Author Archives: The Elder Fox Sister

Constantine Recap S01E09: The Saint of Last Resorts, Part 2

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Below the ConventSee our recap of Part 1 for a short glossary of new characters, monsters
and evil organizations in this storyline.

The Tunnels

When we last saw John Constantine, he was dying of a gunshot wound in a tunnel beneath a Mexican convent, and being stalked by a hungry invunche.

Above ground, Chas and Hugo are waiting for Anne-Marie and John. Anne-Marie surfaces and hands baby Diego off to his father, Hugo. When Chas asks, “Where’s John?” Anne-Marie only says, “I’m sorry, Chas.” Continue reading →

Constantine S01E08 Recap: The Saint of Last Resorts, Part 1

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talons“The Saint of Last Resorts” is the first half of a two-episode story. The second half will air in its new 8pm time slot on Friday, January 16, 2015. There are a lot of references to new groups and creatures, so a little explanation of terminology may be in order.

La Brujeria in Swamp Thing #46 (Moore/Bissette/Totleben)

La Brujeria in Swamp Thing #46 “Revelations”  (Moore/Bissette/Totleben)

•Brujeria: The Brujeria are members of an ancient coven of warlocks from South America. They are incredibly evil, and for centuries have worked toward the goal of destroying Heaven and unleashing powerful entities of greatest malevolence upon the earthly plane in pursuit of that goal. The Rising Darkness is not just facilitating their plans—the Brujeria are in fact the actual cause of the Rising Darkness. They are that powerful and malicious. The Brujeria’s “central committee” is called The Council of the Cave, the members of which are under the protection of a monster of their own creation: the invunche. Continue reading →

Monster of the Week: The Beholder

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Beholder by Hungrysparrow

Beholder © by Hungrysparrow at Deviantart.

The Beholder is a cruel and rapacious monster from the world of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Unlike most other creatures found in the various versions of the role-playing game since its original 1974 release, the Beholder is unique to the D&D realms, and not based on any other monster.

Usually found underground in large, cavernous spaces, the Beholder is a floating monster with a spherical shape. It has one large eye, and ten smaller eyes on stalks. The D&D Monster Manual describes the Beholder’s appearance as “covered in chitinous plates, scales, or leathery flesh. Its great bulging eye sits above a wide, toothy maw, while the smaller eyestalks that crown its body twist and turn to keep its foes in sight.” Continue reading →

Constantine S01E07 Recap: Blessed Are the Damned

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Briarwood sign

In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. —Mark XVI, 17–18

The seventh episode of Constantine takes us to rural Appalachia, where one may find not only corn-on-a-stick, but in some corners, charismatic Christian ministers who still display their faith through the practice of laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, and snake handling.

The Serpent

A Pentecostal minister in Kentucky refuses to heed his sister’s warnings, and chooses to use a venomous rattler in the snake-handling portion of his sermon. Their church’s congregation has been dwindling since the former minister, their father, died, and he wants to put on a good show. OF COURSE the snake bites him in the middle of his spectacle, and he dies nearly instantly. As his sister tries to resuscitate him, a fiery feather appears in the dead minister’s hand, and he awakens. Stuffing the feather in his pocket, he leaps to his feet as the congregation gasps and cheers. A man missing part of a leg rushes down the aisle on crutches, and the minister lays hands on him. The man’s missing leg grows back, just like that. It is a miracle! Continue reading →

Monster of the Week: Gabriel

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Every angel is terror.
—Rainer Maria Rilke, Duino Elegies, 1923
Gabriel in a fresco from the Tsalenjikha Cathedral by Cyrus Emanuel Eugenicus. 14th c.

Gabriel in a fresco from the Tsalenjikha Cathedral by Cyrus Emanuel Eugenicus. 14th c.

The Angel Gabriel (גַּבְרִיאֵל , جبريل) is known throughout the Abrahamic faiths of the world. An archangel by tradition, if not by rank, Gabriel sits at the hand of God. He is called Saint Gabriel in many of the Orthodox Christian Churches, and is the patron saint of messengers. As a Messenger of God himself, Gabriel is one of the few Heavenly Host who communicates with people directly, often appearing as a mortal man.

Gabriel is also a warrior in many traditions, fighting not only in celestial battles alongside his brother Michael, but also on Earth, assisting the prophet Muhammad with strategic advice in many military campaigns. Continue reading →

Constantine S01E06 Recap: Rage of Caliban

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crowbarAlthough NBC announced last week that they will be halting production of Constantine after the filming of the 13th episode, we haven’t yet given up the ghost. The show has not officially been canceled, and is still being promoted (stars Matt Ryan and Angélica Celaya chatted with Al Roker during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade). There is also an online petition to keep the show on the air. Ironically, while the decision to halt production was made after only four episodes had aired, the show had a big bump in viewership the following week, and is doing better than most other programs in the occult detective vein, including Sleepy Hollow and Supernatural. In the sixth episode, “Rage of Caliban,” we learn a tiny bit more backstory about both Chas Chandler and John. No Zed this week (she is at an apparently really long art class), but the angel Manny makes a few appearances. Continue reading →