NBC To Halt Production on CONSTANTINE

by Ron Purtee

@ronpurtee

So let's say you are a major network and you are part of this major push of new shows television wide of properties from the DC Comics brand. You really want this show to be amazing, and get noticed by all the viewers, not just comic fans. 

So what do you do?

You put the show on at 10pm EST on Friday night of course.

Such is the case of CONSTANTINE. The story of John Constantine, a paranormal detective, exorcist and petty dabbler in the dark arts, pulled from the pages of the popular comic book, HELLBLAZER. 

Now while the show has been performing decently, most notably last weeks episode getting a 38 percent increase in the key demographic of 18-49, NBC has decided to half production after 13 episodes and not give the show it's back end to season 1. Despite it's death sentence of a 10pm Friday slot, the show has done well in delayed viewing and has retained 85 percent of it's lead in viewers from GRIMM.

From the word go, this has been kind of a double edged sword. Fans of the comic finally get a HELLBLAZER show that's pretty loyal to the comics, while being toned down enough to bring in casual viewers. But we also had to worry about them pulling the plug because of the time slot. 

So for fans of HELLBLAZER, watch all you can because this may be all you get. 13 episodes. Soak up Jim Corrigan, and forget ever getting Dr Alec Holland or Dr Fate on the show. I heard a rumor that the show may get pushed to SyFy, but only time will tell.

CONSTANINE's freshmen season is set to end in February and the new episode "Rage of Caliban" airs this Friday at 10pm EST on NBC. 

CONSTANTINE Episode 104: "A Feast of Friends"

By Bob McQueen

@mcqueen_robert

Right away i recognized this episode as an adaptation of the first several issues of the Hellbalzer comics series from Vertigo.  An old friend from John's past comes to see him with a demon following him, the demon Mnemoth. This episode serves to build more on the mystery surrounding John, what drives him? How did he get into this? When his friend Gaz shows up, there's a lot that we find out about this problem with Astra.


The Angel Manny also shows up, but does a bit less than usual this time. Its like he knows about the demon taking possession of innocent people and forcing them to eat themselves to death with the demon ultimately causing their untimely demise, a nice touch right out of the comics, more disturbing in fact, but doesn't bother telling John about it.


While the demon continues to wreck havoc Zed is up to her uselessness. I don't know if its the actress or the writing of the character, but there is a distinct uselessness that Zed exhibits that makes me yearn for the original actress from the pilot episode. She really only serves to give even more back story on the John/Gaz situation that went down in Newcastle with little Astra. But while Zed and Gaz are talking and drug tripping together, John takes his own drug trip.

This episode had numerous people taking numerous drugs and tripping, sure it was all to find information detrimental in helping stop the demon, but it makes me wonder, is they can show drinking and drug use, why no smoking? Especially if the try and adapt the Dangerous Habits story line? One can only hope they follow the Vertigo series and not the New 52.

And Zed is still useless.

The best part was seeing the beginning and eventual implementation of John's plan to contain the demon. His drug trip provided him with the necessary information on how to beat the demon. Yet again, right out of the comics, Constantine shows how much of a bastard the world needs him to be. No wonder this guy doesn't have many friends, they usually end up pawns in his plans. John pulls off convincing Gaz of being useful all the while hiding the fact that Gaz himself is going to be used to contain the demon. Once its revealed to Gaz, its too late, and Gaz the forever junkie, decides to make the necessary sacrifice. It ends on a great but sad note as John is forced to sit with his dying friend, his penance for using his friend to contain the demon, and Mani shows up to make sure John doesn't go it alone.

Like Gotham, Constantine continues to get better and Matt Ryan proves to be an excellent John Constantine. I only hope his supporting cast gets stronger, especially Zed.

I rate this episode a solid 8.0 out of 10