Counting To Ten: The Ratings

Hello, all! After some thinking, I've decided to created a ratings page for the Constantine TV series. All data posted here comes from The Futon Critic, Deadline, etc. Not only the overnights but also the Live+3, Live+7, plus the Alternate Formats (NBC.com, Hulu, AmazonPrime). I do point out that some of the L+7 results aren't accounted due to their being sometimes left out the NBC Ratings press releases.


1x01 Non Est Asylum (original airdate: 10/24/14)

Overnight/Final: 4.3 Million Viewers (1.4)
L+3: 6.2 Million Viewers (2.0)
L+7: 7.1 Million Viewers (2.5)


1x02 The Darkness Beneath (original airdate 10/31/14)

Overnight/Final: 3.06 Million Viewers (0.9)
L+3: 4.8 Million Viewers (1.6)
L+7: N/A


1x03 The Devil's Vinyl (original airdate 11/07/14)

Overnight/Final: 3.14 Million Viewers (1.0)
L+3: 4.7 Million Viewers (1.6)
L+7: 5.8 Million Viewers (1.9)


1x04 A Feast of Friends (original airdate 11/14/14)

Overnight/Final: 3.5 Million Viewers (0.8)
L+3: 4.8 Million Viewers (1.5)
L+7: 5.5 Million Viewers (1.8)


1x05 Danse Vaudou (original airdate 11/21/14)

Overnight/Final:  3.54 Million Viewers (1.1)
L+3: 5.5 Million Viewers (1.8)
L+7: N/A (1.9)


1x06 Rage of Caliban (original airdate 11/28/14)

Overnight/Final: 3.30 Million Viewers (0.9)
L+3: 4.7 Million Viewers (1.5)
L+7: N/A


1x07 Blessed Are The Damned (original airdate 12/05/14)

Overnight/Final: 3.17 Million Viewers (0.8)
L+3: N/A (1.5)
L+7: N/A


1x08 The Saints of Last Resorts Pt. 1 (original airdate 12/12/14)

Overnight/Final: 3.30 Million Viewers (1.0)
L+3: TBD
L+7: TBD


1x09 The Saints of Last Resorts Pt. 2 (original airdate 01/16/2015)

Overnight/Final: 3.08 Million Viewers (0.8)
L+3: TBD
L+7: TBD


1x10 Quid Pro Quo (original airdate 01/23/2015)

Overnight/Final: 3.50 Million Viewers (0.9)
L+3: TBD
L+7: 5.3 Million Viewers (1.75)

Constantine - The Saints of Last Resorts (1 of 2) Review

Hell of a way to end the first half of a two parter: With a Bang! As NBC's renewal decision looming next month, we're presented the first of the two part doozie, The Saints of Last Resorts. Penned by Carly Wray and directed splendidly by T.J. Scott, Part 1 kicks off with a mysterious being kidnapping newborn babies at a convent in Mexico City as it serves its roll in the rising darkness. Upon a astral projected message from Sister Anne Marie, John and Chas head to her neck of the woods as the reunion would revisit old wounds and coming face to face with the Invunvhe. While the lads are away, Zed is left behind only to come face to face with her passed as she learns of Eddie's true intentions and he's not alone.....

The story is definitely meaty and grimdark as f*** as it takes the show not only deep into Hellblazer mythology but also the early days of favorite magus in the pages of Swamp Thing as it's rising darkness is the same beast that wrecked havoc admists the Anti-Monitor's follies in the soon to be 30 year old Crisis of Infinite Earths. The episode also paints a lucrative portrait of John's relationship with Anne Marie the way the comics rarely did let only gotten the chance. Here we learn there was a thing between the two especially prior to Newcastle and during that triggered Anne Marie to take a vow of silence while our John to Ravenscar. She feels its her own fault for exposing John to magic as she (and the rest of us) would see the adreneline junkie he's become. The scene where John was haggling with the beast with a baby's life shows us that the John Constantine of TV is every bit the bastard as his four color media counterpart (Vertigo, not the New 52). We also see Zed now coming face to face with the Resurrection Crusade who want her back. For what, we may have to find out soon (granted those of us who read the original arc would know...).

Man, does this episode sets up the two parter as Matt Ryan's tour de force as we see John put through the wringer several times over leading to the most shocking cliffhanger no one would see coming. Charles Halford's Chas is equally active and going by the preview for the January 9th return and the forthcoming Chas centered episode, we definitely get to see out long suffering cabbie front in center for what's coming next. Angélica Celaya gets the equal amount of the action as we see her Zed put up a fight against the Crusaders and giving David Gregory's Eddie a right smacking before his fellow crusaders deemed him expendible. Guest star Clare van der Boom (Rush, Hawaii Five0) is definitely a revelation as Sister Anne Marie. compared to the acid scared comic counterpart, she fleshes the character out very strongly. Even to deliever the last shot of the evening managed to make her a Twitter trend of the night! Dave Blass' production designs for the episode is indeed nothing short of awesome along with Bear McCreary's score.

Now things are definitely heating up on scorching preportions. The only downside is the long wait between today through January 9th. Still, with part 2 looking to raise the stakes, let's hope NBC really does give the show the 2nd season it deserves as its laying the groundwork for it as the best underdog show if the TV season. Onward, January 9th! 


9/10  #Save Constantine

Essential Reading: Hellblazer Recommendations Pt. 2

Continuing off from the previous installment, we now come to late Delano and into the legendary Garth Ennis Era where it cemented the comic's status as the most remembered series in DC's Vertigo imprint twenty plus year existence.

Dangerous Habits

Unlike the previous edition that contains the iconic six-parter, the current edition holds both the arc and the remaining seven issues of the Jamie Delano era. #34-36's trilogy deals with a journey in to Constantine's subconscious and childhood horror of his earliest experience with magic as he reunites with Marj and Mercury. The following two parter (#37-38) deals with the dark side of the human heart. The final two parter (#39-40) closing out the Delano run as we discover a deep secret our magus had been supressing for all his life as he comes face to face with the mysterious Golden Boy. Now we enter the Garth Ennis era with the landmark Dangerous Habits (#41-46). The story tells of John dying from terminal lung cancer seeking out other to help him whether its a old friend in Brendan Finn (who's dying from a liver disease) to the Snob. The arc is most remembered for the first encounter of The First of the Fallen (and well as his two brothers) as well as the introduction of the love of John's life (and Brendan's former girlfriend) Kit Ryan and the succubus Chantinelle (or Elle for short).

Bloodlines

Continuing the Ennis era, this volume see's John about to enjoy a year of bliss in his love life while still in the thick of it in The King of the Vampires, the demon that possesed Jack the Ripper, and we're treated to the backstory of the succubus Elle's association with John began on one Christmas night as she and her angel lover went on the run from their respective domains. Also included in this updated edition of the volume is #51 penned by guest writer John Smith (2000AD) set in-story between the end of Delano and the start of Ennis. The Royal Blood arc introduces the wannabe socialist Nigel Archer.

Tainted Love

All happy things slowy come to an shocking and unexpected end for John in this volume. Kicking off the volume is #62 and 63; the first story shows Constatnine steering his niece Gemma (now in her teens) from magic while paying a visit to his late ancestor. The story was the last time the comic was published under the DC bullet as the next issue would be published under the then newly formed Vertigo imprint. This issue is centered on John's 40th Birthday as his friends ranging from Nigel, Header, Rick the Vic (both introduced) Mange, as well as the one time guest appearance of Zatanna.along with a small appearance from Swamp Thing and The Phantom Stranger. Fear and Loathing (#64-66) see John and Elle's plan to bring down Gabriel go into full effect as John and a friend are held captive (with said friend tortured to death) by National Front member Charlie Patterson. The follwing coda to the arc sees Kit breaking up with John after the fall out from the arc. Unable to handle losing Kit, John freaks out at local bystanders to Chas only to wind up out in the street; homeless and drinking heavily leading two the following stories where John deals with the King of the Vampires and rebuilt himself upon discovering a corpse of a dead RAF fighter pilot. A cutaway issue (#70) sees Kit's return to to her native Belfast. Also collected is a short story from Vertigo Jam #1 and the Hellblazer Special "Confessional".

Rake at the Gates of Hell

We come to the end of the Ennis era as it closes out on a mighty high. The preceding arc Damnation's Flame (#72-75) see our man in New York to take a wee holiday from London only be taken down the voodoo spectrum courtesy of Papa Midnite; also a short story featuring the first time John met Kit at Brendan's circa 1980. Another standalone, #77, tell of Chas reminencing a botch job of Johns gone awry leading to the man himself arriving at his own funeral as our lads reunite in present day after their fallout. Now, to the title arc itself (#78-83) where the First of the Fallen goes on the full assault on the magus, a final goodbye from Kit, John saving an ex from her scum of a pimp, and racial unrest in Towers Hamlet which is more relevant now in light of the event of Ferguson and elsewhere as it was back in 1994, two years after the LA Riots.


Next Time: Rainbow Snake, dopplegangers, and a convo with God (?) as we enter the Paul Jenkins era plus an encore from Ennis.