Swamp Thing: The Complete Series
review by Bobby Blakey
When DC Entertainment announced they were getting into the streaming service game they announced numerous series including the return of Young Justice, a live action Titans and adult Harley Quinn animated series. One of the more standout was a new live action take on Swamp Thing, but sadly due to behind the scenes issues the series was canceled before its first season even finished. Thankfully fans that missed out can bring it home with the complete series.
Swamp Thing follows CDC researcher Abby Arcane who returns to her childhood home of Houma, Louisiana, in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, where she develops a surprising bond with scientist Alec Holland — only to have him tragically taken from her. But as powerful forces descend on Houma, intent on exploiting the swamp’s mysterious properties for their own purposes, Abby will discover that the swamp holds mystical secrets, both horrifying and wondrous — and the potential love of her life may not be dead after all.
Being a massive fan of the SAW franchise and of course everything else he has done including the big screen debut of Aquaman, I was instantly excited for this series knowing James Wan was producing. Sadly it never got the chance it deserved with it being instantly canceled so wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but I am glad and even more so sad as it kicked some pretty big ass. The story is dark and gritty keeping with the horror tone allowing a slow burn before fully unleashing the Swamp Thing on viewers and it is worth the wait. Of all the live action variations over the years this is the best looking and performed. Derek Mears fully embodies the character and is just a total badass in look and action.
The rest of the cast are good and the ongoing direction of the series kept
stepping it up with each episode. I was even more surprised of the full on appearance of another famed DC character it all its blue glory. It seemed to be setting up more for that character as well as those introduced here, but sadly isn’t happening. Thankfully the series does a decent job of wrapping up this current story with the cliffhangers really just leading into a new arc that we will no never see unless they do some sort of straight to DC Universe film which I hope and highly recommend. I was never really all that into the Swamp Thing universe but I loved this series and think its easily the best of the DC Universe original series that just wasn’t given the chance it deserves.
If you missed out on it you can head out to the swamps and bring it home when Swamp Thing: The Complete Series hits Blu-ray and DVD on February 11th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.