On this episode of Constantine, titled A Feast of Friends, John runs into an old friend, Gaz. John also has to deal with a hunger demon—one stronger than he has dealt with. There is also some tripping out this episode—with something more potent than shrooms. Check out Josh’s recap for this episode, A Feast of Friends, along with both Josh’s and Violet’s thoughts after the jump!
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Episode Recap of Constantine, Season 1 Episode 4: A Feast of Friends
This episode opens up with a character, which we find out to be Gary “Gaz” Lester. He is attempting to get through customs, and is not playing it cool at all, looking nervous, and quite ill actually. He winds up getting detained, and in the holding room, this Gaz has a strange jar. The officer interrogating decides to handle the jar, and it shatters, and roach-like bugs are inside, which then fly into the officer’s mouth—gross.
So Gary ends up getting out of holding, and meets up with John—by breaking into his house. But what happened to the customs officer? Well turns out he turns into an eating machine—and goes through the airport grabbing food left and right, and eating as much as he can. Eventually, he falls dead though, and the insects leave. They wind up infecting another person—a woman in a grocery store, who winds up going on her own eating binge.
But who is this Gary/Gaz person? He apparently is an old friend of John’s, and friend is a very loose term to use. John tells Zed about him, and how he eventually becomes addicted to heroin. Things haven’t changed much since John saw him, as John is able to tell that Gaz is suffering from withdrawals currently, which is why he has been appearing sick.
As far as this mysterious bottle that broke with the customs agent, we find that Gaz actually helped to rescue a kid in Sudan who had been “cursed” by a shaman. Gaz performed a ritual which ended up trapping the bugs in that jar, but unfortunately that jar could not contain these insects.
So meanwhile, the city of Atlanta has begun to think there is a virus spreading, and is leading to some panic in the streets after a few people have died from this bug. We also have Zed getting some “withdrawal” symptoms, from touching Gaz, and she apparently can absorb people’s psyches.
So, John on the case, heads to the grocery store the latest woman died at. A mother and son are still there,and John asks them some questions. At first they are quiet because they are afraid to admit what they saw, but eventually the kid speaks up and tells him about the bugs. The boy also tells him that the bugs wound up in a meat delivery guy after leaving the woman.
Well, I should mention, by now, John has determined this is some sort of hunger demon—one that focuses on devouring at all costs. John finds the slaughterhouse where the deliveryman worked, and heads in to investigate. All but one person is dead, and she is still possessed. She creepily attacks John, and eventually the insects leave the girl, attempting to infiltrate John, but he is able to deflect their attack with a hunk of meat. He scurries out of the meat locker, and locks the bugs inside. They’re trapped—for now.
So, John decides to visit a man named Nommo due to a lead give to him by Zed. They trip out on something that is way more potent than shrooms, and this is where he learns that a living vessel must be used to contain this demon. Something like a bottle or inanimate container cannot hold it. Gaz apparently screwed the whole plan up when he saved the boy. John also learns he needs a specific ritualistic knife to perform the ritual with a living vessel. But who will this living vessel be….?
Well Gaz has decided that he wants to get back to work hunting this demon, and hits Zed with more psychic withdrawal symptoms. But it turns out that Gary was looking to get high again, as John finds him nearly beaten by some gangsters. John and Gary share a drink, and seem to make some peace between each other. John welcomes him to the team, and they plan to take down this hunger demon together.
Phase one, has them stealing the ritualistic knife from a museum. Gaz makes the snatch while John uses some sort of spell to distract a guard—by making him dance to the sound of the alarm.
Phase two, Gary and John confront the demon, and Gary learns who the living vessel will be to contain the demon—him. Gary resolves to accept his fate, and welcomes the demon into him. John then carves the runes, similar to the one in the Sudanese kid, into Gary.
Back at “base” Zed is pretty upset about John’s plan, and John brushes her off, telling her that he warned her about what happens to people that are around him. John sits by Gary’s side, as he lays in agony, having the demon devour him and itself until both are dead. Manny also is a part of the mourning, watching Gary die.
Josh’s Thoughts: Constantine, Season 1 Episode 4: A Feast of Friends
I think this was probably the best episode of Constantine so far. Gary was a sympathetic character, despite his obvious vices. What makes this episode a little hard to swallow is that there was no other option, and that option that was left was so easily used by John. To his credit, you could tell he felt awful about it, but couldn’t they have used another vessel? An animal? A convict? Anything/one else?
The scenes with the demon possessing various people was creepy, so if that is a part of the show’s goal, it is doing that pretty well. Watching the zombie-like people devouring any and all types of food was both creepy and gross at the same time.
As of now, the biggest struggle I am having with the show is Zed. I am not a fan of that character yet. Hopefully she begins to grow on me more, as her powers become more and more useful. As of now, I would rather have the other girl back though.
The final thought I have is regarding Manny. I have had my suspicions about him in the show so far, since “Manny” doesn’t sound like a very angelic name. This episode he certainly seems a little more sympathetic to John though, especially when they both watch Gary die. I guess we will have to see where that relationship ends up, and eventually learn more about this Manny.
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 1 Episode 4 of Constantine: A Feast of Friends
I actually liked this episode, and think that it’s definitely the best one since the pilot. I think that’s because the best episodes are the ones in which we actually see some continuity or a connection with Constantine’s background. Here, we got to learn more backstory about Constantine’s tragedy with Astra, since Gary was there, as well as just general background information about Constantine as a person, since Gary knew him personally. Obviously, we can’t have old friends popping in every episode just for the sake of getting to know Constantine better, but I did appreciate the insight into his character that Gary provided.
As far as effects go, they continue to be good. I especially liked the demonic possession of the woman in the meat warehouse, she was pretty creepy! I’m also a sucker for viruses, so even though this wasn’t actually a virus, I appreciated that aspect of the story. One thing I am not appreciating so far, however, is Zed. Sometimes her acting just feels fake and over the top. As for the character, it just seems really inconsistent at this point how they’re using her powers, or what exactly her powers are. I guess they’re still developing.
I’m still not sure what to think about Manny. Right now, he kind of seems like Constantine’s conscience, or at least in this episode he did, the way that he knew what Constantine had planned to do to Gary. I’d like to get to know him a little better.
Although I liked this episode, I’m still a little on the fence about the show overall. But I am willing to keep watching and see where the show takes us next!
Scenes from Constantine, Season 1 Episode 5, Danse Vaudou
Here are scenes from the next episode of Constantine, titled Danse Vaudou:
