Network: NBC
Episodes: 13 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: October 25, 2014 — February 13, 2015
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Matt Ryan, Harold Perrineau, Charles Halford, and Angelica Celaya.
TV show description:
This supernatural TV show is based on the Hellblazer comic book series published by DC Comics (under their Vertigo imprint).
It revolves around John Constantine (Matt Ryan), a seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult. He is armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts — and a wickedly naughty wit.
Constantine fights the good fight — or at least he did. With his soul already damned to hell, he’s decided to abandon his campaign against evil until a series of events thrusts him back into the fray. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect the innocent.
He travels the country, finding supernatural terrors that threaten our world and send them back where they belong. Perhaps there’s hope for him and his soul after all.
Other characters include: Manny (Harold Perrineau), an angel assigned to follow Constantine and who communicates with him by stepping into other people’s bodies. Constantine’s longest friend and companion, Chas Chandler (Charles Halford) who has powerful (possibly supernatural) survival skills. Zed (Angelica Celaya) is an artist with an intuitive nature and heightened senses that keep her deeply connected to the world around her.
Episode #13 — Waiting for the Man
Detective Jim Corrigan beckons John and Zed back down to New Orleans to help him investigate the murder of a fellow detective that seems to correspond with the abductions of three young girls, and a rare blood moon. On a hunch, they dig up the detective’s body and discover distinct markings on his chest that John identifies as the Devil’s Branding Irons. This indicates the work of a Satanist, who no doubt abducted the children as a sacrifice. But it doesn’t stop there. The detective’s corpse suddenly becomes possessed by the soul of John’s deceased friend Gary Lester. Gary wastes no time in relaying an urgent warning to John: there’s a bounty on his head, and he better watch out.
Corrigan receives word of another child abduction, a girl named Vesta, and he invites John and Zed to help question the mother. Zed tries to trigger visions in Vesta’s room, but nothing occurs, that is, until she sees Manny in the kitchen. He calms any concern she expresses, reminding Zed of her unique gift that even angels envy.
To expedite the process, John forces a connection between him and Vesta’s spirit using electric shock, her used toothbrush and some errant hair. His vision leads them to the point of abduction – a creepy, abandoned carnival. But instead of finding another clue, he comes face-to-face with a vodou zombie controlled by none other than a bounty-seeking Papa Midnite. The zombie gets the upper hand and is seconds away from ending John’s life when Corrigan saves the day with a swift bullet to its head.
At long last, Zed sees a vision – and the dying man in it provides her with an address. Once there, they find the body of the man from her vision crucified in the attic, branded just like the detective. John senses something far worse and instructs Corrigan and Zed to leave as a precautionary measure. His instincts prove correct and Papa Midnite arrives with his sharpshooting rifle, the Ace of Winchesters. He shoots John in the chest and reveals that John’s soul will free his sister’s; this is nothing personal. A second bullet ends the job… except Midnite notices that the slumped over body isn’t John at all – it’s the dead man from the attic. Before Midnite can react, the real John slugs him to the ground and takes the rifle. Turns out John reanimated the corpse and used a glamour spell to trick Midnite. He leaves his unconscious nemesis for the police to handle.
With Midnite out of the way, John reconnects with Zed and Corrigan and they fill him in on another lead they found: six years ago, a Satanist killed his wife, claiming she wasn’t the pure virgin he deserved, and escaped punishment due to “temporary insanity.” John arrives at the address first and discovers the three young girls dressed in wedding gowns… and long since dead. Corrigan and Zed join him later and the trio locates a barely breathing Vesta in the clutches of the Satanist – who bolts on sight, only to meet an angry Zed armed with a shovel. The Satanist’s comeuppance arrives in the form of vigilante justice, as John and Corrigan make sure he won’t find his way to a courtroom. Vesta, meanwhile, makes a full recovery.
Later, Corrigan and Zed share a drink at a local pub. Throughout their adventure, Zed kept secret a recurring vision of a dead (and glowing green) Corrigan, but here, in private, she shares her fear with him – her visions always come true. He takes the news in stride and states that if death is imminent, then he should seize the moment – and he kisses her. And John sees it all…
John walks out by himself, and he ends up under an overpass when Manny appears. They argue about Zed – is John jealous? – and also about the Rising Darkness. Manny urges him to stay the course, together they can win this war, and John agrees. He’s more worried about what comes after, when he sends every last demon to Hell. What will he do then?
But elsewhere, as the police escort Papa Midnite to jail, time stops, and Midnite’s cuffs fall to the ground. He looks around – who’s the source of this magic? Manny appears and tells him that the contract on John Constantine is canceled. Midnite asks if Manny works for La Brujería and Manny responds:
“No. The Brujería work for me.”
And with that, the source of the Rising Darkness flaps away into the night, leaving Papa Midnite both shaken and free to once again disappear. (Courtesy NBC.)
First aired: February 13, 2015.
What do you think? Do you like the Constantine TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a second season?
Love it, love it, love it. Just scarey enough to keep me interested from start to finish. Please don’t cancel this WINNER! I really enjoy all of the comic inspired movies and shows of late. Thanks!
Please keep this show. Good television in good vs. evil. Story lines, graphics great. Very entertaining.
I finally find a new show I like, and it’s in jeopardy of being canceled. Seriously? I’m so sick of the same old hum-drum of the overdone scripts of all the other crap on TV, not to mention reality show after reality show. Finally a good show comes along with interesting, conflicted, mysterious characters who have depth… and it’s on the chopping block.
It figures.
Apparently this show may be saved because it’s audience is growing.
I love this show! Don’t cancel it!!!
Please please please don’t cancel!!
It’s really interesting and keeps me wanting more!
Why cancel it? Let it finish out the season at least.
I am so shocked that it is canceled .,
I enjoy this series very much. I have discovered that rumors have been buzzing to cancell this show. This series has ton of potential and I tried recording it only to find out no new broadcastings have been appointed. I believe this series has a growing fan base and the only reason I had anything to do with NBC. Please do cancell!
The show is taking a holiday break as I understand it and will return in January. NBC will show all 13 episodes and likely decide then.
Don’t cancel this SHOW
GREAT SHOW!!! so bummed to see it gone so quickly!
I’ve only discovered the program! Been around 6 weeks or so; for “god’s” sake, give a decent, not totally dark demonic well written (I am a writer, now retired and able to watch AND write) show time to find a 25-54 demographic!? We’re the ones with the discretionary income…
Thank you
I love Constantine. It is a wonderful show and John is an amazing character. What the show needs is more new faces and creative storytelling. It can be done and I know it. Maybe Constantine control for half breeds. It has been included and I think bring the element of half breeds into the mix what connect people to the movie as well as a comic book. All in all Constantine needs to stay and people need to give it a chance. Grimm took a while and I think Konstantin can shows potential. So I all of you please give… Read more »
Please don’t cancel constantine, love this show from episode 1 even my die hard Christian wife likes and that’s saying something
It’s an interesting show and should keep running. There are too many rotten shows running for season after season. This one has quality and should be kept on the air.
Amen!
I love this show. Hope it last a long time hopely 10 plus years
Please do not cancel this show. My family enjoy watching to show together. NBC has given hope to comic fans and I hope they bring more DC Comic shows. We love it!
Please do not cancel this show. This has been a great show from episode one. The characters are likable. The plot is great and the action is upbeat yet light. Comic book inspired entertainment is big now and this blos Agent of Shield out of the water. That is saying a lot as I am a fan of AoS