Swamp Thing Episode Seven: Brilliant Disguise
The Rot, The Green, The Darkness and a huge double-cross were just a few of the developments to come out of this week’s episode, along with a surprisingly sad ending. Just three more to go as we unwrap Swamp Thing episode 7: Brilliant Disguise
This is it, Horror Bound loyal, we’re kind of in the home stretch here with only three more episodes to go, but I will say this: with the exception of whatever is going on with Blue Devil and Madame Xanadu, I kind of felt by the end of this week’s episode that everything can come to a satisfying conclusion by the end of episode ten as there were some big reveals this week. But first, I noticed something on the DCU website when going back for a review today that I hadn’t noticed before and could absolutely mean nothing, but was an interesting find nonetheless. I noticed that the series is listed on the site, like many others, with a start date of 2019 and no end date. For anyone who’s familiar with IMDb, this usually signifies that the show is ongoing, and if this series was cancelled shortly after episode one aired, you’d think that seven weeks later they would have updated it’s visual presence on the site as just occurring for one season, 2019, and that’s it. Again, it could be nothing, but if you’ve been paying attention to the big entertainment news in the past week or so, you’ve no doubt heard the official announcement of the HBO/Warner Media streaming service and that among other series’, it will be carrying at least the CW Arrowverse shows. This could bode well for other DC content. Crossing my fingers. Let’s jump in to this week.
That’s a little conspicuous, is it not?
So I was partially in error with my prediction for this week’s opening. Although the appearance of a human Alec Holland at the end of last week’s episode was brought on by spores from a mind-altering blossom that sprung from Swamp Thing’s hand, the show did not open with either a post coital scene or the start of one. Oh well, I’ve been wrong many times before. But we did get some cute banter between the couple as Alec explained exactly what was going on and that the spores were brought on by the Green, sensing that he had longed for Abby to see him human again, so they obliged. This led into some more explanation on his connection to the Green and the battle that is currently being waged in the swamp between the Rot and the Green. Thinking that some of the plants being consumed by the Rot could help in finding a cure to his condition, Abby pleads with Alec to bring her into the swamp where the Rot has taken hold so that she can collect a sample.
Nope, this is not a flashback, ladies and gents.
Here’s where I have to voice a small gripe I had with the production, or rather, the post-production of this episode. I teach a few classes on editing and so I tend to notice these things when I see them. The show opens with them in the lab at the swamp, where it is obviously night, but then when we find them in the swamp touring the area for the Rot, it’s obviously day. However, there are some scenes intercut with Abby and Alec’s, involving other characters where it is night, leading me to believe one of three things: A) The intercut scenes are not happening simultaneously to Alec and Abby’s. B) The hallucinogenic spores are creating the illusion of it being all bright and sunny in the swamp, or C) this was just an editing mistake. I’d like to believe that it’s not the latter of the three. Anyway, once a root in the area infected with the Rot attacks Abby, Alec rushes her back to the lab where it is once again night. In that instance I might be persuaded to believe it is simply the passage of time, but more on this in a second.
No, Abby, really, this is not a flashback sequence, he’s really there in human form.
No big Cassidy, Liz, or Xanadu moments this week, but we do see Sheriff Deputy Matt Cage filling out a transfer request at the start of the episode. I guess he wasn’t too happy with all the revelations revealed last week and just wants to get out of Dodge. Back at the Sunderland homestead, Maria was back and the picture of health, working furiously in the kitchen on a home-cooked meal to be served at a very important dinner there at the home with the previously mentioned (waaaaay back in episode 3) Conclave, a group of investors who offer grants and other finances to promising discoveries in the DC TV universe apparently, and not the shadowy governmental ruling body from the comics. Although I guess that could still be revealed and the finance group could just be a front. But just as Avery checks in on Maria and the dinner preparations, Sheriff Cable barges in and informs Avery in private that they need to deal with the recent revelation that Alec Holland is indeed still alive and it can’t wait until later. I wasn’t very skeptical yet, but as soon as we cut to the two of them prepping in a boat for the search and Avery asks the sheriff for her shotgun, claiming she already has a sidearm to deal with any resistance, I got a little suspicious of that weasel, Avery. Boy, was I wrong.
Nothing good ever comes from these two teaming up.
Back at the Sunderland’s and taking advantage of Avery’s tardiness, Maria and Dr. Woodrue present the Conclave representative, Michael Beach’s (Aquaman, Sons of Anarchy) Nathan Ellery, with their findings after Woodrue’s recent experiment on Cassidy. Back in the swamp, after Sheriff Cable stalls amidst Avery’s insistence he needs to get back to the house for that important dinner, Avery catches on and holds the Sheriff at gunpoint, threatening to take her out before she can take him out. Knowing that she’s got dirt on him, Avery finds it safer to leave no witnesses as the saying goes, but not before Cable’ son, Matt, shows up and knocks Sunderland unconscious. That dude has had impeccable timing all season. That must be his superpower. Momma Cable question’s Matt’s tardiness, letting us know two things: the two planned this ahead of time, and the possible reason for his lateness was more than likely those transfer papers he was contemplating earlier. Back out on the water, Avery regains consciousness and realizing what’s about to happen, confesses that he is actually Matt’s dad and only found out from running DNA unbeknownst to Sheriff Cable’s knowledge. Cable starts cursing Sunderland, which Avery uses as a distraction to pull out a little penknife from his boat and stab Matt, the guy he just tried to gain sympathy from by revealing his lineage. Avery, you backstabbing bastard! (I know, I hadn’t had one of those in the last couple reviews. Felt good bringing it back ;) Sheriff Cable fires off a blast, Avery falls into the swamp, and then she continues pumping some shotgun shells into the water.
Don’t worry, folks, just another one of those annoying family meetings
Back at the Sunderland house, Maria stands in the kitchen clutching a contract from the Conclave signed by none other than herself and Ellery. Hmmmmm. Sheriff Cable enters, a wounded Matt in tow and this is when the big reveal of the week, and no it wasn’t the reveal that Avery was Matt’s dad, but rather, that Sheriff Cable and Maria were in cahoots all along. Daaaaaaaamn, talk about a double cross. Maria, you opportunistic bitch! (Feels even better switching it up ;) This forges a new power dynamic within the show’s over arching story, with Maria holding all the cards regarding Woodrue’s research and anything that comes out of that (Woodrue only cares about finding a cure for his poor wife), and now with the Sheriff of the town in her pocket as well. The two could prove unstoppable. But what about Avery? You didn’t think he was really dead did you? Well, sure enough, this week’s episode concluded with a wounded Avery climbing on to the shore of the swamp. He didn’t seem changed or anything, so I guess what happened to Holland at the end of episode one didn’t happen to Avery, who went through very similar circumstances. We’ll have to wait until next week to find out.
Avery, you messed with the wrong two ladies.
But wait, there’s more. You didn’t think I forgot about Abby? Having reached the safety of the swamp lab, she and Alec realize that they won’t have time to get Abby to the hospital before the Rot wound consumes her whole body. Alec then concludes that since he’s technically connected to the Green, then the Green should be able to talk to the fauna inside Abby’s body to jumpstart the healing process and destroy the Rot. Yes, that’s right, that stuff in our gut that helps with digestion, fighting off bacteria, and supports our body’s natural defense system gets boosted by a touch from Swamp Thing, revealing yet another previously unknown power of his. The fight inside her knocks Abby out, but then we fade from black to reveal a concerned Holland fawning over a resting Abby who wakes up to see the still human Alec. They exchange a few pleasantries, something about saving her life and all, and then they FINALLY kiss! Surprisingly, Alec kind of pulls away abruptly, I guess realizing that it can never be while he’s still Swamp Thing, before telling her she needs to rest.
Finally, only been waiting seven freaking episodes for this!
Here’s where I thought it got a little sad. The next time we see them, Abby’s up and at it and approaches a ruminating Alec outside the swamp lab. In not so many words, he tells Abby that he thinks he was somehow chosen to be Swamp Thing; to be the warrior the Green needs in the ever-growing battle against the Rot. So he pretty much tells Abby that she’s got to go and never come back, since it’s about to get pretty dangerous out there. He’s a little standoffish here and I think we know it’s because of the recent revelations he’s come to understand: they will probably never be able to be together as long as he’s a monster and as such, he kind of needs to end it before it can ever begin. Kind of a dick move, I agree, but we can see where he’s coming from. With this, Abby leaves and we get one final scene of her in the car speaking with best friend, Liz, and telling her that she’s gonna need the full CDC resources at her disposal if she’s going to figure out what this Rot is all about and so she’s heading back to Atlanta.
Is this the last time we see these two together? With three episodes left, I doubt it.
Which makes me wonder if we’ll see Abby at all next week. I can’t imagine we won’t, after all, she is the main character. But like I said in the intro, after episode seven, I’m feeling pretty optimistic that we’ll get some good closure by the end of episode ten. It’s fast approaching, but all we’ll really have to resolve at this point is some Blue Devil questions, the fate of Avery, since he’s still alive, and some resolution to the Rot versus Green battle. Theoretically, you can end the series with Maria now having total control over Dr. Woodrue’s research. We don’t need to see what comes of it, not really, and we can assume that Woodrue’s wife will get a cure out of it all. Maybe it ends with Avery killing Maria and regaining control or maybe Maria finally takes him out to get him out of the way. Who knows, but c’mon, we got three whole episodes to find out and they better not screw it up! We had another shorter episode this week, clocking in at just under 45 minutes, and some of the revelations felt a little drawn out and cliché, so for that, I’m giving it a three out of five this week.
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