First up, Constantine.
Of all the new DC TV shows they have coming out, I was most excited for this one. John Constantine, created by Alan Moore and nurtured by some of comics' greatest talents (Garth Ennis, Jamie Delano, Brian Azzarello, Warren Ellis) is one of DC's underused treasures. His series, Hellblazer, was the longest running Vertigo comic, and among its most consistently daring. In the comics, Constantine is a professional "bad-luck" magician who relies on deceit, cleverness, and being a bit of a bastard to ply his trade in an underworld rife with magicians, demons, and pure human evil.
He's clever, but he has been outplayed. He's had moments of absurd daring and contemptible cowardice. He's faced his problems head on with a smile, a wink, and a lit cigarette (always Silk Cut) and he's abandoned his responsibilities and left his friends (and the world) to suffer. He's been through Hell and come out the other side. In other words, he's one of DC's most human characters.
The parade of great creators who've written him have used him to touch on the social climate of the times, from Ennis' portrayal of Thatcherite-Britain and the Irish Troubles to Azzarello's withering portrait of the American prison system to Ellis' examination of the fears of the early 21st century, Constantine's a cracked mirror through which we view our own fears, our own demons.
Frankly, the character and the world he inhabits are ripe for exploration in the context of television. There's already been one utterly wretched adaptation of the character (2005's Constantine film, starring the woefully miscast Keanu Reeves). This was a chance to rectify that mistake.
It comes as no surprise (though I wish it did) that DC would fuck it all up.
A brief list of some of the problems in the pilot.
1) The actor playing Constantine more or less looks the part, but he's using his native Welsh accent, not John's accent, which should be Cockney. That's as vital to his character as anything. Constantine's a working-class rabble rouser who thumbs his nose at the establishment - any establishment. While I'm well aware that the Welsh have a history of social resistance, it just doesn't carry the same cultural cachet as Constantine's original sound. It just felt weird hearing Edward Kenway's voice when I expected to hear John.
2) Once AGAIN, it's set in AMERICA. Jesus. London is pretty much the most important character in Hellblazer besides John himself. It's an ancient city full of history and secrets. The setting of the show [Anyville USA] was so bland as to be completely inconsequential. At least Keanu's LA had some personality.
3) ... In fact, that's something i think counts as a major strike against this show. It just feels bland. Hackneyed. Seen this, been there, done that. Could be any of the 3rd-string demon hunter shows of the last 15 years.
4) You know what else? They don't really seem to get Constantine's character. He's not on a big quest for redemption. He never has been. The real tragedy of Constantine is that, at the end of the day, he can't help himself from tinkering, and his loved ones always pay the price. He feels guilty, but not guilty enough to stop. Ever. He's a magic junkie, a thrill junkie - THAT's his tragedy. Which is WAY more interesting than the standard "atoning for past mistakes arc."
More than that, the Constantine in this show solves the problems through boegedy-boogedy magic rather than using his cunning and quick thinking. We don't even see him smoking for God's sake, which is not only an important aspect of his character, but actually becomes a vital plot point in the comics. Instead of just censoring the fact that you main character smokes, why not actually show the consequences of smoking by showing John Constantine suffering from lung cancer.
5) And the "supporting cast" is pretty laughable. I mean, Harold Perinneau is doing his best, but ... come on. The girl/mcguffin is as interesting as cardboard, and none of Constantine's old friends or acquaintances are as lively as the many supporting cast members introduced in the comics. And making Chazz, his cabbie/best mate, into a supernatural character pretty much defeats the POINT of Chazz, which is that he's just a normal bloke, just like John, only even more so because Chaz has no connection to the world of magic.
6) And all the DC references come off as forced and obvious. I mean, it's clear they're trying to do what Marvel has being doing so successfully, but they don't get WHY it's successful. The Marvel nods have by and large been understated. The Infinity Gauntlet in Thor doesn't draw attention to itself, nor does Cap's shield in the first Iron Man or the Doctor Strange nod in The Winter Soldier. If you don't know what those objects or references are, it doesn't interrupt the flow of the story.
But when she held up that Doctor Fate mask it was like: look at me! Look! A DC comics character you might see one day! Likewise Ivy University.
7) That whole basement set (which is too elaborate not to return as their base of operations) is all wrong. John's at his best as a regular bloke who hangs out down the pub and has a scummy little London flat. He wouldn't surround himself with all the magic bollocks.
8) None of the demon/ghost/magic stuff struck me as particularly frightening or inventive. I've seen the same things done better elsewhere.
Long story short, this show strips Constantine of his charm, his supporting cast, and his unique take on the urban horror genre. What is left is a bland, unappetizing "demon-hunter" show we've seen a dozen times before, but even more disappointing because we know what might have been.
Next up, I'll talk about The Flash pilot. It's better, but not by much.
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