Pretty much everything that held Constantine's pilot back from really leaving an impression (for me, at least) is fixed in its second episode, "The Darkness Beneath." Gone is the forced exposition and overwhelming need to deliver buildup. Instead, this second episode deals primarily with a single investigation and introduces the new character, Zed Martin (Angélica Celaya).
Instead of being like Liv Aberdine ("What's this? What's that? Tell me about this magical world, Constantine."), Zed can actually help Constantine's mission instead of simply being there to make sure everything is spelled out for viewers. The attraction between the two is certainly obvious, but thankfully, they avoid going the cliche route and instead blatantly joke about it. We're told just enough about this character to make us interested in seeing what else the show will reveal about her, but what's really great is how she's there to enhance John Constantine's story. Not only can she give us a wee bit of insight into him, but she's a useful partner, too. They gave us just enough of this character and made sure her role didn't overshadow Constantine's scenes. It is only the second episode with him, after all.
Speaking of John, Matt Ryan once again gives us a charismatic performance. He may be sarcastic and he may be blunt, but he's never abrasive or unlikable. Everything from dishing out dark magic when it's game time to lighthearted banter is delivered well. He's a great, engaging lead and, just like I said in the review for the first episode, is easily the most appealing part of the show. Simply put, the dude's lovable.
The special effects and thrills were awesome in this episode. They'll never make you jump or legitimately frighten you, but there's some really cool shots (loved the one of the spirit emerging from the ground and the hand popping out of the liquid) and the CGI remained impressive. Obviously, it's not on par with a blockbuster movie, but it's still good and never took away the illusion.
Focusing on one investigation means there's less fan service (from what I spotted, that is), but this allowed them to focus solely on what made the situation unique while also shining more of the spotlight on John and his new partner, Zed. There's scenes here and there which attempt to give the locals a little more depth, but they never overstay their welcome and it's mostly there in an attempt to enhance the mystery. That said, the "big reveal" was very predictable for a good amount of time before it was dropped. Even though it was pretty obvious, the handling of the conclusion was still mostly satisfying.
Minor gripe: It seems silly how they keep finding ways to avoid showing him smoking but still make it abundantly clear that he does smoke. In this one, there's a shot behind him and we can all tell he's smoking, but right when the camera approaches for a side shot, he's conveniently done with the cigarette. We can see characters burned to death, drowned, and strangled, but a guy smoking is too much? Look, I don't smoke, but it feels odd to censor that in a show like this.
"The Darkness Beneath" is a good fit for Halloween. The episode may never really scare you, but they make good use of the thrills and there's some pretty exciting shots. It won't make you scream out loud or give you nightmares, but it sets the right atmosphere and they make the situation spooky enough at times with some solid CGI. The "investigation-of-the-week" probably won't surprise many, but it's still a good time and they didn't neglect focusing on character. John Constantine continues to be an excellent lead and Zed's been given a proper introduction. I wasn't the biggest fan of the the pilot, but this second episode shows Constantine has a lot of promise. As long as they keep focusing on Constantine's personality and all of the mystical craziness this world has to offer, Constantine is looking like it'll be a lot of fun.
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