Swamp Thing Season 1 Episode 3 Review: He Speaks
Paul Dailly
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It's hard watching Abby struggle, but it allows for Crystal Reed to shine bright, proving that she is the perfect actress for the role.
But Swamp Thing Season 1 Episode 3 was all about ramping up the action with the aim of advancing some of the plots that have not had a lot of screen-time to date.
It's hard to believe we're only three episodes in and this much has already happened, but "He Speaks" delivered on many different fronts.
Abby and Holland's meeting was flawlessly executed, and the flashbacks were a nice touch, even for these characters who only met each other days before these events.
Maybe they were used to show how profound the connection between Abby and Alec is, but there's something oddly fascinating about the way this show plays with expectations.
Man: What happened to your shoes?
Holland: Oh, that's weird. Guess I lost them somewhere.
Man: What's a pretty city boy like you doing out here anyway?
Holland: Right, I was um doing research on the swamp and then um, there was a fire.
Man: You don't even remember me, do you?
Holland: Kinda.
Man: That's right, I'm that son of a bitch you murdered.
Holland: I am so so sorry.
Man: You're fucking sorry?
In a typical horror, everyone would be scared shitless of the monster because, well, the monster would be the villain.
Abby should be running from this mutated version of her love interest, but even through all of the horrors of his appearance, she can still feel the connection to him.
For now, Alec has a good grasp of his abilities, but there's no telling if that will always be the case. It's possible that Abby could get injured because we don't know the true extent of his abilities.
Liz: I don't get it, Abby. You brought back the little girl, right? Shouldn't you be doing a victory lap?
Abby: I found something else, Liz. Someone else.
Liz: Okay.
Abby: I think Suzie Coyle was drawn to the swamp by a man. I know this sounds crazy, but there is a human being out there. His entire body was covered in plants and vines.
Liz: And this Suzie went to see him because, why?
Abby: She says she was called into the swamp to help him. That he was sick and he needed her. And she told me that this person's name was Alec.
Liz: Oh, fuck me.
Abby: Yeah.
Liz: So, what did you do?
Abby: What I was supposed to do. It was a blood bath out there. Suzie was going into shock. I ran. I fucking ran.
Abby is in for a tough time of it in town. The town is so small that she's bringing up a lot of bad memories for the residents, even if she is trying to find a cure for everyone.
The second CDC team arriving was certainly surprising, but it felt more tedious than anything. The man who belittled Abby every other scene bordered on annoying.
If Abby was so trusted enough to begin with, it makes me think that the CDC would have allowed her to complete the mission whichever way she wanted to.
Her being forced to explain her every decision to this man who knew nothing about the virus rubbed me the wrong way. The good news is that she managed to find a way to save Harlan, and some of the others with the virus.
Related: James Wan Urges Viewers to Watch Swamp Thing, Despite Cancellation
But there's going to be some significant caveats to that. For now, Abby can take it as a win, but there's more going on in this town than meets the eye, and she has to watch out.
Her relationship with Matthew may appear to be blossoming, but there's no connection there whatsoever. Matthew is genuinely going to extreme measures to force Abby to like him, and it's pretty embarrassing.
He should have listened to his mother on this one. Then again, Lucilia is not exactly making very good decisions herself, so maybe it runs in the family.
Marais is a corrupt little town, and that's likely why she's been getting up close and personal with Avery. That development threw me, but it makes sense.
Avery has now proven that he will go to any lengths necessary to keep up the illusion that the Sunderlands are still sitting in a pretty position financially.
He wanted to be in control of the narrative, but it's now as clear as day why he wanted the accelerant in the swamp.
The financial benefits are there, and could dig him out of the pile of debt he's in. As such, he's willing to do whatever it takes to make everyone believe that his theory is true.
Related: Swamp Thing Canceled at DC Universe
Killing the banker was predictable, but it will now put Avery on a collision course with Liz, who is eager to expose the sordid lives of the 1% in Marais.
The only plausible way this can go is Avery implying that Liz was obsessed with the banker. Any security footage would be able to verify that. Her pursuit of him was relentless, and that's going to cause some problems down the line.
The banker talked a big game in the Sunderland house, thinking he was in a position of power, but he clearly underestimated what Avery was capable of.
The positive from this was that it allowed Maria to put her foot down once and for all. Keeping up an act for fourteen years has weighed heavily on her, and it was especially satisfying when she said she would no longer be keeping the act up.
Related: Swamp Thing Production Shutting Down Early
Cutting Avery off was another big twist. Maria would be wise to get as far away from him as possible because I shudder to think what he might do if she doesn't. At least Maria has her daughter seemingly helping her from the shadows.
Seriously though, WTF is going on?
That's all I got, Swamp Thing Fanatics!
What did you think of the latest twists and turns?
Hit the comments below.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
