In other words, this week isn’t kind to Jesse.
Do the service, convert the masses, don’t look back.
But you know whoislooking?
Credit: Lewis Jacobs/AMC
Cassidy, with a front-row seat from the balcony.
NOT ON EARTH, AMIRITE?
Geez, what a depressing work environment.
Then come the flashbacks.
So he’s been struggling with that for a while, then.
Across town, Eugene’s room sits empty.
Then Tulip breezes through the back door with dinner fixings, which Cass mocks.
“Well that’s good.
He’d probably kill ya,” she says.
Have we seen any signs Jesse actually loves Tulip and could be provoked into a jealous rage?
For my money, this is the worst change from page to screen.
Ditching Jesse’swhite jeans.)
Actually, he says “made love,” and we all join Tulip in laughing.
Cass admits he hasn’t, but says he trusts Jesse not to pass judgment on him.
Um, has hemetJesse?
Cass randomly and hilariously suggests Ryan Philippe, but of course, it’s John Wayne, pilgrim.
“Not me,” Tulip says.
But Cass warns her, “You’d be surprised.”
And now we cut to kid Jesse and kid Tulip wrestling around the parsonage.
Later that night, Tulip overhears Papa Custer speaking quietly on the phone.
She shakes him when he doesn’t say his part.
“To the end of the world,” replies a sleepy, grumpy Jesse.
That’s not very Christian, preacher.
That’s not very Christian, preacher-to-be.
In the present, Jesse’s yelling at parishioners rehearsing a play and generally being a nightmare.
Once the fire’s extinguished, Jesse lies and says he didn’t see Eugene that morning.
Cass doesn’t call him out, but Emily sure does, and now the sheriff’s interested.
Then Emily “remembers” she saw Eugene leave afterwards.
Love means lying to the local sheriff about the whereabouts of his missing, disfigured son, apparently.
And that’s when Jesse breaks.
“I didn’t mean to.
I said the words, and he was gone.”
But Jesse’s washed his hands of Eugene.
Cass doesn’t understand.
“You just sent an innocent kid to be forever poked by piping-hot pitchforks.
I think acting like you give a damn might be a good start, man.”
And then we finally get Eugene’s backstory: He loved Tracey Loach, but she rejected him.
Instead of sulking, Eugene shot her, then turned the shotgun on himself.
“So Eugene is not that innocent,” Jesse concludes.
Will Jesse cast judgment and let him burn?
When Tulip asks after the vampire, Jesse realizes she knew what Cass is (was?).
Tulip, his former girlfriend.
Tulip, his childhood friend.
Tulip, who clings to Jesse as the most important family she has.
I’m sorry, but no.
Apparently feeling the way I do, Tulip walks out.
As the shot rings out, Jesse wails that he prayed for this, and it’s his fault.
That’s twice he’s wished someone to hell, and it ended badly both times.
It doesn’t seem to work.
Good thing Jesse’s got that loudspeaker; he may need it next week.
