Swamp Thing Review: Darkness on the Edge of Town (Season 1 Episode 4)
Swamp Thing Season 1 Episode 4, “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” draws a bolder line between Marais’ heroes and villains. In doing so, it continues to fail in making Avery Sunderland’s story worthwhile.
It does, however, solidify that Abby Arcane is capable of saving them all.
Avery Sunderland is a lot of other things, like a liar and a cheat, but it’s impossible to overlook the fact that he’s a murderer. Liz is the only one on Swamp Thing who knows this about Avery, which makes watching him get up to no good again tiresome.
There’s no redeeming Avery Sunderland. It doesn’t look like the series is attempting to paint a narrative where Avery could come out of the season unscathed. Justice is a theme that runs deep on Swamp Thing, and that shouldn’t exclude Avery.
Swamp Thing keeps adding to the pile of his crimes and victims. It’s not even shocking anymore. The season is almost halfway through. How much more of this will be entertaining?
Now Susie Coyle, an innocent bystander in Avery’s ploy to monetize the swamp, is involved in his schemes. She is an unknowing pawn in his game to win even more respect and wealth.
His vast attempts to reconstruct his reputation pale in comparison to the way he gaslights the people in his life to his advantage, and if that doesn’t work for him, then murder seems to be his go-to.
Swamp Thing tries to drudge up some empathy for Avery during “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” It doesn’t work. His father dying when Avery was young isn’t enough to make anyone believe Avery has good motives for his actions.
There’s no reason to believe Avery won’t take even more drastic steps to win people over before the season’s end. It would be in this show’s favor to shift and take Avery down sooner rather than later.
Any chance of Avery having a change of heart and developing in a way that could drastically change what’s happened is a nonstarter. Swamp Thing would waste precious time trying to tell that story.
Where it fails to present a complex villain, Swamp Thing succeeds in its presentation of a brilliant and realistic heroine – Abby Arcane.
Abby’s devotion to helping the people of Marais even though the CDC has left is enough reason to keep watching the show in spite of Avery. She puts herself in harm’s way more than once during “Darkness on the Edge of Town” to protect people, and that means something.
The people of Marais don’t see Abby in the lab, working to find a cure for a rapidly mutating virus. They don’t see how hard she works, but they can’t deny that she isn’t there to help when she stands between a gun and civilians.
She checks up on Susie Coyle well past when it looks like anyone else in the hospital does. Abby forms connections with people that are more meaningful than Avery’s money. Although, Avery’s money isn’t really his anymore since Maria cut him off.
The citizens of Marais may not be aware of all that Abby does for them, but they will be. If Swamp Thing delivers justice to Avery Sunderland’s doorstep by the end of the season, then it should also give Abby Arcane the recognition and appreciation she so deserves.
However, unlike Avery who isolates himself as a means to succeed, Abby leans on the people she trusts. It’s through Abby’s bonds with people, specifically Liz during this episode, that Swamp Thing proves we’re stronger together.
Abby and Liz’s team-up is so fun to watch. It’s something that the show should utilize more moving forward. It’s powerful, especially in 2020, to see a doctor and a journalist searching for truth and justice to protect the public.
It’s evident that Swamp Thing has plenty of compelling characters in its arsenal. Avery Sunderland is just not one them. Hopefully this show can redirect the narrative in a way that fosters Abby’s heroism as a more direct tool against Avery.
Stray Observations
- The tearers on Swamp Thing are always so creepy. Corpses falling from trees in a swamp? No thank you.
- Did anyone else tear up when Alec held Abby through her nightmare? Just me?
- Daniel Cassidy doesn’t give off the best vibes, but he did save Abby from getting shot. That’s something.
—
What did you think of this episode of Swamp Thing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Swamp Thing airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.