Nobody seems to talk about “Preacher” all that much, even though it’s an adaptation of one of the greatest comic stories ever told. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg‘s new take on the source material is outstanding, although it may be challenging for some viewers. Because of this, I’m actually a bit surprised it hasn’t been canceled, albeit I’m more than thankful it has not. With that said, each and every season is starting to feel like a gift, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that next season may be the last. As we worked our way to last night’s finale, I kept thinking to myself, “What if they don’t wrap everything up and the show gets canceled?” Well, after asking myself why God has abandoned us, I’d probably throw myself in front of a bus. After three seasons and the promise of a reconciliation with God, AMC has to allow Rogen and Goldberg to wrap everything up, right? Let’s pretend we’re, at the very least, getting a fourth season…
Last night was fucking crazy. Spoiler warning. Rogen and Goldberg have recalibrated the source material to deliver a shocker that would be upsetting if the series weren’t delivered as a tongue-in-cheek comedy. You see, in the original series by Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, Satan has a brief appearance. He’s responsible for The Saint of Killers’ unstoppable Walker Colt revolvers that “will kill anything, never miss their target, never leave his possession, and never run out of bullets.” (Wiki) After a brief exchange, the Saint kills Satan and leaves Hell unmanned. Things happen quite differently in AMC’s live-action series, with this story being drawn out and Satan (played by Jason Douglas) having a lengthy arc. He’s also a device used to end Season 3 with a bang, and deliver a shocker of a finale people should be talking about. You see, Graham McTavish‘s Saint does eventually put a bullet between the eyes of the Lord of Darkness, but there’s a punchline that acts as major foreshadowing to the series. Instead of leaving Hell without a ruler, Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor) sits on the throne. Jesus Christ, indeed.
Where are Rogen and Goldberg going with all of this? Those who are well acquainted with the comics know that the duo are foreshadowing the series finale, in which Jesse (Dominic Cooper) and the Saint of Killers come face-to-face with God (Mark Harelik) himself. The Season 3 finale sets the stage for the beginning of the end, and alludes to the surprise reveal that the Saint wants to work with Jesse to find God. Upon the two striking an unlikely alliance, they will collude on a grand finale that will shock everyone (well, except for us superfans). Still, what’s great about Rogen and Goldberg’s interpretation is that it’s way different in many aspects of the story arcs, which means they may have some different tricks up their sleeves.
No matter, it feels like this trip to heaven, hell, and everywhere in between is about to reach its destination.
