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

Woo boy, was that one hell of a mid-winter return! With a new timeslot (8:00pm), Constantine concludes its epic two parter with the stakes going beyond the call of the smoke. As we last left our man, John Constantine was near death's door having been shot by Sister Anne Marie as a sacrifice to save the kidnap newborn infants. With one desperate effort, John summonds Pazuzu to take hold of his body. Unforfunately for him, his friends, and strangers abroad, catastrophy and bloodshed takes centerstage. Even the prisons aren't safe from #PossessedJohn. Not even out resident angel can't and won't save up.

Part two really gets its meatiest of material as it goes into the aftermath of a Pazuzu posessed John and the aftermath of Anne Marie's betrayal. The plot manages to have Zed breaking free from her Crusading captors as she and Chas challenge the Sister to help save him even if it means infultrating the prison he's being held at. Many diehards can detect bits of Brian Azzarello's infamous 25 issue run in the prison scenes which manage to surpass Hard Time in its own right. Plus we finally treated to some more gore that proves a 8pm time slot is not the family viewing hour some keep percieving it to be in the 40 years since the Circuit Courts deemed the infamous Family Viewing Hour mandate from the FCC got struck down. Here's hoping the overnight ratings.

Matt Ryan pulls out all the stops jugging our boy and in Pazuzu posessed form to where you may assume the scenes in prison and on the exorcism bed  that Pazuzu was really there. Angélica Celaya's Zed brings on the buttkicking and bringing the lads to they yard in her stake in saving herself and John. The Crusade's quest however is far from over.... Charles Halford gives his finest performance yet as we see Chas at his most (and increasing) active as he not only takes his posessed mate on but also one of the best scenes in the prison sequence that'll make you laugh knowing how grusome the beatings from the security guards is. Harold Perrineau's Manny shows how bemused he is with our man whilst still managing to turn up and disappear off behind the scenes in his signature way. Clare van der Boom's Anne Marie manages to snap herself out of her relegious judging of John's bluff and manages to go the distance in one of the most intense exorcisms ever recorded on film. Who would've though we'd find Nepolean Dyanmite own "Pedro" Efren Ramirez turning up of all places, eh?

The Saints of the Last Resorts altogether proves the most epic two parters ever to come out the stable of the WB's DC based shows and the finest hour of television to ever air on NBC. Next week we're treated to a loosely based adaptation of the 2005 GN All His Engines, Felix Faust, and most of all how Chas is able to survive death.

See you in 7!

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