This week, Swamp Thing returns with an off-screen drama that rivals the suspense within the series. As the show's creators remain tight-lipped, leaving us to speculate about the reasons behind its abrupt cancellation, whispers of creative disagreements linger. Nonetheless, the intrigue and thrills within the narrative overshadow these uncertainties, inviting us to dive into DC's latest offering and embrace yet another pulse-racing episode.
The story kicks off with a haunting flashback of Alec confronting the man he terminated in the murky swamp. As the present day unfolds, we witness Alec's realization of his actions, his head thrown back in a primal roar. Meanwhile, Abby grapples with her next move, only to be interrupted by the arrival of a new CDC team. They inform her that Jason is downstairs examining the vine-ridden corpse of Eddy, prompting Abby to confront him. With the macabre sight of the corpse serving as a backdrop, Abby queries Jason about his relationship with Avery, but he dismisses the notion, redirecting the conversation back to the corpse and the escalating war between nature and humanity, with the score currently standing at 1-0 in favor of mother nature.
After a fiery exchange, Abby rushes to Harlan's side, but he's in dire straits, collapsing at her feet, vomiting a sickly green liquid. Unwavering in her determination to uncover the truth, Abby returns to Alec's lab, hoping to piece together any scraps of evidence that may lead her to answers.
Back at home, Jason's wife struggles with dementia, but Avery's situation is far more dire. His wife confesses that she no longer loves him, leaving him devastated. To make matters worse, a bank representative arrives, refusing to extend him any further loans and demanding repayment within 24 hours. Avery's pleas to Maria for additional funds fall on deaf ears, especially considering his wife's own struggles with apparitions of their daughter. Desperation grips Avery as he grapples with his next move.
Deep in the swamp, we learn that the menacing creature is not the only menace lurking in the shadows. The man Alec dispatched last week has somehow stitched himself back together, courtesy of millions of swarming insects, transforming into a walking plague. This grotesque figure appears at Alec's lab, just as Abby is sifting through paperwork. She manages to grab a flare, keeping the plague at bay for the moment. However, Swamp Thing emerges, defending Abby, and commands the plague to retreat before she embeds an axe into its back. As the creature crumples to the ground, Swamp Thing instructs the insects to release their grip.
Amidst the calm that follows, Abby questions whether the creature truly is Alec. They engage in a heartfelt conversation, during which he reveals that the plants are retaliating, inspiring Abby with a potential strategy to halt the infection's spread. She rushes back to the hospital, trying a new approach, and for now, it seems to have yielded positive results. Susie informs Abby that Swampy feels alone and afraid, but as Abby heads to the bar, Daniel encounters Madame Xanadu, who proceeds to read his fortune. The cards are familiar, but this time, they're reversed, signaling impending changes. Xanadu promises that big things are about to happen, causing Daniel to believe that Abby is the catalyst for these transformations.
The episode culminates with Avery visiting the banker from earlier, beating him with a golf club, ultimately killing him before contemplating his next steps. Witnessing Swamp Thing square off against the walking plague was a captivating moment in a show that continues to flesh out its characters and showcase Avery's precarious mental state. The dynamic between Abby and Alec, now embodied by the Swamp creature, is wonderfully crafted, and the intermittent moments of calm allow the narrative to maintain a steady pace. While the show's ultimate direction remains a mystery, there's enough here to honor these DC icons. However, whether Swamp Thing can sustain this momentum throughout the season remains to be seen.
