Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Preacher: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 13, 2017

Preacher might not exist as a TV show were it not for the success of The Walking Dead. AMC is undoubtedly paying attention to that show's ever-growing fan base and staying power popularity and certainly saw an opportunity for another, similar show, not in core story line, of course, but rather in the viability of the narrative and presentation style. Preacher is ultra-violent, fun-loving, exceedingly odd, complex, and rooted in much deeper meaning than its messy surface would lead one to believe. The show takes a few episodes to grow into its comfort zone and begin to reach towards its essence, but it's certainly, much like The Walking Dead, unafraid of pushing boundaries, even if its boundaries are much more opaque. Preacher, like TWD, comes sourced from a comic series, this one from the visionary minds of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon who have created a strange, quirky, off-beat world of divergent characters and plot details that deal in grand, sweeping religiously centered content with a very hard, violent, and unpredictable edge. Much of the joy in watching comes in watching it come together, as its oddities take form and its story grows increasingly bizarre but bountiful in character depth and narrative eccentricity.

Official synopsis: Based on the hit comic book series, 'Preacher' is the edgy story of Jesse Custer, a conflicted preacher in a small Texas town who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that allows him to develop a highly unconventional power. With his fearless sidekicks, Tulip and Cassidy, he embarks on a wild, dark journey that is unlike any other.

Preacher isn't exactly a show that can be encapsulated in a few sentences. It's an evolving show built on excess and nuance, one that's going to prove exceedingly divisive even amongst genre fans. It has a tendency to meander, particularly early on, to sacrifice narrative rigidity for its own, rather unique, approach to storytelling. Characters are amongst the most mysterious out there, whether a dreary and questioning preacher, a fast-talking Irish vampire, a wild young woman, a hellish cowboy killer, and the list goes on. The show is amongst a rare breed of entertainment vessels that works -- thrives -- through dysfunction, oddball components, disparate characters and narrative elements. It all gradually comes together, and those who persevere through the early going establishing construction are rewarded with a show that never sacrifices its peculiarities for a more staunch and standard narrative arc but that does come together through all of its otherwise wayward and disparate details. It holds together early on thanks to novelty and creativity and a healthy assortment of interestingly shaped and evolving characters building under a strange brand of religious content. Early on, the show's best asset is its ability to pique one's interest in the separate pieces that make it. Through the middle, it's seeing them come together. As it approaches its end, its discovering greater detail and witnessing further revelations. The show knows how to hold an audience, critical considering its nontraditional approach.

Preacher refuses to allow only the idea of its excesses and oddities to drive the show. Right alongside the narrative craziness is a show that's often exceedingly well put together. Action scenes are expertly choreographed, feeling a bit over-the-top but never stumbling because they're too manufactured, excessively long, or in any other way unbelievable. They fit in with the show's feel and flow, which includes an excess of often practical gore that's deliciously involved and tangible and heightens the show's credentials as a serious production component even in the shadow of its almost comical excesses. Cast is fantastic. Dominic Cooper devours the lead, title part, shaping a character whose struggles are believably complex and intimately explored both in his outward appearance -- the way he carries himself -- and his inner dealings which are not always directly manifest in some tangible, visible manner but presented in a way that always keeps the audience aware of them. It's a revelatory performance of complexity and depth that, through all of the surrounding chaos, is unquestionably the glue that holds the show together. Joseph Gilgun shines as the Irish vampire Cassidy, a character whose antics are more evident on the surface but who still presents with some internal intrigue. Ruth Negga steals the show as Tulip, the show's most balanced main character but still one drenched in nuance and complexity.

The following episodes comprise season one. Episode summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging.

Disc One:

• Pilot: Jesse (Dominic Cooper) struggles to escape a past that is slowly catching up to him. A mysterious entity comes to Earth, leaving a wave of destruction in its wake.
• See: Jesse tries to be a "good preacher," unaware that a mysterious duo is after him. Meanwhile, we meet the enigmatic Cowboy (Graham McTavish).
• The Possibilities: Jesse explores his newfound power with help from Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). Armed with new information, Tulip (Ruth Negga) tries to convince Jesse to set out for revenge.
• Monster Swamp: Jesse makes Quincannon (Jackie Earle Haley) a bet he can't refuse, Cassidy works to fend off the angels, and Tulip tries to bring justice to Annville.

Disc Two:

• South Will Rise Again: After his stunt with Quincannon, Jesse is Anville's newest rockstar. Tulip and Cassidy connect, and The Cowboy makes a tragic decision.
• Sundowner: Jesse finally comes face to face with DeBlanc (Anatol Yusef) and Fiore (Tom Brooke), and learns about the mysterious entity that has taken over his body.
• He Gone: Jesse takes actions that alienate and endanger those closest to him, as we glimpse into his past and finally learn the root of all his guilt.
• El Valero: In a fierce gun battle, Jesse faces off against Quincannon and the Meat Men to protect his church, while Tulip tries to save a friend.

Disc Three:

• Finish the Song: Jesse is on the run while those around him face life-altering decisions. The Cowboy returns to Ratwater to exact his revenge.
• Call and Response: God is coming to town.

Preacher: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The digitally photographed Preacher: Season One is prone to revealing some low-light noise and often takes on a slightly flat, smooth appearance, but Sony's 1080p transfer is otherwise in good working order and presents its core qualities with commendable attention to detail. Textural capabilities are fine. Close-ups reveal plenty of intimate details, including basics like pores and sweat and facial hair. Environments are clean and effortlessly detailed, particularly barren, dusty, weedy Texas exteriors, essential wooden church pews and wall interiors, and other locations that allow for a fairly substantial gaze into any given location's complexities. Colors are satisfyingly punchy. The palette is more or less neutral, with only a few select scenes, like those taking place in Africa, pushing much hotter and colors appearing more significantly saturated. Otherwise, the palette enjoys lifelike vibrancy. Black levels are inky dark and true. Flesh tones appear accurate. This is a quality overall presentation by Sony, more limited by a few source shortcomings than any encode issues.

Preacher: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Preacher: Season One's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a substantial, active listen. The track opens up and produces plenty of quality surround, multidirectional, and precisely imaged sounds throughout the season's episodes. Action scenes spring to life with impressive depth, substantial movement and surround implementation, and powerful but balanced bass. Whether a spacecraft hurtling through the cosmos, a car plowing through the cornfield, swirling helicopters, crashes, explosions, fights, or general chaos, all fill the stage with impressive, authoritative posture and positioning, not to mention clarity. Low intensity atmospherics are nicely filling as well, transporting listeners into various environments throughout the show, from the barroom to the sanctuary. Dialogue is clear and well defined with firm front-center positioning and solid prioritization.

Preacher: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Preacher: Season One contains extras on all three Blu-ray discs. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• The Unfilmable Pilot (1080p, 7:36): A look at the transition from comic page to television screen, fight choreography details, character qualities, violence in the show, sets, the TV medium's evolution to allow a program such as this to air, and the benefits the medium brings to the series.
• Chainsaw Fight Breakdown (1080p, 6:31): A closer look at the making of one of the show's trademark sequences, both its place in the show as well as its technical construction.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p): Scenes from "Pilot" (4:49 total runtime): Jesse's Dream Fight Sequence, All They Can Do Is Scream, and Jesse's Sermon. Scenes from "See" (1:40 total runtime): Murderer and Black Pudding. Scenes from "The "Possibilities" (3:59 total runtime): Wait Here and Three Possible Explanations. Scene from "Monster Swamp" (0:43 total runtime): Hide and Go Seek.

Disc Two:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p): Scene from "South Will Rise Again" (0:26 total runtime): Be Nice. Scenes from "He Gone" (4:13 total runtime): Do You Hear That?, Dishes Don't Do Themselves, and I Worry About Eugene. Scene from "El Valero" (0:43 total runtime): Your Tax Dollars At Work.

Disc Three:

• Behind the Killing Machine: Saint of Killers (1080p, 6:55): A closer look at this key character as portrayed by Graham McTavish. It also looks at making a few key scenes, firearms and related props, and costumes.
• The Stunts of Preacher (1080p, 7:58): As the title suggests, this piece hones in on the show's stunts as choreographed by Stunt Coordinator John Koyama. It also explores the process of photographing fight scenes and features plenty of rehearsal footage clips.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 5:12): Funny moments from the shoot.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p): Scene from "Call and Response" (1080p, 0:32 total runtime): God, God.

Preacher: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Preacher isn't for everyone. It can be crude, grotesque, offensive, and downright strange. The show demands patience but, as they say, that's a virtue, and the reward here is a strong 10-episode arc that will leave those who have stuck around craving season two . Preacher: Season One's Blu-ray release offers a healthy allotment of extra content. Video is strong and audio is excellent. Recommended.