It solely took six seasons, however we lastly noticed some correct payoff in Jack and Preacher’s friendship and brotherhood.
In Virgin River Season 6, in the course of the first half of the season, Preacher’s arc involves a head, and we’re blessedly capable of put the previous with Preacher masking for Paige after she killed her abusive ex behind him.
Sadly, the arc meant that between Virgin River’s Vacation Occasion and the beginning of the brand new season, the police arrested Preacher for murdering Wes.
One of many frustrations of ready between seasons is that we miss out on these little particulars that may curiosity us. By the point we leap into this arc, we study that Preacher is standing trial and having a tough time with it.
Brie is his protection legal professional throughout a serious trial largely restricted to the folks of curiosity: Preacher, Kaia, Brie, Jack, and, by extension, Mel.
We get the sense that your complete city is behind Preacher, and we even study that Connie is greater than prepared to perjure herself on the stand if it means serving to her pal as a result of she is aware of higher than anybody what transpired and was all-in on aiding Paige, too.
However on the subject of standing there in agency assist of Preacher throughout what could also be his darkest second, now we have Kaia, which is gorgeous in additional advancing this relationship and establishing it as one that may final and be significant.
This arc places a bookend on the irritating maintain {that a} character whose influence on the collection lasted longer than she really did have on Preacher.
For almost your complete collection run, Preacher’s storylines revolved round Paige and every thing he did for her as a result of he was a genuinely good man who cared.
Nevertheless, Preacher’s arc has additionally at all times linked to Jack. He usually performs second fiddle to him and serves as his most coveted confidant, pal, and therapist.
He’s at all times been there to offer Jack sage recommendation, particularly as Jack repeatedly wrestled with the psychological and emotional struggle wounds he carried with him for therefore lengthy.
Preacher has confronted his justifiable share of points all through Virgin River, however when it got here down as to whether or not they prolonged to his greatest pal, they didn’t, as a rule.
Whereas not intentional, Jack got here throughout as extra self-absorbed relating to their dynamic, largely as a result of he at all times appeared to be going through one thing that required Preacher’s motivation, powerful love, or judgment.
In consequence, their bond at all times appeared frustratingly imbalanced, not essentially aligning with what the characters instructed us they had been.
Relating to the brotherhood between Jack and Preacher, it felt as in the event that they instructed us greater than they confirmed us.
That’s to not say that they didn’t have some significant moments. It was endearing when Preacher was the primary particular person Jack instructed about having kids, and he knew and not using a shadow of a doubt that he needed Preacher to be the godfather to his kids.
We additionally had particular moments, like Jack asking Preacher to be his Finest Man. These actually are sturdy methods to assist their friendship and their closeness.
Nevertheless, even amid them, some moments targeted extra solely on Jack than Preacher, which has been a predominant downside on Virgin River on the subject of their relationship.
More often than not, when Preacher confronted trials or tribulations or struggled with what he needed out of life, the subsequent stage in it, Jack was none the wiser or got here to study issues too late into the sport.
It by no means felt like Jack fostered an area for Preacher to be as susceptible and open with him as Jack at all times is, nor did he ever find time for it.
To place it bluntly, Preacher and Jack’s friendship and brotherhood at all times lacked reciprocity.
However this case lastly reveals every thing they’ve instructed us over time in regards to the deep brotherhood between Jack and Preacher and the way that holds up for each of them.
So usually, it seems like Jack is so caught up in his personal issues, his personal life, or the lives of others at Virgin River that he by no means takes a second to dedicate to his greatest pal.
However with Preacher in want, probably going through down 25 to life for Wes’ demise, it compelled Jack to offer Preacher his undivided consideration and actually prioritize him as a pal and brother.
We get the sense that Jack spent a lot time with Preacher between his arrest and trial, and the 2 spent a substantial amount of time and power engaged on Jack and Mel’s future house collectively as a result of it was a pleasant distraction and a technique to work out nervousness over the unknown.
Jack was proper there for the method each step of the best way as Preacher tailored to his attainable destiny and struggled with what the long run may maintain for him if a jury of his friends deemed him responsible.
Jack’s real concern for his pal was palpable, which was a refreshing change of tempo for the 2.
It additionally places into perspective simply how vital Preacher is to Jack as a result of we’ve been so accustomed to him taking Preacher as a right.
We may visibly see how pressured Jack was over the prospect of dropping his greatest pal to an unjust jail sentence, and it was obvious how difficult it will be for Jack if that ever got here to fruition.
He couldn’t even focus on an impending wedding ceremony if it meant his brother wouldn’t be there. And it was one of many few occasions we noticed Jack bend over backward to increase each ounce of assist Preacher wanted in as some ways as attainable.
Jack saved him lively and distracted, spent all his spare time with him, and persistently let Preacher know that he was there to be a shoulder to cry on and an ear to lend.
Jack in a supporting function to Preacher for a change was an extended overdue factor we would have liked.
It additionally served Jack’s character nicely, excelling at prominently showcasing how a lot Jack has advanced as a personality and the way emotionally and mentally steady he’s now.
It’s actually one thing that season bought proper.
Over to you, Virgin River Fanatics.
What did you make of how the season approached Jack and Preacher’s brotherhood? Did you get pleasure from seeing Jack assist Preacher for a change?
Hit the feedback under!