Swamp Thing season 1, episode 8 review: Long Walk Home

What kind of fate awaits a wounded Avery Sunderland in the swamp on the latest episode of Swamp Thing?

During the seventh episode of the now ill-fated program, many things began to come to light. Avery Sunderland not only discovered that that Alec Holland is still alive, but that Sheriff Cable isn’t the only person trying to get him out of the way.

It also turns out his wife Maria not only took control of the deal with the Conclave Group that would fund Dr. Jason Woodrue’s work on a much grander scale but is seemingly behind the attack on Avery’s life in the swamp by Sheriff Cable and her son Matt. But it’s going take more than a couple of shots from a shotgun to keep Avery down.

A Wasted Cameo

Everyone always loves when an older character comes back to show up in their favorite show, either as themselves or to breathe life into a new role even for just a little bit. This episode features Adrienne Barbeau, who played Abby Arcane in the 1982 “classic” version of Swamp Thing directed by Wes Craven. Obviously, she can’t come back as Abby, but they use her as the new deputy director of the CDC in Atlanta, and as a new foil for the current Abby. But that’s where it stops. There isn’t enough time left in the series to get any kind of antagonistic behavior from her character towards Abby. She’s essentially there to introduce Abby to the Conclave Group, as they try to secure Alec Holland from the swamp to continue Woodrue’s tests.

A Wasted Redemption

More from DC Universe

• James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy casts more major DC characters
• New Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom trailer pushes Arthur to his limits
• 7 actors who could replace Ezra Miller as The Flash in the DC Universe
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will have a battle pass (and that’s a bad sign)
• Harley Quinn renewed for a fifth season on Max (and it’s well-deserved)

With Avery being shot and left for dead, a majority of this episode revolves around him surviving in the swamp. He begins seeing visions of Sheriff Cable, who shoots him but does no damage, and we are privy to some really dodgy looking CGI that will be addressed later. Ultimately, Avery comes upon a vision of himself as a young boy, watching his father cut down a tree that he claimed had special powers, only to see his father grabbed up by some tendrils and burned alive in the fire they had going. It’s then he comes upon Alec Holland. Swamp Thing takes him back to Holland’s lab where words are exchanged, and Holland basically heals Avery of his wounds, sending him back to the world of man. There is a glimmer of redemption in the character, and the viewer may believe he is actually turning a slight corner, until the end of the episode and you find out that, apparently, a man like Avery Sunderland is irredeemable.

A Dodgy Use of CGI

Let’s keep this brief. This show is amazing, and they made the right call putting Derek Mears into a physical suit as opposed to him being a CG monster like so many other folks before him. This has proven to be the best option because some of the CG on this show is not all that great. One instance, in particular, is during one of Avery’s visions in the swamp after he’d been shot. He’s pleading with Sheriff Cable, saying that no matter what he’s going to love her, only for her to turn into this giant tendril creature that seemingly attacks Avery. For some reason, it looked as though the scene was rushed it out and the viewer merely received what was available at the time.

Swamp Thing is an amazing show and honestly got a raw deal, but facts are facts. There are two episodes left, so let’s enjoy them. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow for further coverage on all things green!