Preacher S01E09: Finish the Song – Everyone's trapped by their own mistakes

There’s a scene in Finish the Song that sums up how batshit crazy this episode of Preacher is. Emily, played by Lucy Griffiths, is taking care of a severely burned Cassidy, taking over from Tulip who’s going to kill a man in Albuquerque. In between bouts of tossing helpless animals into Cassidy Emily happens to catch a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. In the scene Norman Bates explains to Marion Crane that most people are trapped in traps of their own making, some know it, some don’t. Emily then takes inspiration from Bates’ words to free herself from her own trap, namely her relationship with the mayor. But instead of merely breaking up with the poor guy she fakes a distress call and feeds him to Cassidy. It’s a shocking moment, the way the camera is angled as she holds the door shut is an eerie recreation of Jack Nicholson in The Shining. One seemingly harmless character turning on another, but this scene is Finish the Song in a nutshell, Annville has gone a bit Psycho.

Each of Preacher’s characters are trapped in some way or another. Jesse is on the run after expertly ducking and rolling out of Sheriff Root’s police cruiser. Cassidy is trapped in a room trying to revitalise himself after his painful proving of a point to Jesse has left him horrifically burned. Tulip has been trapped all season, if it’s not pining after the Jesse she used to know, then it’s her obsession with her revenge against Carlos. The angels are trapped by their failure to separate Genesis from Jesse. Eugene is still in hell (get him out damnit!). Finally, The Cowboy is trapped in hell; that is until an enticing offer comes along.

The common factor in all of this is Jesse, who spends most of the episode laying low and frantically hiding behind corners. After enjoying some pancakes and merlot under a bridge Jesse steals the angels heaven phone, which was conveniently hidden under the bed, because who checks under the bed anymore? Next he goes to Tulip’s only to find a post Psycho Emily trying to free a rabbit. I know I say this every week but Jesus is this show weird. But instead of Tulip, who’s off revenging, Jesse finds Cassidy who still isn’t back to full Irish after eating the mayor. It’s to Cassidy that Jesse finally vocalises his fall from grace. Cassidy has seen the worst of Jesse, not that Cassidy thinks he’s that bad, Jesse did save him from burning to death, even though Jesse thought he could have done more, to Cassidy that was enough. So they’re friends again, and what do friends do? They get rid of dead bodies together.

In the last few weeks Preacher has been focusing on Jesse more and more, a choice that has greatly benefited the show. So once his mini arc with Quincannon was over, or paused at least, it was time to check in with the wider ensemble. As mentioned Emily finally became interesting, although it’s hard to say if her approach was too much out of character, but hell it was interesting. This was also another great episode for Fiore and Deblanc. The angels have been a fantastic conduit for the more cosmic aspects of the show, and this episode was no different. At the end of their rope, and minus a heavenly telephone, our fake cowboys decide to show initiative, meaning that they go to hell. In a twist that seems more Terry Pratchett than Garth Ennis, getting to hell is just about finding the right travel agent. The mundanity of the process only makes it more distinctive even though poor Fiore has to leave his comics behind.

Finish the Song was also another strong outing for Sheriff Root, up to this point unsung in these reviews but he has been a solid presence. He shares a scene much like Emily’s, as he encounters the dismembered body of the arc angel in Fiore and Deblanc’s hotel bathroom. The image of this women sans arms and legs and plus a shuddering musical cue, is horrifying. Telling the hotel manager to get an ambulance the woman implores Root to kill her. Seeing the desperate look in her eyes, Root gives in and takes her life. It’s a powerful moment, Root’s is now a major player in the kind of horrific stories he’s been telling Jesse all season. The worlds gone to hell, and with Eugene’s disappearance, and this violent act of mercy (of course he doesn’t know that she came back to life almost immediately), Root might now be in his own personal hell.

Which brings me seamlessly to The Cowboy. Dear lord does that man instil terror with a twitch of his mouth. After the events at Ratwater contributed to the death of his wife and daughter, The Cowboy exacts bloody revenge on the whole town. If Eugene is the shows moral heart then The Cowboy is the exact opposite. Stalking into town like the Angel of Death, he kills everyone, men, women, and children. Entering the saloon where he got the ever-loving crap kicked out of him he unfurls the American flag dropping the severed heads of the towns children at the feet of the preacher that started this whole mess off. He then proceeds to murder everyone in the bar highlighting the directorial flare that is becoming synonymous with this show. Whether figuratively, or literally, hell is the focus of finish the song. In a great bit of poetic justice, Preacher’s version of hell is living the time in which you damned yourself over and over again. The Cowboy is given the chance to break out of this cycle if he can do a little job for the angel: kill a preacher.

8/10 Another great episode that gives the spotlight to some minor players which is not wasted. Let’s hope once Tulip gets her revenge the writers can finally give Ruth Negga something interesting to do.

Cookie	Description
_pxvid	This cookie is used for detection of the browser and distinguishing whether it is a real user or malicious bot.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	This cookies is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin. The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	This cookie is used to keep track of which cookies the user have approved for this site.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-preferences	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Preferences".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-uncategorized	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Uncategorized".
CraftSessionId	This cookie name is associated with the Craft web content management system, where is functions as an anonymous session identifier.
csrftoken	This cookie is associated with Django web development platform for python. Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks
DSID	To note specific user identity. Contains hashed/encrypted unique ID.
JSESSIONID	Used by sites written in JSP. General purpose platform session cookies that are used to maintain users' state across page requests.
PHPSESSID	This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Description
b30msc
btc
CMST
cref
d
gpl
i
icts
ig_did
mdata
na_rn
na_sc_e
na_sr
na_srp
session_depth
visitor-id

Cookie	Description
__gads	This cookie is set by Google and stored under the name dounleclick.com. This cookie is used to track how many times users see a particular advert which helps in measuring the success of the campaign and calculate the revenue generated by the campaign. These cookies can only be read from the domain that it is set on so it will not track any data while browsing through another sites.
__stid	The cookie is set by ShareThis. The cookie is used for site analytics to determine the pages visited, the amount of time spent, etc.
_ga	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_60765351_1	Google uses this cookie to distinguish users.
_gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
ad-id	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content
demdex	This cookie is set under the domain demdex.net and is used by Adobe Audience Manager to help identify a unique visitor across domains.
DigiTrust.v1.identity	Registers data on visitors’ website-behaviour. This is used for internal analysis and website optimization.
dmvk	This cookie is set by DailyMotion who display videos, it registers statistical data of visitors' behaviour on the website.
gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
GPS	This cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
is_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
sc_is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
v1st	This is set by DailyMotion to display videos.

Cookie	Description
__asc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__auc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__qca	This cookie is associated with Quantcast and is used for collecting anonymized data to analyze log data from different websites to create reports that enables the website owners and advertisers provide ads for the appropriate audience segments.
_cc_aud	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_cc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_dc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_id	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_kuid_	The cookie is set by Krux Digital under the domain krxd.net. The cookie stores a unique ID to identify a returning user for the purpose of targeted advertising.
_px2	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxff_tm	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxhd	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
ab	This cookie is generally provided by agkn.com and is used for advertising purposes.
ad-privacy	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content to the users.
ayl_visitor	This cookie registers data on the visitor. The information is used to optimize advertisement relevance.
bafp	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bafp_t	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_pl	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rf_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rt_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_t_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_td_2d31c94105a0aa6d1ceaea0c86c6b656	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bito	This cookie is generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bitoIsSecure	This cookies are generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bsc	The cookies is set by ownerIQ for the purpose of providing relevant advertisement
CMID	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPRO	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPS	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
dc_id	This cookie is used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator's permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers.
did	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
didts	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
dpm	The cookie is set by demdex.net. This cookie assigns a unique ID to each visiting user that allows third-party advertisers target that users with relevant ads.
eud	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
euds	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
everest_g_v2	The cookie is set under eversttech.net domain. The purpose of the cookie is to map clicks to other events on the client's website.
evo5_popin_instance	Prevents an interaction from reoccurring for visitors not accepting 3rd party cookies.
id	This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites.
IDE	Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
io.narrative.guid.v2	This cookie is generally provided by io.narrative.io and is used for advertising purposes.
KADUSERCOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
KTPCACOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
matchliveramp	This cookie is provided by w55c.net and is used for advertising purposes.
mc	This cookie is associated with Quantserve to track anonymously how a user interact with the website.
mxpim	This cookie is generally provided by mxptint.net for advertising purposes.
na_tc	This is a Social Media sharing tracking cookie.
NID	This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users.
nnls	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxrc	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxvid	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
rlas3	The cookie is set by rlcdn.com. The cookie is used to serve relevant ads to the visitor as well as limit the time the visitor sees an and also measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Cookie	Description
__jid	Cookies set on the website by the third-party commenting platform Disqus.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
disqus_unique	These cookies are set by Disqus so that users can comment on website/platform.
G_ENABLED_IDPS	The cookie is used by Google and is used for Google Single Sign On.
mid	The cookie is set by Instagram. The cookie is used to distinguish users and to show relevant content, for better user experience and security.
na_id	This cookie is set by Addthis.com to enable sharing of links on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter
ouid	The cookie is set by Addthis which enables the content of the website to be shared across different networking and social sharing websites.
ov	This is a generic functional cookie that provides enhanced functionality and personalisation.
ts	This cookie is generally provided by PayPal and supports payment services in the website.
vuid	These cookies are used by the Vimeo video player on websites.

Preacher S01E09: Finish the Song – Everyone’s trapped by their own mistakes

You might also like

FIND THE TOPICS YOU WANT...

Recommended for you