Constantine Episode 1 Recap: If You Dont Listen To Me Youll Be Dead By Morning (Season Premiere)

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Give Em Hell

"Non Est Asylum" opens with John Constantine in a mental asylum in northern England. He's a self described "demonologist, exorcist and master of the dark arts". He wanders away from group and finds a spirit doing some art therapy. "Liv" is written on the wall. After driving said demon from the woman's body (and completely destroying the room in the process), John takes the first plane to America.

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What A Lovely Place For A Mental Health Facility

Over in Atlanta we meet Liv Aberdine. We know its her because her nameplate says so. A pit to hell opens in her parking lot. John arrives and gives her his business card. He says "if you dont listen to me, youll be dead by morning". An angel named Manny appears. He is John's guardian angel. Manny is also trying to get John's help to fight something big that's on it's way (but we dont know specifics). Those angels... always with their cryptic messages.

Liv's next door neighbor gives her a ride home only to be killed overnight by an unknown assailant. Liv was protected from it by a symbol (the Eye of Horus) on her apartment door and salt around it. It that really works, I'm putting salt around my door every night.

Liv's father Jasper just died. He was able to see the spirit world. He left her a pendant because she has the same gift. John's sidekick Chas is killed by a possessed power line. John takes Liv to his hideout.

Manny suggests that it might not be too late for John to save his soul. He was condemned to hell for sending a nine year old girl (Astra) there. Chas is back and he's not dead (apparently he's immortal). We also meet a hacker/drug addict friend named Ritchie.

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Almost Got Ya!

The demon comes for Liz. John traps it in a circle. He initially thinks Astra is with him but its a trap. He sends them both back to hell but not before saying "tell Astra and Nergarl (or however you spell that) I'm coming for them". And in the final scene we see a girl/woman who is frantically drawing pictures of Constantine. Yes we know who it is but dont ruin it for everyone else.

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What Do You Mean I'm Not In The Rest Of The Show?

What are your thoughts on the premiere? I saw the 2005 movie version with Keanu Reeves so was already familiar with the basic plot. I think casting Matt Ryan as the British Constantine was a great choice. He even looks like Constantine. I'm not sold on Lucy Griffiths (Liz) though but no worries. She wont be back. I also enjoyed Manny. Yes that's Harold Perrineau or you may know him as Walt from "Lost". He also made a brief appearance in "Z Nation".

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Waaaaalt! I Mean Manny.

Did you notice that John carries around his lighter but doesnt actually smoke any cigarettes? Have we gotten too politically correct or what? He's fighting demons for God's sake. He can be shown smoking a ciggie once in a while.

The special effects were pretty good for a TV show. I especially enjoyed the slow mo rain scene. Liv's nanna's appearance with black oozing slime was freaky. And watch out for the ghost train!

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It's Raining Demons

Favorite Quotes:

"If You Dont Listen To Me You'll Be Dead By Morning."- Constantine to Liv.
"There are worlds beyond ours. Parallel planes of existence."- Constantine.
"There's a reason why Chas is my oldest friend."- John
"If youre not confused, you're not paying attention."- John to Liv.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). A fast paced season opener. I'm interested to see how this universe pans out (and what other treasures are in John's/Jasper's layer). If you didnt know, "Constantine" is a DC property. It joins "Arrow", "The Flash" and "Gotham" (which is one of my favorites). Not sure I'll watch the show every week but time will tell. It's also on opposite "Z Nation" so that's another strike. You know how I feel about "Z Nation"!