Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Bondsman.
It will be a while beforeConstantine 2will hit the big screens, but audiences can check out another similar Blumhouse-produced show while waiting for its release. Despite having Keanu Reeves as its lead and being based on a well-known graphic novel series of the same name,Constantineinitially failedto leave its mark when it first came out in 2005. The movie received a mixed set of reviews from critics and still has a divisive Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 46%.
Even from a commercial standpoint,Constantinebarely broke even,earning $230.9 million against a budget of $70–100 million. However, over time, it garnered more attention and positive reception from viewers, allowing it to acquire a cult following. Despite its initial underwhelming performance, the film only grew from strength to strength in popularity as more viewers appreciated its portrayal of the titular exorcist and his dark world. Owing to its delayed fame,Constantinewas greenlit for a sequel, but before that comes out, viewers must check out a new series with similar themes.
The Bondsman Is Very Similar To Keanu Reeves' Constantine
Both Feature Demon Hunters As Their Leads
LikeConstantine,The Bondsman’s main character, Hub Halloran, returns from hell but is condemned to eventually return to the underworld. Similar toKeanu Reeves' characterfromConstantine, he sets out to hunt down demons and deport them back to hell before they can wreak havoc on the human world.Both characters hope to upturn their hellish fate by performing good deedsand eliminating demonic forces from the human realm. However, since doing good deeds for selfish reasons is a morally complicated endeavor, it does not guarantee their place in heaven.
Every Demon In The Bondsman Explained
In its eight-episode runtime, The Bondsman season 1 expands its dark lore by not only introducing several human characters but demonic ones as well.
Despite having a limited runtime of 121 minutes,Constantinearguably does a better job of adding more depth to its lore by introducing more than typical demonic characters as its central villains.The Bondsmanstruggles to build the same level of nuance in its demonic mythology and relies on violent action scenes to keep viewers hooked. However, what makesThe Bondsmana worthy show for those waiting forConstantine 2’s releaseis that it perfectly blends elements of horror with comedy while also presenting a subtle satire of how corporations work in the real world.
Bacon’s Character Has A Darker Backstory In The Bondsman
Image via Prime Video
John Constantine’s backstory inConstantinereveals that he ended up in hell after a suicide attempt. Owing to this, his soul was condemned to hell, prompting him to kill demons to be able to bribe god and find a place in heaven.Hub’s motives inThe Bondsmanseem similar, but his backstory in the Amazon Prime Video show makes him far more morally skewed than John Constantine. Almost throughout the show’s runtime, Hub stays in denial and claims that the devil might have made a mistake by sending him to hell.
Kevin Bacon perfectly portrays his character’s moral flaws and contradictions inThe Bondsman, which makes the series a compelling watch while waiting forConstantine 2.
However, the show’s final arc reveals thatHub sealed his hellish fate after he murdered an innocent woman. The murder was an accident as he intended to kill his wife’s new partner, Lucky, and not the woman. He only fired his gun at her because she had Lucky’s hat on. However, the fact that he had murder on his mind the night he killed the woman proves his intentions were never in the right place. Kevin Bacon perfectly portrays his character’s moral flaws and contradictions inThe Bondsman, which makes the series a compelling watch while waiting forConstantine 2.
Constantine 2
Cast
Constantine 2: A sequel to the 2005 supernatural thriller Constantine, continuing the story of exorcist and demonologist John Constantine as he navigates the eternal battle between good and evil.
The Bondsman
The Bondsman follows backwoods bounty hunter Hub Halloran, who returns from the afterlife for a second chance at life and love, while navigating his past as a musician. As he resumes his work, he discovers his former occupation now involves a supernatural element.
