REVIEW: ‘Swamp Thing,’ Episode 8 – Long Walk Home

In the previous episode of Swamp Thing, Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) decided she needed to head back to Atlanta in order to better fight whatever is causing Alec Holland (Andy Bean) to be Swamp Thing (Derek Mears). Meanwhile, Sherrif Cable (Jennifer Beals) and her son, Matt Cable (Henderson Wade), attempted to kill Avery Sunderland (Will Patton) at the request of his wife Maria Sunderland (Virginia Madsen), leaving Maria in charge of the research Avery had Dr. Woodrue (Kevin Durand) doing on the swamp. Now, in “Long Walk Home” we find that Avery has survived and is now attempting to escape the swamp he was left in.

In Atlanta, Abby gives over a sample of the plant that she secured from the dark part of the swamp with Alec. While Abby was a gone, a new assistant director started at the CDC and she is less than pleased with Abby’s lack of communication while she stayed in Marais, Louisiana. Abby’s new boss is far from happy about her involvement in the swamp and running around collecting samples instead of staying with patients. As Abby deals with the CDC, Avery continues in wonder the swamp in a haze until he eventually runs into the elusive Swamp Thing himself.

Seeing Avery, a man who previously has been so put together and ahead of everyone every step of the way, be in such a vulnerable place is shocking. As he aimlessly wanders through the swamp, his hallucinations give insight into his deepest fears. This scene also showcases some amazing visuals and body horror, while the CGI in “Long Walk Home” is noticeable, it is not enough to disrupt the tension within the scene. Meanwhile, Matt is nursing his stab wound from Avery and trying to grapple with the fact Avery is his father, as revealed in the last episode.

While waiting for testing on the sample she brought in, Abby tries to explain the situation to the CDC and Harlan Edwards (Leonardo Nam), the other doctor she was within Lousiana who left before her, to excuse her radio silence but her story is as murky as the water in Maris. It’s very difficult to believe a plant could have the cell walls of animal, let alone the fact a living breathing Swamp Thing is lurking the area. While Abby works from the CDC, Dr. Woodrue continues his research, that is now funded solely by Maria Sunderland.

A lot of this episode forces our characters to face hard truths of their past, particularly with Avery as he wanders around the swamps seeing painful and traumatic hallucinations until he is finally face-to-face with Alec Holland again. But will also see Abby face her uncomfortable past as well as she opens up to Harlan about Alec’s condition but for Harlan, it comes at a price.

“Long Walk Home” features more horror elements, like the use of body horror and a few jump scares, than we have seen in the previous two episodes. It also ramps up the suspense as the pacing starts at mild speed because becoming almost breakneck with the amounts of twists and turns. With only two episodes left in the series, it is hard to know whether or not every loose end will be sufficiently tied up but for now, Swamp Thing continues to a be a thrilling an enjoyable ride.

Swamp Thing is streaming now on HBO Max