"Monster Swamp" is the fourth episode of the supernatural drama television series Preacher, which originally aired on AMC in the United States on June 19, 2016. The episode was written by Sara Goodman and directed by Craig Zisk.
Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) tries to tell Jesse (Dominic Cooper) about Fiore (Tom Brooke) and DeBlanc (Anatol Yusef), though it falls on deaf ears as Jesse is distracted by the thought of rebooting All Saints Congregational, wanting more visitors. He later converts atheist Odin Quincannon (Jackie Earle Haley) to Christianity, using his power in front of the entire congregation to achieve that goal. Angry at the death of a woman, Tulip (Ruth Negga) carries out a form of vigilante justice, but the consequences are not expected as she mistakenly throws Cassidy out of a window, only to discover him to be an immortal vampire.
"Monster Swamp" was received mostly positively by critics, who listed its acting (particularly of Dominic Cooper, Joseph Gilgun and Jackie Earle Haley), the bizarre opening sequence, Odin and Jesse's confrontation, and Jesse's sermon as being the high points of the episode. The episode garnered a Nielsen rating of 0.4 in the 18–49 demographic, translating to 1.14 million viewers.
Plot
Flashback
A young Jesse Custer prepares the All Saints chapel for services. He later listens to his father, John Custer (Nathan Darrow), deliver a sermon to his congregation. Jesse smokes with his friends, including a young Tulip O'Hare (Ashley Aufderheide). John admonishes him and whips him in front of his friends, emphasizing that the others look to him for guidance. Later, Jesse's father wakes him in the middle of the night and takes him to Quincannon Meat & Power. Jesse waits in the hall while John goes into Quincannon's office. While waiting, Jesse steals an ashtray. Shouts are heard inside and John walks out. "Denounce him!" Quincannon (Jackie Earle Haley) yells after him.
Back in the truck, John tells Jesse that some people just can't be saved.
Present
Lacey, a prostitute from Toadvine Whorehouse, flees through Annville and a field on a foggy night. Clive, one of Odin Quincannon's men, chases her with a gun, catches up with her, and shoots her with a paint gun. Suddenly, Lacey falls into a sinkhole and dies. The next day, as her body is hoisted out of the pit, Quincannonowner of the property gives a speech to his men, the girls, and Tulip (Ruth Negga), warning them to be more careful. Tulip is outraged at their apathy toward Lacey's death.
Meanwhile, Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) tries to tell Jesse about Fiore (Tom Brooke) and DeBlanc (Anatol Yusef) and warns him to flee Annville; his advice falls on deaf ears. Jesse visits Emily (Lucy Griffiths) to suggest raffling off a flat-screen TV to attract more people to church and alludes to a scheme that will boost attendance. Cassidy visits Fiore and DeBlanc at the Sundowner Motel where, in exchange for cash, he promises to convince Jesse to meet with them. Fiore expresses his doubts about the situation and takes out a strange-looking old telephone; DeBlanc, however forbids him from using it, saying they will be punished for coming down without permission.
Quincannon and Annville Mayor Miles (Ricky Mabe) discuss the problem of sinkholes, as well as Miles's recent meeting with the Green Acre Group, a sustainable farming company. Miles gives Quincannon a Green Acre brochure and suggests he consider a partnership, given that local tax revenues have decreased 58 percent in 10 years. Quincannon urinates on the brochure.
Emily arrives home with the new TV for Sunday's raffle and relieves Miles of babysitting duties. She agrees to have a drink with him when he points out how hard she works for everyone, especially Jesse. In her kitchen, Emily reminds him that she's never going to be with him. She then removes her pants and warns him to leave before morning.