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Celebrating 1,000 NCIS-franchise episodes

S01.E08: The Saint of Last Resorts (1)

Meredith Quill

By Meredith Quill
in Constantine [V]

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Xantar

Xantar

I'm not sure I care much about Zed's past catching up to her (although tossing that woman into the endless nothingness was rather badass). It felt kind of odd having her go through a storyline completely separately from John and Chas.

 

I enjoyed the callbacks to what happened with Gary. Especially when she said something like, "That ploy might work on Gary, but not on me. You want me to make the offering." The plot itself was pretty standard until Anne Marie turned the tables on John.

 

I couldn't understand a word that the Sister of Eve was saying. Why exactly were they going after the babies of that one particular family?

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Actionmage

Actionmage

I'm pissed that Zed left the damn millhouse, but glad she at least tried to stay near the mantle mirror ( or, at least, I hope it was the mantle mirror.)

 

Damn Anne Marie; I get that you're pissed at John for a laundry list of things, but you called him. Quit being pissy for five minutes and stop with the holier-than-thou not matter how much holier you may actually be. Whatever epiphanies you gained seemed to not stick.  At least you seemed truly shook when you realized that you needed to shot John. Which you didn't really have to do it, strictly speaking. Giving Chaz both infants would've been smarter, to my thinking, so both folks who can work magic can do so with both kids safe. But that's me, and I'm not living in a two-part episode. So there's that.

 

I am loving the world-building and the continuity! If I could, I'd hug the person(s) responsible for those elements being so awesome!

 

I am hoping for Papa or Manny next week! ( Part 2 is next week, right?)

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thuganomics85

thuganomics85

I'm going to assume that Anne Marie is probably from the comics as well, since they went out of their way to make her feel important.  Cool seeing Claire van der Boon again.  Also fun seeing Jose Pablo Contillo (Martinez from The Walking Dead) as the cop father.

 

I automatically was suspicious of the other Sister that wasn't Anne Marie, so I wasn't surprised over the reveal.  Still, the concept behind it was interesting, and again, the ending was certainly different.  Yep, I just saw the lead of the show threaten to first break the neck, and then drown a baby, in order to get info.  Now, I'm John was bluffing his ass off, but that was still crazy as hell.  And, then Ann Marie totally caps him, in order to save the rest, and even uses his own words against him.  Damn!

 

Chas is back, but still not used that much.  Boo!

 

Not sure what to make of the Zed stuff.  In theory, I'm for it, but it felt out of place and rushed in this episode.  I kind of wished they saved this material for a lighter episode.  Plus, I would have thought Zed would have been more careful then she was.  But, I guess they needed a big cliffhanger for her as well, to go alongside John bleeding out in the sewer.

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kwerkee

kwerkee

Oh and kudos to the person who predicted Manny won't be in this episode because the budget wouldn't allow for more than 2 supporting characters in the same episode. You could have been joking but...

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Cirien

Cirien

(edited)

Damn Anne Marie; I get that you're pissed at John for a laundry list of things, but you called him. Quit being pissy for five minutes and stop with the holier-than-thou not matter how much holier you may actually be. Whatever epiphanies you gained seemed to not stick.  At least you seemed truly shook when you realized that you needed to shot John. Which you didn't really have to do it, strictly speaking. Giving Chaz both infants would've been smarter, to my thinking, so both folks who can work magic can do so with both kids safe. But that's me, and I'm not living in a two-part episode. So there's that.

 

Seriously. From the moment she started bitching about him still having a sence of humour. I hated her. Like in all her Holier than thou ness does she not stop to consider that he's so cocksure and devil may care because it's all a front?

 

I loved when he called her out on her shit though. Basically saying that she knows that  he can do things and makes choices she *can't*. So stop being such a oassive aggressive woman about it.

 

And we should have known that the flirty nun was the MOTW.

 

Re: Zed, since her real name is "Mary" and the we've now referenced "The Crusade" I take it we're following her storyline from the comics?

 

And how old is Ann-Marie or whomever is her comic book counterpart supposed to be anyway? I take it she's a mage too?

Edited by Cirien
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Bruinsfan

Bruinsfan

I am stoked that the "rising darkness" mess is the doing of the Brujeria like I'd hoped! Now if only Lamashtu is in the dark about their real reasons for stirring up all the bad mojo, and it actually matches the American Gothic storyline.

 

Bonus points for the writers doing their research and having an amulet of Pazuzu used to protect children against her.

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Florinaldo

Florinaldo

So Sister Holierer-Than-Thou of Saint-Bitterness believes that saving the innocent justifies anything, even killing another human? Even for Catholic dogma, that is quite a new page.

 

I would not be surprised if the writers use this as a blemish on her soul, that she will have to atone for in the conclusion.

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AzureOwl

AzureOwl

Bonus points for the writers doing their research and having an amulet of Pazuzu used to protect children against her.

I love that bit, even if using that strategy seemed a little odd coming from Constantine. I mean, isn't summoning one demon to get rid of another exactly what caused the Newcastle debacle?

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Xantar

Xantar

Oh and kudos to the person who predicted Manny won't be in this episode because the budget wouldn't allow for more than 2 supporting characters in the same episode. You could have been joking but...

I was half joking, but I was also pretty sure Manny wouldn't be making an appearance in this episode. You would think that if there's one case where he'd be somewhat useful, it would be one involving Eve's sister. But since he can't intervene in human affairs, maybe he would have been useless anyhow.

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venturestar

venturestar

Pretty good episode. I really liked that Ann Marie wasn't Gary 2.0. She could see through the conning, where John was trying to make her volunteer for the handoff. And it set up her betrayal of John well. Because she really did believe her words that no price was too high to pay to protect the innocent. She was willing to risk her life, and then she was willing to sacrifice John's.

 

 

Re: Zed, since her real name is "Mary" and the we've now referenced "The Crusade" I take it we're following her storyline from the comics?

 

Ugh, I have no idea want the comics storyline is and I'm so tempted to Wikipedia it (especially if we have to wait a month until the next episode). I wasn't interested in Zed's past right up until she was called Mary, and talked about growing up in a room, and crusades, and now I really want to know.

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Cirien

Cirien

Pretty good episode. I really liked that Ann Marie wasn't Gary 2.0. She could see through the conning, where John was trying to make her volunteer for the handoff. And it set up her betrayal of John well. Because she really did believe her words that no price was too high to pay to protect the innocent. She was willing to risk her life, and then she was willing to sacrifice John's.

 

Wasn't she quoting him, from earlier in the episode? Which was why he was  like "You've learned quickly love"

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JayKay

JayKay

This show just gets better and better. I love when they bring in John's old pals. I'm glad Chas was back too. And as Actionmage said, there's wonderful world-building going on here.

I like "Annie," even though she shot the protag and left him to die. She considers John her Newcastle, so wouldn't taking him out be a twisted way of atoning? I think that's why she kissed him. She was prepared to sacrifice him if need be before she even went down there. Frankly I'm not all that sure that he wouldn't have killed those babies if the demon had told him that doing so would stop The Rising Darkness. He's so manipulative that I can't blame her for not trusting him.

I love Chas though. He's just a big, warm, kind-hearted guy. It's a bit of dark comedy when you think about why he believes in John's goodness, though. Chas is the only one of John's friends who found out that dying for him was worth it. John has to know how lucky he is to have him as a friend. He's a two for one - a loyal comrade and a willing sacrifice.

I wonder if God punished the women who rejected Adam by turning them into ratfaces or if that was just a by-product of living in Hell. Or maybe they all have different aspects of hated animals. Every piece of the mythology of the show they introduce makes me want to learn more about it. Old monsters that were thought dead in the flood? Ancient cults of warlocks who make Constantine shake in his trenchcoat? They're going to make me backread Hellblazer soon, even though it's not near the top of my list.

I'm glad that Zed figured out early on that nude guy was playing her. But her storyline confused me. In the beginning of the episode, John said that he'd set the mystic traps in his place and that they'd go off if Zed tried to leave. Did I miss a line where he decided to turn them off? Or did I miss a scene, because next thing I knew Zed was in a bookstore. I thought for sure she was going to have stalker boy set off one of the traps on the way back into John's house to subdue him. So confused.

Sounds like Zed was running from a family of religious extremists with money and power and possibly magic powers. I'm guessing she was groomed by her dad as some kind of human sacrifice like Wesley's redheaded girlfriend on Angel. They're not good people, whatever they want with her.

Manny's probably still being lectured in Heaven for killing Imogen. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Great continuity of Constantine assuming that Zed's drawing of the hairless wallwalker I can't pronounce was remnants from touching the evil heart. I'm weirdly giddy that there were actual consequences from that. The show is so easy to invest in because you can tell that the writers put care and thought into it.

It's gonna be a long wait until January.

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venturestar

venturestar

 

I'm glad that Zed figured out early on that nude guy was playing her. But her storyline confused me. In the beginning of the episode, John said that he'd set the mystic traps in his place and that they'd go off if Zed tried to leave. Did I miss a line where he decided to turn them off? Or did I miss a scene, because next thing I knew Zed was in a bookstore. I thought for sure she was going to have stalker boy set off one of the traps on the way back into John's house to subdue him. So confused.

 

Yeah, that wasn't too clearly explained. I think he asked her not to go, but the traps don't actually stop her from going. I'm assuming the traps stop either someone trying to harm the house or steal magical items, or stops someone uninvited that has bad juju (demons and stuff). That kind of explains how the traps didn't stop the intruders, since they were vanilla human (I think) and weren't after any of the artifacts in the house.

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cyan

cyan

I assume the traps are like home alarm systems, where you have to reset them. I guess.

 

Dammit, this show sucked me into this state of general over-investment in the Hellblazer universe and Constantine's character, and it wasn't even anywhere near good when it started. What the hell. It's getting better, and this episode seems to be when the writers finally had the epiphany that what makes the story is the main character and the way his unique brand of fucknuttery scorches everyone he ever meets and, like, entire planes of existence.

 

The more they do this, the less various creative team shortcomings matter. Tossing Constantine onto the pitchfork of Anne-Marie's righteousness is always going to be awesome - it doesn't much matter if the monster suit zipper is showing. And I think what they get right is this balance between showing Constantine as a total jackass and yet keeping him likeable and sympathetic. So, I end up rooting for him, but also deeply enjoying it when people yell at, punch and shoot him. Never gets old.

 

On that note, the more absurdity, the better this show works. Like, the chicken thing pretty much made my week. I would not trade it for all the food porn on Hannibal, exquisite cinematography and homoerotic chewing be damned. I mean, faking a baby by injecting blood up a chicken's butt. How do you top that? You don't.

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kwerkee

kwerkee

(edited)

They are descendants of Brujeria, no? That grandma's father was described as a monster or something. I assume they want the babies now to be part of their exclusive group once all the other humans are destroyed. Only babies, because, uh, you gotta start 'em young. /fanwank

Edited by kwerkee
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Actionmage

Actionmage

The policeman's grandma was saying that the family's bloodline was connected to the Brujeria; that  one of the cop's ancestors was one. Also that the grandma's grandfather/ great-grandfather ran away from them in order to not live that life/ have a clean start.  Which is why the cop's bloodline was being stalked.

 

Lamatshu was being controlled by the Brujeria. I want to see her break free from that noise. Then again, that's me. She seems like she'd be okay until her natural urges occurred. Nothing a reputable Mage/ Dabbler should be able to handle.  She is being directed by the Brujeria, so while she had been collecting goodies she was into, there are folks who are compelling her to act. I'm not ancient, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like that sitch.

 

Forgot to add in my last post: that tree?  ::shudders::  Cree-Pee! ::thumbs up to either sfx or Props or both::

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cyan

cyan

(edited)

You know what puzzles me from the screenwriting point of view, though, is why enlist a supernatural entity to snatch babies, when a human would be perfectly capable of doing it? Like, she is narratively not necessary at all.

Edited by cyan
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kwerkee

kwerkee

Lamatshu was being controlled by the Brujeria.

I thought she made a deal with the Brujeria. Didnt they promise her an 'expanded domain'?

I haven't read about the Brujeria in the comics yet, but why would they think they would be happy to have the demons be the dominant players in the world? Even if they have powerful magic, they are still humans. There are so many of these things that prey on humans. Soon they will be the only humans left and hello, huge neon 'All You Can Eat Buffet' sign flashing over them.

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JayKay

JayKay

You know what puzzles me from the screenwriting point of view, though, is why enlist a supernatural entity to snatch babies, when a human would be perfectly capable of doing it? Like, she is narratively not necessary at all.

Hmm, maybe she's not just a thief but a protector. If she loves eating babies then she's an expert at discreetly rolling them into napkins and placing them in her purse safely. You mess with a demon's food, you're in for a brawl. She just refrained from chowing down for once.

Or maybe the warlocks are throwing their weight around to make a name in Hell as well. Enslaving an unholy goddess has got to earn them points in the "don't f*ck with us" category. Could be by the time they raise Hell on Earth, they want a reputation so that they can be in charge of both?

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Chicago Redshirt

Chicago Redshirt

I can think of a couple of reasons why the Brujeria might have chosen to enlist Lamatshu rather than a human agent.

 

First, it may be from whatever netherworld/limbo/other dimension they are in, they can't reach humans to try to make deals with, only other supernatural folks.

 

Second, it may be that Lamatshu or another demon was needed to track down babies with the Brujeria bloodline. We're seeing the tail end of things, where the babies have already been identified, But we didn't know what it took from Team Rising Darkness to figure it out.

 

Third, Lamatshu might be needed to do something supernatural once enough babies are obtained -- perform some ritual for Team Rising Darkness, raise or protect the babies, fuse them until a Big Bad, or whatever.

 

Fourth, Team Rising Darkness may not trust humans in general. I mean, if there was a task I wanted completed -- say, retrieving a ball -- and I had a choice between having a dog complete it or a human, I might prefer to have a human do it, all things considered equal.

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cyan

cyan

Yeah, those would work. I asked earlier because I decided to rewrite the script* for this and a couple of other episodes, as a screenwriting exercise. But I ended up replacing her, because she is just some random supe, and in the material they used, there was lots of opportunity to use villains that would make more impact on everyone involved.

 

------

* Since it's what I am doing anyway, when I watch this show. Although this was one of their better eps.

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Bruinsfan

Bruinsfan

(edited)

I was kind of scratching my head at John being able to drive off Lamashtu by shivving her with a pen knife. I mean, one might think an immortal queen of Hell who's been around since the dawn of humanity would be harder to get the better of than your average stoolie in Cell Block D. Of course she was also taken in by a chicken squirted full of blood, so maybe she's not on the starting lineup of Team Evil.

 

I'm now envisioning her being continually thwarted with cabbage patch dolls and sacks of flour swaddled up in blankets.

Edited by Bruinsfan
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darkestboy

darkestboy

A pretty good start to a two parter.

 

I like that we're slowly learning more about Newcastle and I'm hoping some flashbacks are imminent. John and Anne Marie had some interesting scenes and the last scene was a nice twist too.

 

Zed's story was great too and it was nice to finally get more on her but I wish that it had tied a little into the main plot and that she had been included in the Mexico trip as well.

 

Hope the second part is just as good, 7/10

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