John Constantine (NBC Series) 2014

[HarryTrotter]

Or leave him shaded,like the daemons.

[Talavar]

Saw this the other day and thought it was pretty well done.  Stronger than the Flash pilot, and it wasn't bad. 

[Talavar]

To those who have seen the pilot, apparently big changes are in store:

Spoiler

the character of Liv, and the actress who played her, aren't going to be in the show http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=53983

[HarryTrotter]

^But,why?

[crimsonquill]

^But,why?

Something about once filming was getting ready to start there was a falling out with the actress over creative differences.. so they are having to rush a new pilot with a new character in her place.

- CQ

[Starman]

To those who have seen the pilot, apparently big changes are in store:

Spoiler

the character of Liv, and the actress who played her, aren't going to be in the show http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=53983

If they get rid of that character, it would definitely change the direction of the entire show! Obviously the character didn't test very well with audiences (the whole reason the pilot episode was "leaked") but that is a crazy last minute change up ... does the TV show still use the existing pilot now or do they reboot the show with the second episode?

On the plus side, if they are bringing in the character of Zed, that could tie it closer to the actual Hellblazer books and the Damnation's Army storyline.

Spoiler

Constantine executive producer Daniel Cerone says that the show is replacing the wet-behind-the-ears Liv with the more experienced and feisty Zed to give its main demon hunter a more effective partner/foil. "When you put a wide-eyed innocent into that world, she's just very reactive," he tells EW. "The nice thing about Swamp Thing, when he first teamed up with Constantine, was that Swamp Thing had abilities, Swamp Thing had skills. Constantine needed those skills. One of the coolest things about Constantine he doesn't have any 'powers.' He came out of a time with all these superheroes with their garish colors and flashy powers, and he just comes out with a rumpled coat, wearing browns and greys, and he just knows a lot magic and spells, but it's all knowledge-based. Anything he can do is based in knowledge and his own studying. Zed is actually one of the first women Constantine meets in the comic books, and she has various psychic powers. We felt ultimately she's going to service the first season better as someone to pair Constantine up with. She can get in his face a little bit and have some of her own realizations and skills and really push him. But if whoever Constantine is working with is constantly on her heels, that just wouldn't service the show really well."

[HarryTrotter]

Frankly,I dont like that change.I liked the pilot.It was freaking awessome.

[Starman]

I'd prefer having Zed, if it means the show will follow her story from the comic, but will obviously mean a change in story direction from the pilot episode.

It's nice that the executive producers mentioned Constantine's relationship with Swamp Thing, though. It would be great if they did some episodes based on stories from Saga of The Swamp Thing (like all the "American Gothic" stuff), but from Constantine's perspective.

On a side note, I binge read every issue of the New 52 Constantine comic ... as a big fan of Hellblazer, it is a really, really underwhelming read and nowhere near the level of quality of the Vertigo stuff.

[Starman]

So Zed has been cast http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/constantine-angelica-celaya-cast-as-zed-on-nbc-drama-1201261906/

"He is a smoker in the show, we're not shying away from it, but we're not glorifying it," Goyer said, after it was pointed out that the character is only seen stubbing out a cigarette in the pilot.

"[NBC] are beholden to broadcast standards too," Cerone noted. "We know the universe that we're existing within — we heard plenty of pitches like 'let's give him a patch or have him chew a lot of gum,'" but the producers decided that seeing him stubbing out a cigarette was more authentic to the character.

One aspect of John Constantine's character that seemingly won't be explored is his bisexuality, which has been mentioned in a number of comics since Hellblazer debuted, most notably in Brian Azzarello's 2002 run, "Ashes & Dust in the City of Angels."

"There are no immediate plans" to explore Constantine's bisexuality, Goyer told critics at TCA, since that was just one interpretation of the character from Constantine's 30-year history.

It's funny that NBC's standards still allow them to hint at smoking by butting out cigarettes and playing with a cigarette lighter but bisexuality is an ironclad no-no 

[JeyNyce]

NYCC has shown the first episode of Constantine (It was also leaked online)

Let me start that I was never a big fan of Constantine.  I saw him ever now and then in the comics and when I heard he was getting his own TV show, I was like, meh.  Now after watching the first episode, I have to say....

Spoiler

I was wrong.  This show is awesome.  If you love Doctor Who or Torchwood, then you will love this show.  It has the same pacing as Doctor Who.  The guy who plays Constantine is on point.  I really enjoy this guy acting and it made the show very enjoyable.  The only I can see that could go wrong with it is that when you see this show first thing that will pop in your mind is BBC.  In the back of my head I kept thinking that this show would be awesome on BBC with Being Human, Doctor Who, etc.  I just can't see this great show doing well on NBC.  I hope I'm wrong, but we'll see.

[Podmark]

So I saw the premiere today. Never read the comic, but I quite liked it. The special effects were pretty cool, very creepy. Seems like a good setup for a super natural series, I hope it does well.

[Glitch Girl]

I'm liking it too.  The guy they got for Constantine is wonderful.  Loved the Dr.  Fate easter egg.  Pretty good for a pilot, though a bit crammed due to worldbuilding, but pilots are always a little rough. 

Fingers crossed that it will continue to be good.

[Silver Shocker]

I watched it on the weekend, and I liked it. I agree with GG, the actor for Constantine (Matt Ryan) is really good; he sells the whole show. Harold Perrineau was also quite good. I would watch more. The Dr. Fate easter egg was cool.

[lugaru]

Saw the pilot on demand... honestly yeah, a ton of shows have come out that built on Hellblazer BUT they dont have what the comic has and what the show seems to have... a flawed character at the core who has made some really stupid mistakes in his past.

- Summon a demon to exorcise another demon, Astras soul gets gobbled up in the process. (TV Show)
- Summon a demon to bring a mobsters son back to life, almost facilitates an antichrist to be born on earth (comic)
- Summon a demon to fix a broken appliance, ok, that has not happened but it might as well.

He has a lot of demons... literally... and those around him are in danger. I love two fisted, arse kicking supernatural shows (buffy, supernatural) and this looks great.

[Starman]

Episode 4 was pretty decent ... it's basically the first story from the Hellblazer comics, although toned down.

[Starman]

Looks like this show has been cancelled, since NBC is capping it at 13 episode and not taking in a full season order. Kind of a bummer because, while it did start awkwardly, it was noticeably improving.

[crimsonquill]

Looks like this show has been cancelled, since NBC is capping it at 13 episode and not taking in a full season order. Kind of a bummer because, while it did start awkwardly, it was noticeably improving.

I'm more of in the thinking they just went for capping it at 13 episodes until Warner Television decides where to put it since it obviously missed it's target audience on a Friday night. When you have Arrow/The Flash on the CW getting fantastic ratings while Gotham is maintaining it's audience on a Monday but Constantine is dropping off slowly on Friday even paired up with Grimm. I agree that this series should have been paired up with Gotham on the same night right off the bat but it's core audience is more of the folks who would be tuning in for Supernatural or even Doctor Who/Torchwood on the BBC. I'm thinking once it's released in a collection after it completes it's run that it will probably jump networks.

- CQ

[JeyNyce]

I'm hoping it jump networks because I don't think NBC knows how to handle the show.

[Podmark]

Looks like this show has been cancelled, since NBC is capping it at 13 episode and not taking in a full season order. Kind of a bummer because, while it did start awkwardly, it was noticeably improving.

Apparently the network still considers season 2 a possibility. Capping it at 13 supposedly had a lot to do with the late start and performance not giving NBC enough to decide on the back 9.
I like the show, I wouldn't be upset if it ended, but there's enough there that I hope it continues.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

NBC has had success capping Sleepy Hollow at 13, but still renewing it, so it's possible it isn't actually canceled.

[Talavar]

I hope it gets its renewal - there are definite improvements happening.

[JeyNyce]

The show is great but what they should do is change the day.  Instead of Fridays, they need to put it on earlier in the week.

[Glitch Girl]

I can understand why it's on Friday - it pairs well with Grimm.

That said, the show is consistently improving.  After a rough start and a hm-drum episode or two, it's really gotten its legs.  I squee'ed a little when he lit up at the end of the latest episode.

[HarryTrotter]

And Hector Salamanca debuts as Felix Faust.
That worked out better than expected.

[HarryTrotter]

So what was the HUGE easter-egg related to Flash in episode 12,everyone is talking about? 

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

I looked it up, since I don't watch Constantine, and the name of a magazine is the same in both shows.  Which I'd hardly call huge.

[HarryTrotter]

Thanks,I couldnt find it anywhere,strangly.I wouldnt call it huge either,but some people o twitter would apparently.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

Apparently some consider this proof that they take place in the same universes, but I found screenshots and they don't even look like the same magazine, in spite of having the same name.

[HarryTrotter]

I saw the theory,but sadly there is just no way for that.BTW,if its not a bother,can you link the screenshots?

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

Nah, I don't remember where I found them and you can search Yahoo as easily as I can.