Season 1, Episode 6:
Rage of Caliban
It's Halloween! And it's late. But never mind that, there's an argument going on. Except it's not an argument, it's a pair of parents being tossed about like rag dolls while their traumatized little girl huddles against the wall. Naturally, it's up to John to investigate... just as soon as he hops out of the window of his latest one-night stand. The reason? She has a boyfriend, and may or may not have forgotten to mention that to Constantine.Tropes present in this episode include:
- Abusive Parents: Marcello's father cut his fingers off with an axe when he misbehaved.
- Adults Are Useless: The supervisor on the school playground fails to notice the fight taking place in the yard, and Henry's father doesn't suspect what his mother does.
- Asshole Victim: Marcello's parents, especially his father.
- Berserk Button: The spirit really doesn't like it when adults fight.
- Black Eyes of Evil: Any child possessed by the spirit eventually gets these.
- Creepy Child: Any child possessed by the spirit.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Deconstructed: John's nearly prevents him from saving the day.
- Empty Shell: Literally; Marcello's body is still alive, but his spirit is wandering.
- I Know Your True Name: How John defeats the spirit.
- Parental Obliviousness: Henry's mother averts this.
- Sarcasm Mode: John when they track the evil spirit to a suburban home and Chas suggests going up and knocking on the door.John: "Oh, hello. We've tracked an evil spirit to your house. It might be inside your kid. Do you mind if we take a look?"
Chas: [Slightly embarrassed] Yeah, that'll never work. - Self-Made Orphan: Marcello killed his parents.
- Thousand-Yard Stare: The little girl.
- Marcello, who's actually responsible, has this due to not having his spirit in his body.
