (Noah Taylor), either. The Allfather’s not really digging his new role with all these balls to juggle.

“Love isn’t easy”

At the Bar and Grail, the Archangel tries to help Cass with his love life. The vamp is trying to “do the right thing” for the first time in his life, not wanting to betray his best friend despite the fact he’s very much in love with Tulip. The angel— whom we discover, for sure, is a fallen angel due to love— has his own troubles. He has a beautiful dance with his date while the vampire watches on, set to “Love of My Life” by Queen.
Enough waiting for Tulip. She and Jesus hit the road. Although Christ is having second thoughts. After she suggests a bank robbery he can’t stop thinking of all the horrible ways it could go wrong. She can tell he wants to turn back for Masada. He’s afraid to walk out on the big apocalypse meeting.

Jesse tells Eugene he’s a good person and a “good Christian.” He apologises for what he did to the kid. He knows how horrible it was, and he doesn’t entirely expect forgiveness. That’s what he gets, regardless of what he’s done. Because Eugene is good, through and through. And when you’ve escaped from Hell, you can use all the help you can get! They commandeer a cop car, even if it’s not very Christian. Jesse drives them away, not realising Eugene has pulled a gun. Arseface isn’t going to take an apology and walk away. He shoots the preacher in the back.

The Archangel and his demon lover finish fucking, then have a strange, otherworldly fight in the Bar and Grail— as Wolfmother’s “Joker and the Thief” plays— so Cassidy figures it’s time to hit the road himself. Perfect moment for Ms. O’Hare to swing back around. Christ isn’t along for the road trip, that doesn’t keep the vamp and Tulip from having their fun.
Back at Masada, Jesus returns to see Herr Starr. He meets Mr. Hitler, and isn’t a fan of the Fuhrer. Not unexpected. He does offer a hug in the spirit of Christianity. Then both sides sit to read over what Apocalypse 2020 has in store for humanity. And in Australia, there are bad things in store for Jesse, after Eugene’s led him right back to the Saint of Killers.
Preacher keeps upping the ante here in its swan song season.
Excited for what’ll happen to Jesse next, now that he’s in the Saint’s clutches.

“The Lost Apostle” is next time.