SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Anna Pigeon Season 1, Episode 3.
Anna Pigeon‘s third episode starts to flesh out the lives of Anna’s fellow rangers, particularly Manny Lopez. In that sense, “The Preacher” is a lot of fun to watch. It also features another fantastic guest appearance, this time by Roger Cross. But the USA series also includes a lot of genre cliches that make the episode a mixed bag.
“The Preacher” takes its title from Pastor Nelson Lewis (portrayed by 24 and Motive alum Roger Cross), who previously robbed banks in Detroit under that name before deciding to become an actual preacher. When banks in Montana start getting targeted, Anna suspects that Nelson is back to his old ways and framing Manny for a new crime spree. It’s a decent premise—any crime show eventually gets around to the “someone in the main cast is accused of or connected to a case” plot—but it’s more valuable for the screen time and backstory it gives Manny.
As established in Episode 2, Anna Pigeon can’t survive on its title character alone. Actor Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz gets a great chance to show what he can do, as the audience learns that Manny is a recovering drug addict who credits his wife Bethany (Wynonna Earp‘s Melanie Scrofano) with turning his life around. An early scene shows Manny being baptized, as fans also find out that he and Bethany are trying to start a family, and how much Manny looks up to Anna. That’s a lot of information for viewers to appreciate, a lot for Rodriguez-Saenz to play with emotionally, and the only downside is that there’s just one really good scene between Manny and Anna since he spends most of the episode in jail. But now viewers have a much better sense of who Manny is beyond being Anna’s colleague.
The lion’s share of the screen time actually goes to Cross, whom viewers will remember as Curtis Manning on 24 and Boyd Bloom in Motive. He also starred as Donovan McAvoy in Coroner, which Anna Pigeon showrunner Morwyn Brebner created. His character Nelson butts heads with Anna but it’s no surprise that they end up on the same side, and Cross makes a good foil to Tracy Spiridakos, with Nelson staying calm even when Anna is right in his face. “The Preacher” becomes a redemption story for Nelson moreso than a journey for Manny, and that would be frustrating if Cross wasn’t so darn good in the role.
Episode 3 also feels disjointed in places, as the script tries to stuff in a few subplot developments that also result in some awkward editing. Some of the story beats could’ve waited for another episode, and then maybe there would have been more time to do something else with Manny. But there’s a talent show (which brings back delightfully cringe reminders of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat), Anna and Jesse taking another step forward in their romantic relationship, a clue about Anna’s husband’s murder, and what might be hinting at a love triangle. It’s a lot.
The best part of all this is the appearance of NCIS: Origins actor Julian Black Antelope, taking a break from his recurring role as Doc Tango to play NYPD detective Wilton “Wilt” Fontaine, who investigated Zach’s murder. He’s an excellent addition to the cast, and there’s an immediate interest in learning more about the dynamic between Wilt and Frederick Stanton, as he and Ronnie Rowe Jr. are a fun combination. What doesn’t work is Molly asking Stanton if he has a romantic interest in Anna. If the show wants the audience to care about Anna and Jesse, then that’s where the focus has to be. Plus, TV love triangles are incredibly tired anyway. Hopefully, that’s just a passing comment and not foreshadowing.
But that’s not the only well-worn idea “The Preacher” brings in. It is one of the oldest plot points in the book that if someone from an outside agency turns up on a crime show, that character will almost always be a one-note antagonist. In the case of Anna Pigeon, that’s local detective Guthrie, who refuses to believe Anna at any point until she’s proven wrong. It’s not that interesting to listen to them bicker, especially since viewers don’t grasp any specific reason why they don’t get along. It seems to be “because it’s Anna,” which while valid to a point, feels like painting with a broad brush.
This doesn’t mean that “The Preacher” is a bad episode. It switches gears back to a more action-oriented show after Anna Pigeon‘s emotional detour, Rodriguez-Saenz does so well with what he’s given, and another absolutely excellent bit of guest casting makes this one worth the watch. There are also some fun small details, like Anna complaining about hurting her back after tackling the real villain, making her feel like a real person and not a TV superhero. There’s a different version of this episode with more Manny and some plot reorganization. But it’s a solid whodunit with excellent acting and another step forward in fleshing out the world of Anna Pigeon.
Anna Pigeon airs Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on USA. Photo Credit: Michelle Faye/Courtesy of Versant Media.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
