Comic Vine Review

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Constantine #101 - Non Est Asylum

3

John Constantine's new series is finally here! Is it worth watching? Come read our review!

*This review contains some spoilers*

DC's invasion of the small screen continues! They have The Flash and Arrow on the CW, Gotham on FOX, and now Constantine has come to NBC. Essentially a crime thriller set in the fantasy genre, Constantine's first episode is pretty much all about telling viewers who John Constantine is and just how crazy the world around him truly is.

Actor Matt Ryan's a solid lead. Obviously, he looks the part and then some. Sure, he's not smoking (which seems silly to me considering we witness some graphic deaths, but whatever), but everything from the scruffy exterior to the attire rings true. He's not abrasive, yet he still sports a fair amount of sarcasm and snark. This balance -- along with Ryan's performance -- makes him a much more likable and humanizing character. When all is said and done, he's easily the most appealing part of this new show.

Some of the special effects aren't all that great (the opening action sequence comes to mind), but I admit that the horror elements and jump scares were implemented pretty well. Yeah, they're predictable, but little things like an eye flashing on a laptop or a light revealing a possessed character standing in the corner still gets to you just enough. Odds are you won't ever be afraid, but the thrills are still there. Additionally, there's some major fan service, especially when the characters enter the hideout. There's plenty of easter eggs scattered throughout and it makes you wonder if they're just there to please comic fans or if they'll follow-up with any of these potential story arcs. Here's hoping for the latter.

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When viewers enter a world that's full of new characters, magic, demons, and all kinds of other fantasy elements, there's a lot to learn. Some degree of exposition is understandable and even mandatory, but it feels like Liv's character is there just for exposition. She's the oblivious human wandering around, asking questions and being told what's what. Instead of feeling like an actual character with real emotions, it seems like she's there just so we can learn about this new world. It really begins to add up and takes a toll on the pacing. Hopefully they can begin to make all of the necessary info dumps a little more organic as we move forward.

If you've been following news about the show, then odds are you heard that Liv Aberdine (Lucy Griffiths) was removed from the show and another character will fill the void. After watching this episode, I have to say that's good news. The character was just really bland and kind of annoying at times. Her responses to some situations seemed unnatural and other times it's obvious she's there just so we can get a ton of information. The fact the show has such a strong lead made this character seem even more disappointing. Complaints aside, the reasoning behind her departure is perfectly fine and it leaves me feeling a little more optimistic about the show's future. Also, I can't be the only one who was baffled when she walked right past police officers at the crime scene and they did absolutely nothing about it, right?

NBC's Constantine is off to an okay start. Ryan's a great lead, there's quite a few teasers and some decent thrills, but it's weighed down by a mountain of exposition and this episode basically feels like a zero issue. It's there to establish all of the basics before getting into any of the really good stuff. Yes, pilots have the tough task of setting the stage for what's to come, but this one didn't really have any jaw-droppers and the biggest positive is the excellent lead character. The potential's definitely there; now it's just a matter of seeing if they capitalize on it!