Originally Published at: https://thegww.com/swamp-thing-01x0…iew-spoiler-free/
Swamp ThingDC Universe
Season 1, Episode 6
“The Price You Pay”
This installment of Swamp Thing has a lot going for it. Fans should enjoy the pacing, which effortlessly weaves together plot points and provides a pleasant amount of answers. With only four episodes left (including this one) and the show being cut down from 13 episodes to 10, I started to worry the cramming would begin. While there is a fair amount to digest, the storytelling remains smooth.
Overall the acting continues to be very good. There are some cracks in the armor that I'll get to momentarily, but the majority of the cast has the ability to steal the show. Crystal Reed as Abby is an absolute star in the making, Kevin Durand turns the creepy up to eleven as Jason Woodrue, and Will Patton's portrayal of Avery Sunderland is absolutely brilliant. Maria Sten's performance as Liz Tremayne has been given room to grow, and the results are positive. Liz was a key character in the comics, and while this is a far different take, much like everything else, Sten has been highly entertaining. Speaking of which, Jennifer Beals is killing it as Lucilla Cable. She's provided with depth and delivers each and every time. Standout material that I can't get enough of.
That's all well and good, but what's wrong with this episode? The other shoe had to drop sometime, and I have some complaints. Let's start with Blue Devil.
If you're anything like me, you consider superhero fare on the CW mostly poor. Yeah, I'm spoiled. We all are. The genre has been dominating our screens steadily for over a decade. So a show that would have blown my mind before the boom, can't quite stack up now. Not that I'm damning a product simply because it's on network television. You see, slapping a cape on a daytime soap caliber product is the CW's bread and butter. No offense to any of the actors on those programs, we all have to make a living. I just don't have to watch it.
Ian Ziering thus far has been decent playing the cursed Dan Cassidy. Here, however, it felt as if I was thrust into one of those aforementioned CW cut-rate creations. I did like the involvement of the Phantom Stranger in flashbacks and the clue drops, but other than that...oh boy, it was tough to watch. The visuals that are normally strong also looked better suited for a lower tier of television. There isn't much time left before the show's conclusion, hopefully they turn that story arc around.
We've finally reached the point in the review where we talk, well, about Swamp Thing. This is not a case of saving the best for last, but rather the least gets saved for later. I recently read a critique on social media where someone stated this Swamp Thing show shares similarities with the 90's series because he's firmly placed in the peripheral. I can't argue with that, nor could anyone else, and it's been an ongoing gripe of mine.
Much like a bait and switch, it feels like we are given crazy-good Swampy action to start the episode as compensation for his MIA status the remainder of the program. I'd be willing to guess and could be wrong as I didn't actually time it, Swamp Thing is onscreen more here than ever before. He's also used purposefully which is key, especially if he's just going to stand around. And guess what! Swampy lets out a mighty roar...again. Looks cool enough I suppose, yet I'm curious to know who decided that needed to be his signature move.
If you couldn't tell by now, I have a love/hate relationship with this chapter. Some elements are so good that I can't take my eyes off them, deserving high marks. But alas, the standard of quality on Swamp Thing had been set, and Blue Devil dragged down The Price You Pay.
7 Tubers out of 10
-David Schultz
Originally published on the GWW.
While
watching Episode Two of Swamp Thing, one thing is apparent; The show is
out to create a truly diverse environment for the audience to enjoy.
From the dimly lit bayou implying danger at night to sets that make you
feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of a remote, Louisiana
lifestyle. The mood is perfectly captured scene to scene.
That being said, don’t believe it’s only about the atmosphere. There
is some wonderful character building at play here. Crystal Reed
continues to impress as Abby Arcane, plus the script grants deeper dives
into the supporting cast from the previous installment. Susie (Elle
Graham), Matt Cable (Henderson Wade), Liz Tremayne (Maria Sten) and
Madame Xanadu (Jeryl Prescott) all continue to develop quite nicely and
naturally. Xanadu’s emergence also proves to be quite impactful. Not
only is her look enough to chill you to the core, but she is also deeply
rooted in Maria Sunderland’s downward spiral of grief.
Will Patton’s portrayal of Avery Sunderland is downright excellent.
Each appearance is a highlight. One scene, in particular, explores the
emotional scars reopened with Abby’s return to her hometown after a 14
year, self-imposed exile, exposing what a true master manipulator he is.
Not long after, we receive hints at the sinister villain he’s bound to
become. Patton’s performance is so good in fact, I implore the writers
not to bother with a faithful adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic Swamp
Thing story, the Anatomy Lesson. More on comic continuity a little
later.
Episode Two ushers in some new faces to the cast with Sheriff Cable
(Jennifer Beals), Jason Woodrue (Kevin Durand) and Dan Cassidy aka the
Blue Devil (Ian Ziering). To be perfectly honest,the whole idea of
including Blue Devil in the series rubbed me the wrong way when it was
announced. I worried the series would turn into a bloated superhero
ensemble rather than focus on the most important players, Swamp Thing
and Abby. While I’m not ditching my concerns entirely as we are only two
episodes in, seeing how Blue Devil was implemented here and Ziering’s
charming performance put me at ease.
The final act is a full immersion into a perfectly paced slasher
film. Edge of your seat suspense, with the right amount of action and
gore. Swamp Thing is also finally allowed his time to shine. While not
given much screen time overall, I will say what we do get of Swamp Thing
is nothing short of fantastic. This episode gives us a better look at
our hero and doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. The design is
absolutely spot on. Some may argue in this day and age going full CGI
makes the most sense, but mixing an actor in a body suit (Derek Mears)
with modern effects has proven to be the smart choice. All we need now
is more of him.
And oh, the last bit of dialogue during the show will send tingles
down your spine, provided you still have one after witnessing what
happens to Swamp Thing’s enemies.
Finally, as I mentioned in my review of the pilot,
fans of the source material need to adjust their expectations on what
is being translated to the television show. You’ll be immediately struck
by the location changing from Houma to Marais, yet they maintain that
Holland has a dog per Swamp Thing volume 1 from the 70s. These examples
are only scratching the surface as some alterations may seriously tempt
you to pull your hair out.
First
off, please don’t do that. Speaking for guys with a Kojak sheen, we can
only dream about having the beautiful locks you’re about to yank on.
Secondly, it opens up speculation avenues for those who are well read in
Swamp Thing lore. Something that’s struck me over the course of the
last two episodes is how Susie resembles Karen Clancy from the 1982
Swamp Thing relaunch. Did the writers have her in mind while scripting
the series? Probably not, but I’ve ultimately decided that it’s much
more fun to enhance my viewing experience with theories than trash it
for lack of loyalty.
It’s safe to say, Swamp Thing officially has me hooked. If you enjoy
visually stunning, character-driven, gothic horror, feel free to grab
some popcorn and pull up a stump. We’re in for one heck of a show.
7.5 Tubers out of 10
-David Schultz
