AMC Preacher S01E01 Pilot: Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun Premiere Recap

AMC airs the premiere of DC Comics/Vertigo's Preacher, adapted by collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. In Episode 1, the Pilot, Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), Tulip O'Hare (Ruth Negga), and Cassidy (Joe Gilgun) find themselves in a supernatural battle between good and evil.

Making its way though outer-space, The Entity shows up in Africa, possesses a preacher, and makes himself explode in front of his congregation. In Texas, Jesse fails to inspire in his sermon and ends church early. At the BBQ, a little boy asks Jesse to hurt his father, who has been abusing him and his mother.   

Up in the air, Cassidy is working as a drunken flight stewardess in a private jest. When he steps into the bathroom, Jesse discovers a bible scribbled with psychotic messages. Turns out Cassidy is really a vampire and everyone inside the plane is a hunter. After killing everyone in the plane, Cassidy drinks some blood and jumps out of the diving plane.

Elsewhere, Tulip is in the middle of a fight while driving in the midst of a high speed car chase. As her car drives straight through a corn field, Tulip fights and stabs her through. Tulip ends up fighting to save two innocent children as she uses a bazooka in a standoff. 

As secret agents follow the path of the Entity's destruction, the preacher finds himself meeting with Tulip, who has a new heist for him to pull off. Jesse isn't in that business anymore. He doesn't have an answer for her when she asks, "Why have you returned to your hometown?"

Emily Woodrow (Lucy Griffiths) warns Jesse that's competing with other churches, who now have Starbucks at their front lobby. Sheriff Hugo Root (W. Earl Brown) tells Jesse that he cannot do anything about martial abuse unless the wife files a formal complaint. Jesse learns later Betsy (Jamie Anne Allman) likes it when her husband hits her. 

With his faith shaken, Jesse meets with the Sheriff's son, Arseface (Ian Colletti) and prays with him. Jesse has a confrontation with Donnie (Derek Wilson), a Civil War Confederate aficionado and orders him not to hit the boy. Donnie and his friends decide to beat the crap out of Jesse. The preacher smiles as he fights back, and gets a helping hand from Cassidy. 

The Sheriff ends up arresting both Jesse and Cassidy after the fight is over. In the prison cell, Jesse finds himself arguing with Cassidy about philosophy. In the car, Jesse tells Emily that he is quitting and going to announce his departure at Sunday's mass. 

During the night, Jesse finds himself doubting his faith and demands a sign from God. The Entity shows up and knocks Jesse unconscious. When Jesse wakes up, Emily tells him he has been out cold for three days. 

Jesse unknowingly channels the Entity's power of manipulation when speaking to the parishioner. He orders the parishioner to "tell the truth and open his heart to his mother." Just when he is about make his announcement, Jesse realizes he cannot quit on his congregation. 

As the parishioner cuts and opens his heart, Jesse truly believes he has come to save his congregation, never realizing danger is on its way. 

Readers, what did you think of the Pilot?