DC's Swamp Thing season 1, episode 5 recap: Drive All Night

Swamp Thing finally explores Abby’s backstory in “Drive All Night.” It’s a solid episode that ties past events to our current story in a creepy way. We’ve got the recap.

“Drive All Night” features demonic possession, a ghostly fisherman, and the truth about the night that Shawna (Given Sharp) died. We are half way through the series. So far, the trend has been for Swamp Thing to air a good episode followed by a not-so-good episode. Last week’s episode, “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” was not-so-good. This week’s episode was creepy, revealing, and told a good story. Let’s hope this holds for the last five episodes of the series.

Dying to Get Attention

In a storyline that’s been completely dropped in a couple of episodes, Maria Sunderland (Virginia Madsen) brought her daughter’s spirit back to life through her own grief. Madame Xanadu (Jeryl Prescott) warned her that there was an imbalance in the eternal battle of good versus evil. Bad things could happen,

Meanwhile, little Susie Coyle (Elle Graham) now lives with the Sunderlands thanks to Avery (Will Patton). Elle Graham has consistently been the best part of the show. Her ability to convey strength in the midst of constant fear and uncertainty is really something to behold. In this episode, Maria has made her the new Shawna. She’s in Shawna’s room. She’s sleeping in Shawna’s bed. Maria is doting on her like she’s making up for lost time.

Swamp Thing season 1, episode 4 recap: Darkness on the Edge of Town. light. Read

More from Show Snob

Well, dead Shawna is having none of this. She starts by taunting Susie. Then she asks Maria why she’s replacing her. It’s a good question. You bring someone back only to move on to someone else. What could cause that? Well. Susie is alive is Shawna is dead. Which, of course, makes dead Shawna feel inadequate and salty. Luckily for her, she’s a demon now, so she takes possession of little Susie. Folks, Susie Coyle needs to start a support group with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) from Stranger Things. These kids have had it rough.

You Must Really Want to Fish

A Phantom Stranger (Macon Blair) shows up to fish at the swamp. It’s nighttime and all kinds of shenanigans have been happening there, so Swamp Thing (Derek Mears) advises him to be on his way. But it turns out that this guy is some kind of spirit guide from the swamp. His clothes place him in the wrong era of the self-immolating man from “Darkness at the Edge of Town.” But he’s clearly of the swamp.

The Phantom Stranger shows Swamp Thing images of all of the darkness that really exist in the swamp. these images are piles of dead bodies. It’s like Casino. But, instead of burying problems in the desert, the town folk of Marais use the swamp. This has a profound effect on Swamp Thing. Vines, which also serve as fiber-optic memory streams, show him part of the night that Abby (Crystal Reed) killed Shawna. Swamp Thing yells out in fear.

I hope the series uses the Phantom Stranger more. The swamp needs to teach Swamp Thing what he already knows. It needs to activate him more fully. But trees and vines aren’t doing the trick. The former human needs a human form to be a mentor who is not afraid of him.

Just Call Me Wibey

Maria calls in Abby to see Shawna-Susie. Shawna taunts Abby with knowledge only the two of them could know. When Abby doubts the possession, Shawna-Susie starts to alter reality. When Abby still doubts, Shawna just jump scares her. It’s creepy and very well done. There is real dread in these Shawna-Susie scenes. There’s also a feeling of loss mixed with revenge and added to something else. What is it?

Abby believes that Maria has coached Susie on their past just to taunt her. That’s a lot, even for a Sunderland. Abby drives off to just outside the Sunderland property. She is joined by Madame Xanadu, who felt the spiritual turbulence. The two follow Maria, who speeds passed them with Shawna-Susie in the passenger seat.

Swamp Thing Courtesy of Fred Norris / 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc..

Shawna-Susie wants death. Her actually death can be revenged, but Maria just tried to replace her with Susie. So, Maria has to go. She takes her to the spot of her death in the water that’s connected to the swamp. Shawna releases Susie, who runs to tell Abby and Madame Xanadu what’s happening.

At the river’s edge, Shawna lures Maria into the water and tries to drown her. Abby intercedes, but it looks like Maria is lost. Where is Swamp Thing? Under the water. That’s where he is. We see him lunge out of the water with Maria. He has likely told the spirit to release her and be gone, but we don’t see it. So, we don’t know if still in play or if it’s the actual big bad of the season.

Abby saves Maria. Swamp Thing uses the vines to show Abby the whole memory of Shawna’s death. Shawna is taunting Teen Abby (Melissa Collazo) to jump in the river with her. Abby doesn’t want to, but then mischievously pushed her off the edge of the bridge. She can’t find Shawna and jump in after her. After some tense moments of the audience thinking Abby really did kill Shawna, she emerges. She played a trick on Abby by letting her think she drowned. Abby is relieved until Shawna is actually pulled away. By the swamp!

Things Are Finally Moving

Matt Cable (Henderson Wade) shows up to comfort Abby and give her his jacket. Swamp Thing disappears and watches from across the water. His turn from glowing red back to human form. He’s all in his feelings.

Also on the Matt Cable front, a drifter threatens to expose Matt’s negligence if he’s not paid off. But, he’s threatening Matt’s mom, Sheriff Cable (Jennifer Beals). She shoots him a whole bunch of times. Then she double kills him by shooting him in the head. No one messes with her son. Oh. She was also having sexy fun times with Avery at the beginning of the episode, so power trips are not out of the question for the good Sheriff.

Next. Titans: Who are the new and returning characters for season 2?. dark

Jason Woodrue (Kevin Durand) realizes that there may be a human form of the swamp walking around and Avery charges him with finding it. And, Daniel Cassidy (Ian Ziering) tries to leave Marais, but burns his hand in the process. It looks like the deal he made to play the Blue Demon may have actually been with the real Blue Demon.

Are you into the story of Swamp Thing? Do you think Swamp Thing will be able to wrap everything up in the last five episodes? Let’s discuss in the comments!

Home/Recap