Hey, Supernatural fans! Looking for a new show to enjoy and obsess over? We suggest you try NBC’s new fall drama, Constantine.
Sure, Constantine is a DC Comics property and has just started out (so it’s a bit too soon to have a grip on where the show will be headed). But, we can’t help but notice how much it reminds us of Supernatural.
No, the two aren’t identical and Constantine is by no means trying to be Supernatural, but our love for Supernatural has allowed us to see and appreciate similar qualities in other shows.
Constantine had one of the later fall premiere dates this year (not to mention it’s a brand new series), which means there isn’t as much to catch up on as with other shows. So, if you’re willing to take on another show this fall and to try something new, check out why we think Supernatural fans will enjoy Constantine.
They’re very similar in subject.
Demons anyone? Possessions? Restless spirits? Supernatural has ’em, and so does Constantine! It’s really interesting to see how the two shows approach these obstacles and what the limits of each show’s mythologies are. For instance, while the Winchester boys’ first instinct with vengeful spirits is to salt and burn their bones, Constantine’s is to cast a spell and send them back where they belong. With Constantine, you’re sure to encounter similar “scary” primetime subjects that are just eerie enough to put you on edge, but not too terrifying to give you nightmares. It’s a win-win, really.
‘Constantine’ is remniscient in tone to seasons one and two of ‘Supernatural.’
We don’t know about you, but we kind of miss the “different horror story every week”-premise of Supernatural. It was scary to the point of being thrilling, but not past the point of being enjoyable. It’s been a while since there has been a slightly terrifying episode of Supernatural. So, if you’re looking for a show with a similar vibe, you really should give Constantine a try. Hey, Constantine even has the music/rock soundtrack at times!
Guilt and secret-keeping are pretty central to ‘Constantine.’
It’s obvious that John Constantine knows so much more than he’s letting on (to both his new partner/protégé Zed and the audience). He’s incredibly intelligent and a self-proclaimed “master of the dark arts,” which means that he plays pretty much everything close to the vest. His know-how and fun toys appear to be on a need-to-know basis, which is totally fine with us but it could definitely get him and his partners into some compromising situations if he doesn’t start sharing (sound familiar? *cough*Winchester brothers*cough*)
Like Sam and Dean Winchester, Constantine is often-times driven by guilt. He was the cause of a little girl being dragged into Hell by a demon. Because of her, she’s suffering eternal damnation. That’s a pretty big weight to bear. So, he’s spending the remainder of his life fighting demons and other dark figures. If you enjoy the Winchester angst or the storylines where they’re bound to hellish existences, you’re sure to like watching John Constantine on screen.
They actually overlap in mythology.
In the season two episode of Supernatural, “Crossroad Blues,” the show dealt with the blues musician who made a deal with a crossroads demon for musical talent in exchange for his soul. The third episode of Constantine, “The Devil’s Vinyl,” just dealt with the same thing. The musician’s name was changed, but it was a similar premise. It’s really interesting to see how these two shows deal with the same or similar mythologies.
There’s a duo at the center of the show, with a likeable third character.
Sure, Constantine is, first and foremost, about the life and adventures of John Constantine. That’s a given. However, from what we’ve seen so far, he’s got a pretty solid partnership budding. No, not with his buddy Chas Chandler, but Zed, a mysterious woman who possesses unknown powers. She’s pretty awesome and a good balance for Constantine’s dark character. While he’s not in the core partnership, Chas is pretty awesome. And like the third-wheeling Castiel, Chas is (or so we assume) a likeable and personable supernatural being to keep an eye on!
There’s an angel that hangs around at times, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Constantine portrays angels in a similar way to Supernatural in that they’re complicated beings that have a dark side. They’re not just goody-goodies who help everyone who calls for it, and that’s what makes them interesting characters. Or well, that’s what we’re assuming about the show’s portrayal after meeting the show’s resident angel, Manny. Manny looks after Constantine, but not necessarily in a super helpful way. Even those who aren’t fans of the angels and Heaven on Supernatural will be interested in Manny for sure.
Castiel’s appearance is actually based on Constantine.
Word has it that some Supernatural fans weren’t too happy with the first promotional materials for Constantine because of the anti-hero’s look. They argued that he looked like he ripped off Castiel’s classic trenchcoat/suit get-up. Funny story: Constantine wore it first! Eric Kripke based the fan-favorite character’s iconic appearance off of John Constantine as an homage to the story. Yay, connections!
Constantine has a bunker full of cool stuff too!
Like the Men of Letters bunker in Supernatural? Then you’d really enjoy taking a peek at the bunker in Constantine! It’s full of magical and mysterious artifacts, such as a mirror that shows the past. We can’t imagine what sorts of other things are down there in the bunker of a “master of the dark arts.” We’ve been teased with more interesting facets to Constantine’s home in just three episodes than we have of the Men of Letters bunker in a few seasons of Supernatural.
We here at Hypable enjoy both shows.
This writer has been watching Supernatural since it premiered almost ten years ago. We know what you like about Supernatural and what you’re not a huge fan of. That’s why we think that Supernatural fans would really enjoy watching Constantine. We know that we sure do. So, take it from us: Give Constantine a try!