Swamp Thing Review: Loose Ends (Season 1 Episode 10)
Swamp Thing Season 1 Episode 10, “Loose Ends,” is an unsatisfying series finale that leaves many of its storylines with massive cliffhangers. The ones this finale does resolve are more expected than they are satisfying.
One thing is certain: Abby Arcane is Swamp Thing’s brightest spot, and she will be missed in the DCTV lineup moving forward.
The show clearly planned to have another season and maybe even a spin-off. It’s unfortunate that DC Universe cancelled it, and The CW couldn’t revive it. Swamp Thing has so much potential for bigger and better things, and this finale leaves the door open for all of that.
The inclusion of Daniel Cassidy as the Blue Devil so late in the season is rushed and doesn’t make much sense until now. The way Daniel leaves suggests that there was more to learn about Daniel and the Blue Devil outside of Marais.
There’s potential for a spin-off there, and it’s a massive bummer that we won’t get that now. It’s the only thing that could justify the short amount of time this show dedicates to Daniel and the Blue Devil story.
As for everything else, well, a lot of it is predictable. Lucilia’s last scene with Matt feels like a goodbye, so Avery stabbing and then drowning her doesn’t come as a shock. It’s unfortunate but expected that Avery continues to get away with murder.
Now there won’t be any justice for Lucilia’s illegal actions, let alone every single thing Avery Sunderland has ever done.
Meanwhile, Woodrue’s story is actually a great payoff. It’s the most compelling portion of the episode, besides Abby’s scenes with Swamp Thing.
The show has drawn careful comparisons between Abby’s mother and Caroline Woodrue, so Abby attempting to save Caroline holds extra weight.
Woodrue losing his mind and becoming the physical representation of the Darkness subverts expectations that Avery would become that being. It makes it even sadder that there won’t be a second season, because a showdown between Woodrue and Swamp Thing would have been epic.
Through the highs and lows of this series finale, Abby Arcane — and a brief appearance from Andy Bean’s Alec Holland — remind us why we fell in love with this show in the first place.
Abby feels like a real person in the real world even though she’s fictional.
Her grief is identifiable, especially in the year 2020. Her fierce loyalty is commendable and familiar in the way it manifests itself. She’s a modern-day hero who believes in the goodness of humanity — as did Alec Holland.
This show does a lot of its characters wrong, like Matt dying after nothing really happens to him all season long. It strips Caroline Woodrue’s agency from her. It leaves all of Liz’s investigations in the wind. It’s optimistic to believe that a second season would rectify some of these issues.
Swamp Thing leaves a lot up to our discretion in a season finale that became a series finale, but it never wavers in its belief of Abby Arcane.
It’s sad to lose a comfort character with Abby Arcane’s potential. However, it’s oddly fitting to say goodbye to her at the end of the year. Through her journey of reminding people, and in turn herself, about the good in humanity, Abby encourages the same in the audience.
Even though Swamp Thing didn’t intend for “Loose Ends” to be a series finale, that’s a powerful message to leave us with during a time of reflection.
What did you think of the series finale of Swamp Thing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Swamp Thing is available to stream on The CW site.
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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.