‘Swamp Thing’ Series Premiere Review: Troubled Swamp Waters

Days after the final trailer’s launch, Swamp Thing finally made its debut. As an unpopular Louisiana town experiences an epidemic, the Center for Disease control sends one of their best doctors to the scene. Once there, she crosses paths with a scientist studying the swamp. When then epidemic reveals itself to be something more, the doctor and the scientist find themselves in the middle of the swamp, looking for answers.

On Friday’s series premiere of Swamp Thing, Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) returns to her hometown, Marais, Lousiana to help prevent an epidemic. Once there, Abby meets Alec Holland (Andy Bean), a frustrated scientist who ended up studying the swamp. As they make breakthroughs in figuring out the outbreak’s cause, they find themselves under attack by the strange swamp plant life.

Failed Scientist

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Alec did not belong in Marais. He dresses and acts like a tourist and is often driven away by hospital staff. However, that did not stop him from continuing his research. What makes Alec’s character interesting is his personality. In his geeky way, he was quite funny, and one could tell that he has a good heart. Of course, the main reason for his downfall to the swamp was the false information he used on what could have been his breakthrough research. It did define him, unfortunately, not in the way he expected. Now that the government showed concern towards the epidemic in Marais, Alec’s employer, local bigtime businessman Avery Sunderland (Will Patton) dismisses Alec, too. Still, Alec chose his devotion to his craft, his research, which ultimately led to his disappearance.

Alec’s quick turn to Swamp Thing (Derek Mears) raises many questions. Other than the apparent unknown gunman who shot him, the chemical that caused the swamp to mutate remains unidentified. Also, the swamp plant life treated him differently, unlike previous visitors. The plant life is possibly conscious, so the show’s explanation behind this is highly anticipated. Honestly, Alec would have been better portrayed as his human self for at least five episodes since he has a very charming personality. Still, his conversion sequence is the highlight of the chapter, completely embracing its dark and mysterious themes.

Outcast’s Homecoming

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Abby’s return would be happier were it not for the given circumstances. Being an orphan, Abby’s sense of family came from her close childhood friends and with Marais itself. However, her past there made her decide to leave and study out of town. Before Abby’s reassignment to Marais, she worked overseas with the CDC. Marais needed someone with her caliber despite the tragedy blamed under her name.

Almost everyone Abby met happily welcomed her back. Matt Cable (Henderson Wade), a childhood friend and now a cop, accompanied Abby to patient zero’s residence. The lead eventually more scientific proof, which Alec thankfully provides. Still, a local’s firsthand word bares much substance, so Abby met with her friend Liz Tremayne (Maria Sten), a local reporter. The air changes when Maria Sunderland (Virginia Madsen) makes a surprise confrontation for everyone to see.

Abby’s tragic past is a story likely told alongside Alec’s, possibly with flashbacks in between real time. Being blamed for the death of your best friend is horrible, and given Marais’ remote location, Abby’s reputation was probably not the best. She made it out of Marais once. Now, Abby’s only way out was to solve the mysterious epidemic. However, it seems as if she will have to stay longer, especially since her only companion goes missing.

Mysterious Marais Swamp

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Something is amiss in the swamp. The intro sequence shows three men venturing into the swamp. As they dropped mysterious boxes, the swamp starts attacking them. All three of them later end up dead, although the third man, Eddie Coyle (John Bishop), managed to arrive home and infected his daughter, Susie Coyle (Elle Graham). The epidemic manifested itself in the form of a strange, pathogen-like virus. However, Susie coughs up a local plant, leading Abby to Alec.

Alec’s research led him to find a foreign material that caused the strange mutation from the swamp. At some point, he demonstrates the effects of the chemical to Abby, almost risking a sample plant going rogue. Once they found themselves in the middle of the swamp, Abby and Alec see the debris of Eddie’s boat, along with the bodies of two other men. A laptop Alec salvages reveal the location of the boxes that contained the foreign chemical.

In what seemed like a blink of an eye, chaos erupts in the swamp. Alec’s boat explodes, Abby rushes in, and a strange being appears out of nowhere. Indeed, the swamp is home to the most unusual of things, but no one expects the Swamp Thing. Not even Abby could tell that it was Alec, somehow consumed by the plant life and turned into a green swamp creature.

‘Swamp Thing’ Series Premiere Final Verdict

Undoubtedly, Swamp Thing captures the suspense, dark, and mysterious theme that it aims to have. Much like Titans and Doom Patrol, the show fits into the DC Universe atmosphere, regardless of their differing tones. Ending the episode with Alec’s transformation was a bold move, but was also done excellently. Indeed, the show shrouded with mysteries among other things makes for its intriguing aspect, keeping viewers hooked until the end of the premiere.

Swamp Thing continues Friday, June 7th with ‘Worlds Apart’ at the DC Streaming Service.