Season 1, Episode 4:
A Feast of Friends
Gary Lester has a nasty habit of getting himself into things - whether it's heroin, traveling to places he probably shouldn't go, or hanging out with John Constantine. He's much less talented at getting himself out of it, though, and when a security guard sees him acting suspiciously twitchy, it's questioning time - and later demon time, as the hunger demon he managed to trap gets out and possesses said guard. Gary, realizing that he's fucked up spectacularly, seeks out John, and they end up having to make a horrible choice.Tropes present in this episode include:
- And I Must Scream: The non-eternal version; Gary finds the initial host in this state, and slowly Dying Alone. His own fate is a (slight) aversion of this, as John not only declines to cut out his tongue (so he can scream), but stays by his side while his Demonic Possession does its horrible work.
- The Atoner: Gary's driven to help the hunger demon's original host for his part in the Newcastle incident.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: The friendship version; John still considers Gary his mate despite his contempt.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: The hunger demon causes this by forcing its hosts to gorge themselves to death. Although Gary avoids that, his own death is even worse, and will take days.
- Demonic Possession: A nastier version than previously seen on the show.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Gary is hinted to have been this, with John outright calling him "hopeless" and resenting him for wasting every opportunity he's ever had.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Although John offers to "draw straws" for who will be the hunger demon's final host, Gary volunteers (and refuses John's unspoken offer to back out).
- I Just Want to Be Badass: Gary really just wanted to be a stronger, better person.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Gary used to be this.
- Manly Tears: John, before and after Gary's Heroic Sacrifice.
- Mushroom Samba: John visits a shaman in order to find a way to stop the demon. This involves getting high.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Gary releases the hunger demon from a vessel that was already dying. This comes back to haunt him rather quickly. He was also high during the Newcastle incident, which contributed to Astra's fate.
- Percussive Pickpocket: This time, it's Gary who swiped a key card.
- Pet the Dog: Manny comes down to sit with John during the latter's Unbroken Vigil.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: John lets his show once again.
- Sadistic Choice: John's is either sacrificing himself or Gary in order to stop the demon for good.
- Unbroken Vigil: John stays by Gary's side, holding his hand while he dies.
- Wham Episode: Not only does one of John's old friends from Newcastle come back, but John sacrifices him to stop Mnemoth.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Zed unleashes one of these on John.Zed: He wanted to be just like you. THANK GOD HE'S NOT!
