Hasitha Fernando reviews the sixth episode of Swamp Thing…
Woodrue’s persistence pays off. At his request Avery sends a few mercenaries to capture Swamp Thing but the plan goes sideways leading to multiple casualties. Dispatched to investigate this attack Matt Cable (Henderson Wade) soon discovers that Swamp Thing is Alec Holland. Meanwhile, Daniel Cassidy recovers from his coma when Woodrue injects him with a serum he’d developed using specimens he recovered from Alec’s laboratory. But it appears that Marais has different plans for our erstwhile stuntman…
This episode further expanded on the mythos of our titular hero and the characters surrounding him. One of the most exciting aspects was how they tackled the Daniel Cassidy’s origins as the Blue Devil. And it was brilliant. We see the return of the Phantom Stranger played by Macon Blair (we saw him last episode as this wise old drifter showing the ropes to Swampy) replete in his trademark black fedora and trench coat, appearing in one of Daniel’s flashbacks. It was he who grants Daniel the opportunity to realize his dream. But it did eventually lead to unforeseeable outcomes, like being trapped in Marais, Louisiana for an unspecified period of time! In the DC comics the Phantom Stranger is a powerful entity with a mysterious origin, who has become a supernatural assistant to many heroes over the course of time. Even appearing as a member of the Justice League on occasion. It appears his influence in the TV series story arc is quite an important one, with successive episodes featuring him playing instrumental roles with different characters. But with only three episodes left in this already cancelled series, what level of involvement he will have in those will remain to be seen.
The revelations surrounding the mild-mannered Matt proved to be quite the surprise. We find out that he is the unidentified triggerman who kills Alec in the first place, on Avery’s orders. Now ‘that’ was an unexpected development. But what motivated him to commit such a heinous crime isn’t answered clearly. It appears everyone has blood on their hands, in the dark swamplands of Marais.
The most confusing twist however was the episodes’ conclusion; which featured Swamp Thing reverting back to Alec Hollands’ human form. What happened there? Did the flower Swampy conjured up for Abby possess hallucinogenic properties? In Swamp Thing #34 titled ‘Rites of Spring’ penned by the legendary Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta) there is a sequence involving Abby and Swamp Thing which is reminiscent to what transpires here. In it Swamp Thing manifests a fruit from his body for Abby’ consumption, which allows her to have an intimate hallucinatory sexual experience with him. The writers and showrunners have definitely done their homework.
Once again, a great episode thus concludes; bringing us ever so closer to the inevitable finale. Although not the most action packed ‘The Price you pay’ compensates through engaging performances and a riveting story which expands on the overall narrative. Let us see what surprises unfold when our next installment debuts in a few days time…
Hasitha Fernando
