The Swamp Thing TV Series FAQ
Compiled by Fran White (ishtar@easynet.co.uk) and Steve Iverson (CultTVman@aol.com)
This FAQ may be posted to any free site, but reproduction in part or whole for commercial purposes is forbidden.
(Version 2.15)Text and/or HTML versions of this FAQ are available at:
alt.tv.swamp-thing
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~ishtar/faq1.htm (pretty pointless putting a hyperlink since it's the page you're reading) :-)
For a single .doc file of the FAQ, email Fran at the above addy.
LIST OF CONTENTS
1.0. Who or what is Swamp Thing and the Swamp Thing Series?
1.1. Who is Swamp Thing?
1.2. What is the Swamp Thing TV Series?
2.0. The Series
2.1. How many episodes were there?
2.2. How does the series differ from the comics?
2.3. How does the series relate to the movies?
2.4. What were some of the main story arcs?
.......Tatania
.......General Sunderland
.......Abigail
.......Ann Fisk
.......Jim
2.5. What episodes dealt more with supernatural/occult themes
2.6. What episodes used dreams, illusions or the 'Twilight Zone' morality lesson themes?
2.7. Which episodes were predominantly science fiction/science fantasy?
2.8. Which episodes had mainly character driven plot lines?
2.9. Are they available on video?
2.10 What countries show, or have shown Swamp Thing?
2.11.Why do the episodes seem out of order? Is there continuity?
2.12.Some of the more notable continuity problems.
3.0. Cast and Characters
3.1. Who were the main characters? (with their respective actors)
3.2. Who were the minor characters? ( with the respective actors)
3.3. Recurring characters
3.4. Notable guest stars
3.5. And wasn't he also in.....?
4.0. Production
4.1. What locations were used?
4.2. Who worked on the series?
4.3. How much did each episode cost?
4.4. How long did each episode take to produce?
4.5. What were the ratings for the series and how profitable was it?
4.6. Hey! Didn't I see that shot in another episode?
4.7. Trivia (from a production point of view)
........Is W.M. Whitehead the writer of some episodes the same as the William Whitehead who appeared as Dr. Hollister?
........Is Walter Von Huene, the director the same as the Walter Von who has an acting role in 'A Jury of his Fears'?
........Is Andrew Stevens the director the same as the actor who played Bartok in 'This old house of Mayan'?
........Is Jim Byrnes, who wrote several episodes, the same as the actor from 'Wiseguy' and 'Highlander'?
........Were the changes in format from 'The Shipment/Birthmarks' and 'Prometheus Parabola/Night of the Dying' always intended from the start?
........Why were Jim, Oboe and Abigail written out?
........Throwaways, Trivia and In-Jokes
........Some screw ups, continuity errors and other general bits that just didn't sound quite right
........Evidence of missing scenes
5.0. Viewership and Press
5.1. What are some of the articles written about the series?
5.2. Has Swamp Thing been reviewed or covered by any TV Programs?
6.0. Revival
6.1. Who owns the rights to Swamp Thing?
6.2. Why was the series stopped short of it's committed run, and who made the decision?
6.3. Are there plans for more episodes?
6.4. Who do we contact to support a revival?
7.0. Observations and Commentary
7.1. So, which episodes were the best of the bunch?
7.2. And at the bottom of the barrel.....?
7.3. Most overdone clichés
7.4. Nicely avoided clichés
7.5. A few memorable quotes
7.6. Some trivia (a.k.a. 101 things you never needed or wanted to know, or wanted to ask)
........What powers did Alec use?
........What were his weaknesses?
........Which characters know about Alec?
........Why didn't he 'Tree' people again?
........Is Stella dead or alive?
........Is Tressa killed or wounded in 'Treasure'?
........Is Will killed or wounded in 'Love Lost'?
........Just how many fields of science and learning was Arcane an expert in?
........Was that Graham in 'Death of Dr. Arcane'?
........So is there really a Graham/Arcane sub-text?
........Was Alec actually dead in "A Most Bitter Pill", or merely comatose?
........Doesn't Arcane's attitude to Alec vary considerably?
........So why doesn't Alec simply kill Arcane?
........What plotlines would we have seen had the series gone to a fourth season and beyond?
........Was the ruined building in 'Living Image' meant to be the ruind of the Hollands' lab after the accident?
........Was arcane’s hair real, and what happened to it between seasons 2 & 3?
8.0. Other aspects of Swamp Thing
8.1. The comics
8.2. Who created Swamp Thing?
8.3. Where is he currently featured?
8.4. Where has he made guest appearances
8.5. What Movies were made?
8.6. Wasn't there a cartoon series?
8.7. How many toys were there in the range?
8.8. Were there any other toys?
9.0. WWW/Miscellaneous Resources
9.1. Internet resources
9.2. Is there Swamp Thing fan fiction on the net or in zines?
9.3. Where can material be bought?
9.4. Is there a fan club for the series?
OK, and now for some answers.......
1.0. WHO OR WHAT IS SWAMP THING AND THE SWAMP THING SERIES1.1. WHO IS SWAMP THING?
Swamp Thing is a half plant elemental, half human creature with supernatural powers who dwells in the bayous around the Louisiana town of Houma. He was formerly a brilliant human scientist called Alec Holland, until disfigured in a laboratory incident caused by a rival scientist (Dr. Anton Arcane) who coveted a bio-restorative formula for crop growth that Holland was working on. This laboratory incident caused Holland to become fused with the swamp's environment and his powers are those of the swamp itself, gained by an empathic link with it. Created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson, he first appeared in the 1970s in a comic series produced by DC Comics. There have also been two movies and an animated mini-series; although little continuity exists between these various media.
1.2. WHAT IS THE SWAMP THING TV SERIES?
Swamp Thing is a cable TV show that ran between 1990 and 1993. It first aired on the USA Network (on Fridays at 10.30 pm, and repeated Saturdays at 5.30 pm), and is now re-run on the Sci Fi Channel. The series revolved predominantly around the creature known as Swamp Thing and his evil nemesis, Dr. Anton Arcane; as well as other characters created for the series.
2.0. THE SERIES
2.1. HOW MANY EPISODES WERE THERE?
There were 72 episodes shown over three seasons between 1990 and 1993. Episode guides can be found at:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~ishtar/epguide.htm
http://www.avimall.com/entertain/SwampThing.txt
http://members.aol.com/CultTVman/sw2.html
2.2. HOW DOES THE SERIES DIFFER FROM THE COMICS?
Little similarity exists between the characters, events and timeline of the comics to those of the TV series. They can, to all intents and purposes, be regarded as two completely separate stories with no connection other than the names of the main characters. There is an initial similarity to the original comic series concept, but the later comics moved dramatically away from these original ideas, whereas the TV series kept them on. Early episodes of the series tried to capture a little of the feel of the comics, whereas the later ones deliberately moved away and the TV series became firmly rooted as a science fiction/fantasy show. The comics established themselves in the horror/fantasy genre. In the TV series, Alec's main nemesis on a usually weekly basis is Dr. Arcane. In the early comics Arcane was used a lot, but in later ones only occasionally showed up. Plots were more diverse (this is not intended as a criticism to the TV series, it just shows the big difference in styles.) Also, the Arcane of the comics (a twisted old man, later killed and escaping from Hell as a fly infested, hideous, incestuous, necrophiliac spider demon doesn't really have much in common with the very human, and far more enigmatic Arcane of the TV series: A stylish and younger man definitely designed to appeal to the female viewer.) Alec himself is very different. He's far less benign in the comics (particularly the later ones) and does display considerable violence to his enemies. Cold blooded murder comes quite easily to this Alec. The Alec of the TV series rarely kills, and often displays vast amounts of naive compassion to save his enemies (usually Arcane!) Again, this is not a criticism and although fairly unbelievable, made for the most entertaining plots. Of course, the Alec of the TV series was formerly human; whereas the 'Alec' of the comics turns out to never have been human, but an actual mutated plant who took on Alec Holland's memories. Other major characters from the comics, such as Abigail Arcane and John Constantine; as well as other DC Comics characters never appear in the TV series (some do though, such as General Sunderland and his daughter; and Dr. Woodrue (only mentioned though; never actually appearing)
2.3. HOW IS THE SERIES RELATED TO THE MOVIES?
It is safe to say the series had its origin with the two theatrical movies. The main similarity is that Dick Durock continued to portray Swamp Thing. Anton Arcane is the major nemesis against Swamp Thing in both the movies and the series. Arcane in the series is slightly similar to Arcane in the movies as far as his intellect, ego and goals are concerned (more so in the second film.) That's where the similarity ends though. The style in which he's played is considerably different between movies and TV. Louis Jourdan portrayed Arcane in both movies, as opposed to Mark Lindsay Chapman in the series. Jourdan's Arcane is played very straight in the first movie (straight to the point of being downright boring), however, in the second movie he was starting to show signs of the cynical and ironic sense of humour characteristic of the TV version (still not enough to generate particular interest though.) Alec was also considerably different: Very melancholy and straight in the first movie; well adjusted and cheerful in the second. The first movie is played very straight; the second is outright camp. The series takes a middle ground between the two; just enough sadness, seriousness and philosophy to make it acceptable; enough humour to balance this and provide entertainment; but not the camp of the second movie. The movies are very much action orientated, particularly the second. Alec's answer to trouble is to beat the crap out of it. The series avoided this, and was all the better for it. Swamp Thing's powers in the series are the same as they were defined in the movies.
There are some differences. In the movies, Linda Holland was Alec Holland's sister. In the series, they were married (as they were in the comics). In the second movie, Swamp Thing gets romantic interest in the form of Abigail Arcane (Heather Locklear), a major character from the comics (Arcane's niece in the comics, his step daughter in the second movie.) Although there is a character called Abigail in the TV series, she has no connection other than first name to this character. Arcane is killed in both movies (and mutated as well in the first), and while his demise from the first is explained in the second (although not very well), there's no explanation as to how he's alive in the series, which strongly suggests movie and TV versions are not related. Aside from a few similar elements, predominantly from the second movie; it's safe to assume that the series is NOT a sequel to the movies, but a totally separate story with just a similar origin, some incorportated themes, and the same characters (at least in terms of name and basic profile). There are just too many contradictory events and characterisation for it to be a sequel to the movies. The series also tends to revolve around additional characters that were never in the films, like the Kipp family, Graham, Sheriff Andrews, Ann Fisk, Dr. Hollister etc.
2.4. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MAIN STORY ARCS? (Warning; *Major spoiler alert* for the following story arcs)
It's first revealed at the beginning of the second season, in 'Birthmarks', that Arcane was married; and that his wife, Tatania accidentally killed herself while Arcane was sleeping by testing out his version of the bio-restorative formula on herself, which she injected into the nape of her neck (to help him in his work; her faith in him being somewhat unfounded.) He found her in the morning and preserved her body in a glass tube of Oxygen and Cryonic Acid. It then became his burning goal to both bring her back to life; and find a way of achieving immortality so that he wouldn't be too old for her when he succeeded. Throughout the second season he constantly talks to the glass tube and body as though she's there and listening to him. He works for General Sunderland to provide funding for his experiments to revive her. However, it's finally revealed in the episode 'Tatania', that the woman in the tube has never been his wife; but is a proxy placed there by Sunderland to con Arcane into continuing to work for him. The real Tatania never died, but went into a coma which she recovered from in a few weeks. For the last seven years she's been help prisoner in Sunderland's Headquarters: Sunderland wanting her for himself. When Arcane finds out, after finally succeeding in reviving the proxy (despite the General's attempts to sabotage his efforts), he goes to Sunderland's HQ for revenge. There he discovers that his wife is alive and they are reunited. However, he makes the mistake of taking revenge on Sunderland; maiming the General and leaving him for dead. Tatania is so shocked and horrified at what Arcane has become that she wants nothing more to do with him. In the ensuing escape, Tatania is killed in the destruction of Sunderland's HQ. Arcane carries her body to the swamp and begs Alec to resurrect her. After initial reluctance, Alec attempts this; but it's too late. Tatania's soul is gone, not wanting to return to Arcane.
Along with Tatania, Sunderland is first introduced in 'Birthmarks'. He's initially only seen as a shadowy man in an electronic wheelchair, unable to speak without the aid of a voice modulator. He heads his own corporation, independent of the government; and makes rather a good living supplying military superweapons to any government or power willing to pay. He's using Arcane both to provide him with weapons, and a means to create a new, younger and healthier body, since he's clearly old, ill and dying. Little more is heard of the General until nearly halfway through the third season, in 'Tatania', where he is finally seen fully; and appears much improved. He can walk now, albeit with the aid of a stick, and seems generally much healthier. He can also talk unaided (all presumably achieved without Arcane's assistance.) His motivation, so he claimed, was that he could be whole again for Tatania, whom he covets. His recovery doesn't last long though when Arcane gatecrashes his headquarters and maims him (uses a laser to melt the plates in his body into his kneecaps, spine and liver.) The now dying Sunderland makes one last gesture: To activate the self destruct on his HQ to take Arcane with him. However, only Sunderland and Tatania die (Arcane and Graham escape with bruises only). This might seem like the end of Sunderland's story arc. Far from it. In 'Specter of Death', Sunderland takes advantage of nature being unbalanced and returns as a ghost to the living world, with one single burning intention: To make sure he takes Arcane back with him. He nearly succeeds but for the intervention of Alec, who distracts Sunderland and the other spirits he's brought with him, long enough for Arcane to get away. At Alec's suggestion, Arcane boards a tanker full of fuel to blow it up (the heat being the only way to dissipate the spirits.) A fight ensues and the tanker is blown up with both Sunderland and Arcane on board. Sunderland is forced back to the spirit world. Amazingly Arcane survives (with the Swamp's intervention?)
Abigail is also first introduced in 'Birthmarks'. She was the product of a genetic experiment by a scientist called Dr. Woodrue (one of Arcane's rivals). She was one of several 'test tube babies': Synthetically created human beings. The project had been carried out for twenty years. For an unexplained reason, it was decided to terminate the project and the subjects. They had all previously been living in a government house, looked after by a teacher and some cyborg 'Watchers'. The subjects were told they were to be moved, and put on a boat. Later, it was arranged that the boat be blown up. Abigail managed to jump clear and survive, along with another subject, a baby girl. She runs into town after swimming ashore, where she meets Will. At first she is quite mysterious, giving little away about herself. Later on though, she tells Will what she is. She has the ability to sometimes know what people are thinking. Not exactly mind reading to order; but similar in a vague sort of way (amazing how, in that case, she worked for Arcane without suspecting what he was up to in 'The Hunt') A gradual romantic relationship was building up with Will. Very surprisingly, apart from an episode called 'The Watchers' (which sees Arcane creating some cyborgs to hunt down any survivors from the 'Birthmarks' boat explosion), there is nothing at all added to her unusual past. Instead of being expanded upon (and she could have provided some excellent plot lines), she merely seemed to be there to provide something pleasant to look at. A shame really. Her character was absolutely wasted. Literally, really, considering that shortly into the third season, in 'Mist Demeanour', she was written out (sacrificing her life to save Joshua and send the poisonous cloud away.) There were a few brief mentions of her afterwards, but hardly the long mourning periods or severe grief one might expect. She seemed pretty much forgotten. A plotline was intended that would bring her back through dreams and flashback sequences; where Will had a new love, but was still transferring his unresolved emotions for Abigail onto the new woman (i.e. seeing Abigail instead of the other one); but this story never came to pass.
Ann Fisk's story arc begins before she actually makes an appearance. Near the beginning of the third season, in 'Love Lost', Alec is losing it. His loneliness and depression are finally getting to him, and he's missing his dead wife, Linda, terribly. A clairvoyant called Victoria arrives with a message of hope for him from Linda. It eventually turns out that Victoria IS Linda (a combination of her spirit, and those of others who have loved Alec.) She gives him hope again, telling him that there is someone out there who he can love as much as her. Sure enough, very shortly after that in 'Better Angels', Ann Fisk arrives in Houma with Carter LaRoche. Carter's planning to build a recycling factory, and Ann is a biologist working with him. Alec recognises her as a student from when he was at University; an old friend. Although not revealing himself to her (talking to her from a distance), he persuades her to work with him against Arcane and LaRoche. When she eventually leaves Houma, in the taxi to the airport, she remembers a quote that Alec said to her, and equates it to something the Dr. Holland she knew once said years ago. She begins to suspect. Later, in 'Sonata', she returns, certain that her swamp hermit is Alec. She goes into the swamp to talk to him, and eventually he shows himself. She isn't repulsed and wants to help him. About this time, Alec may have found a way to make himself human again, by not using his powers; but Ann and Arcane fall foul of two criminal brothers who want revenge on Arcane. In order to save both Arcane and Ann, Alec sacrifices his chance to become Human again. Ann then vows to do everything she can to help Alec. Their feelings towards each other are growing. In 'Changes', Ann returns with a possible cure. However, it's only temporary, but does at least help in scuppering a plan of Arcane's to use a genetic coded virus. Ann leaves Houma for Geneva, where she works hard to find a cure. She isn't mentioned again until near the end of the series in 'Swamp of Dreams'. By now she's living in Houma. Alec has found some rare Iguana eggs and has become addicted to the contents: highly potent and addictive hallucinogens. Alec's happily dreaming of being human again, and being with Ann. His dreams eventually become nightmares. Will gets Ann and takes her to Alec. It's her presence that manages to break his need for the drug. They clearly both love each other at this point (although nothing physical is even remotely suggested while he's in veggie form.) This is the last story she was in, but the story arc was left wide open and still in it's infancy.
Jim is introduced in the pilot episode 'Emerald Heart' as a boy from Philadelphia who has been moved to the old family home in the Louisiana town of Houma by his mother, Tressa. Jim is a problem child who is a compulsive liar and has trouble keeping friends. In the swamp, he meets Alec, and the two become friends. Alec often had to save Jim's life (usually from something Arcane derived); but the reverse happened in 'Grotesquery' when Jim got to save Alec. Alec began teaching Jim about the swamp, and Jim gradually came to know the place very well. Jim did make one human friend: Lilly (in 'New Acquaintance'), although she was never even so much as mentioned in any future episodes. In 'The Shipment', Arcane has moved out of his cave lair into a factory for creating mutants for sale overseas to slave labour camps. Jim discovers this and snoops around the place. He is heard and only just manages to escape. However, he's soon captured by Sheriff Andrews, but not before calling to Philadelphia to his step-brother Will, who comes to Houma to help. By the time Will arrives, Jim is missing. Meanwhile, Arcane uses Sheriff Andrews to fake Jim's death (Toad Boy is killed and used as the body) in a bicycle/car accident and fire. In reality, Arcane packs Jim off to South America with the slave labour shipments. Will stays in Houma to find out what really happened to Jim. Jim is never seen in the series again, but his story is continued and followed. In 'Night of the Dying', Arcane is cursed by a M'ambo Priestess called Tanda. It turns out that she is seeking Justice (make that revenge) because a member of her family in Brazil was saved by a worker at a slave labour camp: A young white boy called Jim Kipp. In 'Love Lost' the clairvoyant Victoria gives news that Jim is alive; and this news is followed by an official letter claiming Jim has been seen in a labour camp. This is a cue to make Tressa a periodically recurring character as she keeps leaving the country to look for Jim. The search continues throughout the third season, with Tressa getting clues, but the clues turning up nothing etc. etc. Eventually, it is revealed in 'Eye of the Storm' that she did find Jim, and that he was returned safely and is now living with his father.
Note: For the next 4 questions, it can safely be said that simply because of the characters and subject matter of the entire series, it can all be classed as supernatural and science fiction etc. However, for the purposes of these questions, we'll just refer to the predominant plotlines of the story in question. Some will fit into several categories. It's not been an entirely easy process trying to fit these into categories. Many cover different themes in the same episode; not to mention other people having different interpretations. If you see anything here that you'd strongly disagree with, let us know and we'll make the necessary adjustments. This is, after all, only one person's interpretatiom.
2.5. WHAT EPISODES DEALT WITH SUPERNATURAL OR OCCULT THEMES AS OPPOSED TO SCIENCE FICTION?
'Legend of the Swamp Maiden', 'Spirit of the Swamp', 'From Beyond the Grave', 'Night of the Dying', 'Love Lost', 'Mist Demeanour', 'A Jury of his Fears', 'This old House of Mayan', 'Dead and Married', 'Special Request', 'A Most Bitter Pill', 'Fear Itself', 'Destiny', 'The Curse', 'The Burning Times', 'Specter of Death', 'The Chains of Forever', 'An Eye for an Eye' and 'Heart of Stone'
2.6. WHAT EPISODES USED THE 'TWILIGHT ZONE' STYLE LESSONS, OR OTHER ILLUSION OR DREAM THEMES?
'Night of the Dying' (Arcane's Nightmares while possessed), 'Nightmare of Jackson Street.' (Will's poison induced hallucinations), 'Better Angels' (Alec's illusory lesson to Carter of his murder victim), 'A Jury of His Fears' (Alec's morality lesson while Arcane's in the afterlife), 'Smoke and Mirrors' (Alec's illusory morality lesson for Nathan), 'Powers of Darkness' (Dorian's false memories and subsequent discovery of the truth), 'What Goes Around Comes Around' (Alec's illusory old west morality lesson for Sheriff Andrews), 'A Most Bitter Pill' (Arcane's hallucinations towards the end), 'Fear Itself' (Alec gets taught an illusory morality lesson for a change!), 'Vendetta (Alec's illusory morality lesson for Katherine, that Arcane gets caught up in), Pay Day (Alec's illusory morality for the three convicts that shows them a possible future), 'The Hurting' (Alec shows Cathy an illusory version of her mother's past to help her understand), 'Yo Ho Ho' (Alec causes the illusion of Joshua becoming Red Ear to distract Arcane and his guards), 'Swamp of Dreams' (Alec becomes a junkie and gets both delightful and tormenting hallucinations) and 'Spirit of the Swamp' (Alec is lured and tricked by an illusion of Tressa created by Duchamp, at Arcane's suggestion)
2.7. WHICH EPISODES WERE PREDOMINANTLY SCIENCE FICTION/SCIENCE FANTASY?
'The Living Image', 'The Death of Dr. Arcane', 'Blood Wind', 'Grotesquery', 'Natural Enemy', 'Falco', 'The Shipment', 'Birthmarks', 'Dark Side of the Mirror', 'Silent Screams', 'Walk a Mile in my Shoots', 'The Watchers', 'The Hunt', 'Touch of Death', 'Tremors of the Heart'. 'Prometheus Parabola', 'The Lesser of Two Evils', 'Future Tense', 'Changes', 'Tatania', 'Mirador's Brain', 'Revelations', 'Hide in the Night', 'Never Alone', 'Cross-fired', 'Patient Zero', 'In the Beginning', 'Romancing Arcane', 'Heart of the Mantis'
2.8. AND WHICH EPISODES WERE MAINLY CHARACTER DRIVEN PLOTLINES?
'The Emerald Heart', The Living Image', 'The Death of Dr. Arcane', 'Grotesquery', 'Treasure', 'New Acquaintance', 'Falco', 'The Shipment', 'Birthmarks', 'Dark Side of the Mirror', 'Walk a Mile in my Shoots', 'Tremors of the Heart', 'The Prometheus Parabola', 'Love Lost', 'Mist Demeanour', 'Nightmare of Jackson Street', 'Better Angels', 'Children of the Fool', 'A Jury of his Fears', 'Poisonous', 'Smoke and Mirrors', 'Sonata', 'Powers of Darkness', 'Special Request', 'What Goes Around Comes Around', 'Lesser of Two Evils', 'A Most Bitter Pill', 'Fear Itself', 'Changes', 'Destiny', 'Tatania', 'Vendetta', 'Easy Prey', 'Handyman', 'Revelations', 'Hide in the Night', 'Pay Day', 'Return of LaRoche', 'Rites of Passage', 'Never Alone', 'Judgement Day', 'Eye of the Storm', 'The Hurting', 'The Burning Times', 'Specter of Death', 'Cross-Fired', 'Patient Zero', 'The Chains of Forever', 'Brotherly Love', 'An Eye for an Eye', 'Yo Ho Ho', 'Romancing Arcane', 'Swamp of Dreams', 'Heart of the Mantis' and 'That's a Wrap'.
Note that even in the other themed episodes, most were still strongly character driven. This was one of the series' main strengths. It's amazing so much character depth was achieved with only 20 minute storylines to play with.
2.9. ARE THEY AVAILABLE ON VIDEO?
Not in the United States. But in Europe, some have been released. CIC originally planned to release the episodes in Europe: 3 episodes per tape and with additional footage cut out for transmission. This never happened. One single tape containing 4 episodes was released, but there was no extra footage. Quite the reverse as the credits had been edited out. The episodes released were: "Birthmarks", "The Watchers", "Tremors of the Heart" and "Walk a mile in my Shoots". This tape is notoriously difficult to find. So, if you're looking for it, unless you're extremely lucky, you'll probably need to contact specialist video searching companies, and be prepared for a LONG wait. The movies have been released. The first is hard to find, but the second been re-released for rental in the UK (Feb 24th, 1997) and should be easily available.
2.10. WHAT COUNTRIES AND CHANNELS SHOW, OR HAVE SHOWN SWAMP THING?
Swamp Thing was first shown by the cable USA Network. Today it is re-run by The Sci Fi Channel (same company as the USA Network.) It's unknown to the writers of this FAQ if any other channel has ever shown it. To date, we are only aware of Swamp Thing being shown in the USA, Europe, Scandinavia, Latin America, South Africa and Australia. Germany received the series, but only up to and including "Prometheus Parabola", and episodes were shown randomly, out of order. If you have any more detailed information on the countries that have shown Swampy, we'd like to hear it.
2.11. WHY DO THE EPISODES SEEM OUT OF ORDER? IS THERE ANY CONTINUITY?
Yes and no. The episodes did have an ongoing arc story amidst the unrelated and self contained episodes, but the exact order of this arc, i.e. the production order is currently unknown by the creators of this FAQ. It is known that USA network rearranged the order of the episodes without regard to continuity. Season 2 seems to have been the only one to have escaped the continuity errors and appears to have been shown in order. The original running order can be found at any of the episode guides mentioned in the web resource section. The current running order on Sci Fi Channel is identical to the original running order for the first 33 episodes, but again, this is NOT the storyline continuity order. The remaining shows follow a very different order. This new running order solves some of the continuity problems but not all by any means. If anyone knows of a true order for the episodes, *please* send it this way.
2.12. SOME OF THE MORE NOTABLE CONTINUITY PROBLEMS (episode numbers refer to the original running order)
In the early episodes of the first season, Tressa's emotions towards Arcane are contradictory. At first she's not too antagonistic, even pleasant, eventually leading to outright distrust and dislike. However, in practice due to the episode order, these emotions fluctuate unrealistically rather than a smooth transition to the negative emotions. This also applies more generally to all the characters throughout all three seasons. Rather than a slow evolution of personalities, there are abrupt changes that fluctuate back and forth. This could be attributed to writers not observing previous events, but is just as likely to be the fault of the episodes not being in order....probably a combination of both.
In 'Treasure' (episode 9) Savannah Langford's death is referred back to, yet her funeral and will aren't dealt with until episodes 11 and 12 ('Falco' for the death and funeral; and 'From Beyond the Grave' for the will) [not corrected in the revised Sci Fi Channel running order]
In 'Hide in the Night' (episode 50), Graham and Alec refer back to Dr. Parnell's freezing machine, introduced in 'Patient Zero'. 'Patient Zero', however, is episode 62, so this incident won't happen for another 12 episodes!
More problems with 'Hide in the Night'. In this episode, Stella is killed at the end. However, in 'In the Beginning' (episode 64) she's alive and clearly mentioned by Graham as still working in the complex. No mention of death or the events from episode 50. It is possible that the episodes are out of order. There is another possible explanation though. The ending of 'Hide in the Night' has Alec standing over Stella's body telling Graham he'll 'take care of her'. Nothing more was seen. The line is ambiguous. It might have meant he'd bury her, although he'd be more likely to let Graham do that properly. It could mean he'd resurrect her since he was mourning her death. It wouldn't have made much sense if he hadn't brought her back when he could easily do so. Also, considering Graham's emotions at the end of the episode, had she stayed dead it would have appeared odd that Graham would never have brought it up again, even held a grudge against Arcane for what happened. Either way, it's never referred back to, and nothing is said as to what actually happened. This episode is very likely way out of order, but I would like to have believed that she was brought back.
Addendum: It's just been learned that either "Hide in the Night" and/or "In the Beginning" were definitely shown out of order. Whatever one might logically expect as repercussions of this episode from Graham; Steven L. Sears has clearly stated that Stella stayed DEAD.Alec and Tressa problems this time. In 'Future Tense' (episode 39), Tressa talks to Alec and already knows about him. Funny considering they don't actually meet until 'Revelations' (episode 49).
In 'Love Lost' (episode 24), Arcane traps Alec by making him use his powers of resurrection to weaken him. He announces that he's deduced Alec's weakness from his recent encounters with him. This is true; but the only time Arcane's witnessed Alec's powers draining him of strength won't happen until 'Mist Demeanour' (episode 25.) It's always possible that the 'recent encounters' Arcane refers to are off screen ones, and not ones depicted in the episodes, thus negating this as a continuity error, but it should have been better explained.
Note: It has to be said that there other factors that contradict and suggest that ‘Love Lost’ and ‘Mist Demeanour’ are in the correct order; in which case the only explanation for Arcane’s deductions of Alec’s powers would have to be based on incidents off-screen and not covered by the episodes.Nestor Parkins trouble now. Quite simply, Nestor's killed in 'Powers of Darkness' (episode 35), but is happily alive again in 'What Goes Around Comes Around' (episode 37); and he's definitely NOT resurrected. Nothing ambiguous here.
It’s easy to see that the episodes “Lesser of Two Evils” and “Revelations” are in totally the wrong order. In “Revelations”, which was aired well after the other one, we see Tressa enter the boathouse, and the marks are still on the glass of the decompression chamber window from when Alec hit it in “Changes”; and are definitely NOT the ones left at the end of “Lesser of Two Evils”, meaning that either “Revelations” comes much earlier than it was aired (which would tie in to the problem with “Future Tense”), or “Lesser of two Evils” came much later in the series.
It's probable that 'Legend of the Swamp Maiden' (ep. 4) came *before* 'Death of Dr. Arcane' (ep. 3), not only because 'Death' had a style more reminiscent of the later filmed first season episodes, but that in 'Death', Jim loses his red baseball cap, yet he's seen wearing it again in 'Maiden'.
Problems now with 'Fear Itself' (episode 41) and 'Revelations' (49) again. Again, it's simply a question of Alec and Tressa being familiar with each other before they've actually met. Now this could be explained by the fact that Tressa wasn't real, and it was an illusion, but that wouldn't explain Alec not realising that and using it to figure the illusion out. He quite happily accepted that they knew each other, again suggesting that Revelations comes much earlier than it was actually shown (more likely than 'Fear Itself' being later, since this episode seems to fit nicely where it is, behind 'Changes', which deals with the theme of Alec as human, after an episode concerning his fears never to be human again.)
3.0. THE CAST AND CHARACTERS
3.1. WHO WERE THE MAIN CHARACTERS?
DR. ANTON ARCANE (MARK LINDSAY CHAPMAN)
Arcane is an evil scientist/industrialist obsessed with genetic engineering, super weapons, the quest for immortality and ridding the world of Swamp Thing. He has unleashed a number of genetic mutants into the swamp. He answers to the mysterious General Sunderland for whom he develops super weapons. His guilt over the death of his wife is one of the main reasons for his obsessions. Chapman has had a solid television and motion picture career. He has appeared in the movies Separate Lives (1994), Annihilator (1986) and American Gothic (1988). On TV he has been seen in the miniseries Stephen King's The Langoliers (1995), as well as the following series: The Untouchables, Falcon Crest, Dallas, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Weird Science, Murder, She Wrote, The Burning Zone and Jag. Mr Chapman has a web page: The Unofficial Mark Lindsay Chapman page at: http://www.best.com/~shadorat/mlc.html
Note: Carol Ann Chwal is considering starting a fan club for Mr. Chapman, but before she does any further work, she is conducting a survey as to amount of fans that would be interested in joining. At this time it is only in the survey stage and she is requesting feedback, both positive and negative, of those of you reading these pages as to what your thoughts are. Please reply to cchwal@earthlink.net
SWAMP THING (DICK DUROCK)
Swamp Thing was a one time scientist: Alec Holland. He survived a lab "accident" but was strangely mutated into the being known as Swamp Thing. In addition to playing Swamp Thing on both film and tv, Dick Durock has had small parts in many movies including Mr. North (1988), Blind Date (1987), Raw Deal (1986), Stand by Me (1986), Silverado (1985), The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1983 TV), Any Which Way You Can (1980), The Nude Bomb (1980) and The Enforcer(1976). TV appearance include The Incredible Hulk (The First 1981), Battlestar Galactica (Saga of a Star World 1978), and Star Trek (Elaan of Troyius 1968. Most of his roles have been bit parts, often requiring stunt work.
TRESSA KIPP (CARRELL MYERS)
Tressa is a divorced mother trying to restart her life in the town of Houma where she grew up. She brings her son, Jim with her. Early in the series she is unaware of Swamp Thing and romanced by Arcane. Later she starts a swamp tour and boat business and must cope with the disappearance of her son. Carrell Myers has appeared in Problem Child 2, Miami Vice, MacGuyver, The A-Team, Hart to Hart, Ryan's Hope and Days of our Lives.
WILL KIPP (SCOTT GARRISON)
Will is Jim's half brother and Tressa's stepson. He arrives in Houma at the time of Jim's disappearance, after a plea from Jim for him to come and help. He also has had a troubled background in Philadelphia. He settles in and finds a job at a restaurant. He soon encounters and builds a friendship with Swamp Thing. He initially does not get along with his step mother, but later helps her run the tour business. Scott Garrison has appeared in the TV movie Alistair MacLean's Death Train (1993) and shown up in a couple episodes of Xena as Gabrielle's love, then husband: Perdicus. His real name is Scott Valentine, but had to change it because another actor was already using that name.
GRAHAM (KEVIN QUIGLEY)
Every evil genius has to have a henchman, and Graham is Arcane's. Initially one of Arcane's thugs (probably), later he becomes a trusted aide and assistant, despite the fact that he is not the brightest or most imaginative person around; although not nearly as stupid as he pretends to be. Why Arcane tolerates him is one of the great mysteries of the series. Multiple theories abound, the most popular being that Arcane would be unlikely to find anyone else with the same unswerving loyalty and devotion to him. Kevin Quigley has had small parts in several movies, mostly made for television: Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire (1994 TV), Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story (1993 TV), Moment of Truth: Why My Daughter? (1993 TV) just to name a few. He is also a semi regular character in the Nickelodeon show: The Secret World of Alex Mack. He was reunited with Mark Lindsay Chapman for an episode of The Untouchables in 1993.
JIM KIPP (JESSE ZEIGLER)
Tressa's son who has had a troubled childhood in Philadelphia. When he moves to the swamp, he meets and is befriended by Swamp Thing. He also quickly runs foul of Arcane. Since Swamp Thing, Jesse Zeigler has had roles in several movies including Captiva Island (1995), North (1994), Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994 TV), and Matinee (1993). He has also done several TV commercials.
ABIGAIL (KARI WUHRER (HER MARRIED NAME BEING KARI WUHRER SALIN; OR SOMETIMES JUST KARI SALIN))
A mysterious young woman; the result of a government scientific experiment who apparently survived an explosion on a boat. She is befriended by Tressa and romanced by Will. She has an affinity with nature and plants. Kari Wuhrer or Kari Salin got her big break as a VJ on MTV. After Swamp Thing, she appeared in a number of movies: Anaconda (1997), An Occasional Hell (1996), Stephen King's Thinner (1996), Beyond Desire (1995), The Crossing Guard (1995), Higher Learning (1995), and Beastmaster 2 (1991) to name a few. On television she has appeared in Class of '96, Sliders, Married... With Children, and Beverly Hills, 90210. There are a couple of websites devoted to her: Hopelessly In Love With Kari Wuhrer: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/1404/ and The Kari Salin Homepage http://www.ime.net/akira/ks_main.htm
3.2. WHO WERE THE MINOR CHARACTERS?SHERIFF 'ANDY’ ANDREWS (MARC MACAULAY)
The crooked local police chief who is in Arcane's pocket; as is the majority of the Houma police force. Something of a bully and a coward, he is somewhat attracted to Tressa. Macaulay has made a number of movies often playing policemen. He was a reporter in Edward Scissorhands. He's appeared in several TV roles including Miami vice. In 1990 he was in the movie No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers, in which Kevin Quigley also appeared.
ALEC HOLLAND (PATRICK NEIL QUINN, WITH LONNIE SMITH FOR ONE EPISODE)
The man who became Swamp Thing. Surprisingly, the human Holland appears in quite a few episodes, through flashbacks, illusions and dreams; and occasionally for real. Holland was also a geneticist, and a rival of Arcane's. Patrick has also appeared in Full Body Massage as Andy, in 1995, and as a gambler in Mad about You.
OBOE HARDISON (ANTHONY GALDE)
An older friend of Jim's. They often explore the swamp together. Anthony has also appeared in Just One of the Guys (as Ralph) in 1985
DR HOLLISTER (WILLIAM WHITEHEAD)
Local town doctor who is always trying to fix Tressa up with dates. He is a semi-father figure for the second series. William Whitehead is the same W.M. Whitehead that wrote several of the second season episodes of the series (and who portrayed an uncredited General Sunderland in the second season). As well as being a writer, Mr. Whitehead has also appeared as the Narrator for Between Two Worlds in 1990, and was once a Baptist Minister and a college professor.
GENERAL SUNDERLAND (JACOB WITKIN (3rd Season) & WILLIAM WHITEHEAD (2nd Season))
The sinister head of the Sunderland Corporation. General Sunderland is a wheelchair bound and dying old man; twisted and evil. He is manipulating Arcane to work for him; needing Arcane's research both to rejuvenate him and create weapons for him. Eventually killed off; death nonetheless doesn't seem to get in the way of the General continuing to wreak havoc from beyond the grave! Jacob Witkin also appeared in the movies: Arabian Adventure, Showgirls (1995), and Matinee (1993). His image is featured on the cover of the brochure to the popular tourist attraction "King Henry's Feast" as King Henry, in Orlando, Florida. He does a lot of theater work in Los Angeles.
ANN FISK (JANET JULIAN)
A Biologist and one time student of Alec Holland's from college; she arrives in Houma on a project on the swamp. Later, she discovers who and what Swamp Thing is and becomes involved in trying to help and cure him. Swamp Thing has strong romantic feelings for her. Janet Julian has had several small film roles. She had regular TV roles on Falcon Crest, BJ and the Bear, and as Nancy Drew on The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, and has appeared in Murder She Wrote. Born in California in 1959, her real name is Janet Louise Johnson
TATANIA ARCANE (VARIOUS ACTRESSES, WITH HEATHER THOMAS IN HER ONLY SPEAKING ROLE):
Arcane's late wife. Arcane has her body preserved in a glass tube of cryonic acid in his lab and hopes to one day revive her. He frequently talks to her, has dinner with her, kisses the tube etc... (boy, does this guy have problems!) Not exactly a major character due to her doing very little other than lying in a glass tube for all but one episode, but worthy of being in this section since she is the primary motivation behind Arcane. Heather Thomas was a regular in the series Fall Guy.
STELLA (ROBIN O' DELL)
Arcane's second assistant besides Graham. She comes across as a really sweet, lovable airhead, although it's firmly established that she's highly academically endowed and intelligent. Graham initially resents her (jealousy over Arcane's affections), but develops strong and more positive feelings for her. Although only in two episodes and mentioned in a third, she nonetheless makes a noticeable contribution to those episodes she does appear in. Robin O'Dell has a role in the TV series The Cape, and has recently finished the feature "The Last Perfect Wave", Produced by Steven L. Sears.
3.3. RECURRING CHARACTERS
Not exactly major or hugely important characters, nonetheless, several others reappeared in two or more episodes. These are as follows:CARTER SINCLAIR LaROCHE (DON HOOD, IN 'BETTER ANGELS' AND 'RETURN OF LaROCHE')
A crooked entrepreneur who originally teamed up with Arcane for a profit making scheme but fell foul of Alec and was confined to a mental institute. He later returns to get revenge on Arcane (despite the fact that Arcane didn't actually do anything to him) Don Hood is an established character actor. His most recent films include Bad Girls (1994), Cobb (1994), Ed Wood (1994), and Exit to Eden (1994).
TOAD BOY (BOBBY PORTER IN 'EMERALD HEART' AND 'THE SHIPMENT')
Just one of Arcane's mutants; the first that Jim sees. In Shipment he's killed and made to look like Jim's corpse. Bobby Porter is an longtime stuntman/actor. His credits include E.T. and Battle For The Planet Of The Apes.
THUG #2/GUARD (ANDREW CLARK IN 'DEATH OF DR. ARCANE' AND 'WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND')
Just a lackey (or lackeys) of Arcane's. It may be simply Mr. Clark playing two separate roles, but considering they are both Arcane's lackeys, it's likely to be the same character. As well as his TV roles, Mr. Clark appears regularly at the Disneyworld Resort in Orlando, Florida, at the Adventurers Club at Pleaure Island (and he used to be in the Jolly Holidays Show)
SAVANNAH LANGFORD (PATRICIA HELWICK IN 'THE EMERALD HEART' AND 'FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE')
Tressa's mother and owner of the Langford house. She dies early on in the series. She's also credited with being in 'Grotesquery', but there is no sign of her anywhere in that episode.
KEIFER (DOC DUHAME IN 'BIRTHMARKS')
Another lackey of Arcane's who works with Graham. He's credited as being in 'Dark Side of the Mirror' as well, although like Savannah in 'Grotesquery', there's no sign of him. Doc Duhame was stunt coordinator for the first 22 episodes. Among his other credits: Get Shorty (1995), Maverick (1994), Karate Kid III (1989), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) amd The Quick and the Dead (1985)
JOSHUA REIGER (SHANE OBEDZINSKI IN 'MIST DEMEANOUR' AND 'YO HO HO')
A young boy with a pirate fixation who Abigail sacrifices her life to save. He later almost falls foul of Arcane when he stumbles across one of his schemes.
MRS. REIGER (KATHY NEFF IN 'MIST DEMEANOUR' AND 'YO HO HO')
Joshua's long suffering mother. She bears a grudge against the swamp since her husband was killed by it in 'Mist Demeanour'
DR. THOMAS (JUDY CLAYTON IN 'NIGHT OF THE DYING' AND 'MIST DEMEANOUR')
The head doctor at Houma's hospital.
IAN JAMES (DAVID ACKROYD IN 'POISONOUS' AND 'THE CURSE')
A sensationalist and unscrupulous naturalist who'd do anything for a good documentary. He discovers Alec. He later returns to Houma to team up with Arcane to search for Egyptian artefacts.
DEPUTY JENSEN (BOB BARNES IN 'MIRADOR'S BRAIN' AND 'HEART OF STONE')
Sheriff Andrews second in command, and also a cop in Arcane's pay. He's eventually calcified by the Gorgon Medusa, although it's ambiguous as to whether this condition is permanent or temporary after the Gorgon dies (since his statue wasn't damaged, and Will and Arcane turned back to flesh without any undue problems)
OFFICER NESTOR PARKINS (LARRY MANETTI IN 'SMOKE AND MIRRORS', 'WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND' AND 'POWERS OF DARKNESS')
Another crooked police officer, and probably one of the only ones unlucky enough to NOT be on Arcane's payroll; although he knows about what goes on. Nestor is a drunk and a bully, and is eventually murdered when he goes too far with intimidating his family. Larry Manetti is probably best known for his regular role in Magnum PI, as Rick.
UNNAMED DEPUTY (WITH THE DOG) (DARREN DOLLAR IN "DEATH OF DR. ARCANE", "PAY DAY", AND ONE OTHER, AS YET UNDETERMINED EPISODE)
Another of Houma's deputies. He gets a speaking role in "Death of Dr. Arcane', but is barely seen in "Pay Day", on the manhunt. He's in a third episode (at least at the filming stage), but which one hasn't been figured out yet. We're working on it! :))
3.4. SOME NOTABLE GUEST STARSWOLFMAN JACK (AS HURLY IN 'CHILDREN OF THE FOOL') Noted disc jockey. Sadly, Wolfman Jack died on July 1st 1995 from a heart attack.
SANDAHL BERGMAN (AS SIENNA IN 'TREMORS OF THE HEART') Actress/dancer. Credits include Red Sonja (1985), Conan the Barbarian (1981), and All That Jazz (1979)
PHILLIP MICHAEL THOMAS (AS BARRY SCOTT IN 'DEAD AND MARRIED') star of Miami Vice.
TYNE DALY (AS CARLA JEFFRIES IN 'LESSER OF TWO EVILS') star of Cagney and Lacy. Produced the stage production of Ashes, starring Mark Lindsay Chapman, for which he won the Drama Logue Award.
SUMMER PHOENIX (AS LILLY IN 'NEW ACQUAINTANCE') sister of River Phoenix
PETER MARK RICHMAN (AS 'FALCO', IN 'FALCO') among his many, many credits was a recurring role on Dynasty.
RAY WISE (AS GUTHRIE IN 'NEVER ALONE') Ray Wise played Alec Holland in the original 1982 Swamp Thing movie. He is also remembered as Laura Palmer's father in Twin Peaks.
DAVID ACKROYD (AS IAN JAMES IN 'POISONOUS' AND 'THE CURSE') recently appeared in an episode of Xena: Warrior Princess (as Anteus in 'Altared States')
HEATHER THOMAS (AS TATANIA IN 'TATANIA') Blonde bombshell from The Fall Guy and T.J. Hooker. She has become one of the TV movie queens.
ROSCOE LEE BROWNE (AS DUCHAMP IN 'SPIRIT OF THE SWAMP') Distinguished actor.
ANDREW STEVENS (BARTOK IN THIS OLD HOUSE OF MAYAN) Actor/director/producer/writer has acted in many television productions. He is the son of actress Stella Stevens and was at one time married to Kate Jackson. He is the same Andrew Stevens that directed several of the Swamp Thing episodes
DEBBIE BOONE (CATHY IN THE HURTING) known for the song You Light Up My Life
ADAM CURRY (NATHAN STONE IN SMOKE AND MIRRORS) another MTV VJ.
TERRY FUNK (JJ. DAX IN "PROMETHEUS PARABOLA") Famous wrestler and regular in the western series "Wildside". Currently with the WWF and working in movies.
3.5. AND WASN'T HE ALSO IN....?The series constantly reused actors and technicians. Doc Duhame, the series stunt coordinator, often played flunkies who worked for Arcane, and various mutants. Other technicians were used as actors. Bently Tittle (lead props) played Jason Crown in 'Easy Prey', and Arnold 'Rusty' Pouch (best boy electric) played Arcane's lab technician in 'A Jury of his Fears'. One of the main directors, Walter Von Huene had a cameo role in 'Jury of his Fears' as a scientist victim of Arcane's. Also in “Jury of his Fears”, Felipe Savahge, who played the one armed juror/mob member is Mark Lindsay Chapman’s stunt double. There have most probably been many more, but these are the only ones credited. It is known that in the final episode, 'That's a Wrap', the crew of the 'Arcane' movie was in fact the real production crew playing their fictional counterparts.
The following is a compiled list of the actors and the multiple roles they played:
Jacob Witkin:............General Sunderland (3rd Season)
....................................Simon (in 'Grotesquery')
....................................Professor Mephisto (in 'Fear Itself')
....................................Zeus (in 'Heart of Stone')
....................................Voice of High Priest of Set (in ‘The Curse’)Kevin Quigley:..........Graham (from "Birthmarks" onwards)
....................................Thug # 1 (from "Death of Dr. Arcane")William Whitehead:...Dr. Hollister (2nd Season)
...................................General Sunderland (2nd Season, uncredited)Doc Duhame:............Intruder #1 (in 'Living Image'; who later turned out to be The Handyman played by Jordan Williams
...................................Mutant (in 'Falco')
...................................Keifer (in 'Birthmarks'. Also credited in 'Dark Side of the Mirror', but not actually seen in the episode. He also isn't actually ...................................named as Keifer in the episode itself)
...................................Wilkes (in 'Walk a Mile in My Shoots', although not named in the episode itself)
...................................Sentry Hunter (in 'Prometheus Parabola': He isn't credited here, but can be clearly recognised with an SMG during the ...................................assault on the Langford House)
...................................There were no doubt many other uncredited guard and mutant roles.John Hoye:.................Intruder # 2 (in 'Living Image', who later turned out to be Deputy Javert played by Steve Zurk in 'Dark Side of the mirror')
....................................Swamp Thing #2 (in 'Dark Side of the Mirror', who was coincidentally the creature Deputy Javert became)
....................................Eye Patched Juror (in 'A Jury of His Fears')
....................................Security Guard (in 'the Curse')Andrew Clark:............Thug #2 (in 'Death of Dr. Arcane')
....................................Guard/Blacksmith (in 'What Goes Around Comes Around')Tom Nowicki:.............Greg Dunbar (in 'Legend of the Swamp Maiden')
....................................Clarence Pickens (in 'Dead and Married')
....................................Mickey Paradise (in 'That's a Wrap')Michael Champlin:.....Crown Prince (in 'Blood Wind')
....................................Alexander (in 'Silent Screams', although he isn't actually named in the episode.)Jay Glick:....................Pastor (in 'Blood Wind')
.....................................Minister (in 'Falco')Bill Orsini:..................Gardener (in 'Blood Wind')
....................................Chuck (in 'Children of the Fool')Judy Clayton:..............Gardenia (in 'Grotesquery', although not named in the episode itself)
.....................................Dr. Thomas (in 'Night of the Dying' and 'Mist Demeanour')
.....................................Minerva (in 'Heart of Stone')Kevin Corrigan:..........Buckholt (in 'Treasure')
.....................................Yuri Lapiniks (in "Poisonous")
.....................................Rogiewicz (in 'Judgement Day')Brett Rice:..................Everett Baxtor (in 'From Beyond the Grave')
.....................................Headman (in 'Future Tense')Jordan Williams:.........Eric Matthews (in 'Dark Side of the Mirror')
.....................................The Handyman (in 'The Handyman')Danny Haneman:........Hammett (mob leader) (in 'Dark Side of the Mirror')
.....................................Workman/Pirate #2 (in 'Yo Ho Ho')Elizabeth Fendrick:......Ilene (in 'Silent Screams')
.....................................Carrie Bishop (in 'Special Request')Mark McCracken:.....Abraham MacCyrus (in 'Touch of Death)
.....................................Matt Caleb (in 'Sonata')Orlando Powers:.........Jase (in 'Nightmare on Jackson Street')
....................................Casey (in 'Judgement Day')Steve Dumouchel:......Guard (in 'Tremors of the Heart')
.....................................Donnelly (in 'Revelations')Cheree Vandoren:.....Strange Woman (in 'Night of the Dying')
....................................Physiotherapist (in 'Tatania')
....................................Waitress (in 'Cross-fired')Roger Floyd:...............Hitchhiker (in 'The Shipment')
.....................................Vinnie (in 'Nightmare on Jackson Street')Tracy(Lynn)Roberts:.Dorothy Pickens (in 'Dead and Married')
....................................Jennifer Bloom (in 'That's a Wrap')Dennis Neal:...............Worker # 2 (in 'Grotesquery')
.....................................Roscoe (in 'Dead and Married')Donna Rosae:.............Vampire Lover (in 'Powers of Darkness')
.....................................Justine (in 'Judgement Day')Ron Douglas:..............Bartender (in 'Powers of Darkness')
.....................................Morgan (in 'What Goes Around Comes Around')George Colangelo:.....Coroner's Assistant (in 'Death of Dr. Arcane')
.....................................Stanzler (in 'Judgement Day')Candace Miller:.........Candy (in 'Judgement Day')
.....................................Julie Paradise (in 'That's a Wrap')Tony Shepherd:..........Guard (in 'In The Beginning')
.....................................Clovis Burshett (in 'Heart of Stone)Peter Palmer:..............Orvis (in "The Watchers")
.....................................Mr. Smithson (in "Judgement day")
For more detailed info on some of the people who worked on the series, visit the cast and crew sections at http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~ishtar/cast.htm and http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~ishtar/crew.htm
A lot of the cast and crew information is available at the Internet Movie Database. This is less detailed, but covers more entries.
http://uk.imdb.com/search.html or http://us.imdb.com/search.html
4.0. PRODUCTION
4.1. WHAT LOCATIONS WERE USED?
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, FLORIDA
The Jaws attraction, when it was drained, was used as the grounds for the Arcane Industries complex (yes, that's the reason that Arcane Industries has a boat sales sign on the side of a building). That and the rest of the area around the studio lagoon were frequently used for water and dock scenes. The swamp house by the lagoon was used as the Langford house. The boat in the middle of the lagoon was used for the exploding boat in both 'Birthmarks' and 'Specter of Death'. The Garden of Allah Villas was used both as the Houma Gardens, numerous unnamed shots, and even under its own name as a vacation resort close to Houma. The real Garden of Allah Villas is within Universal complex, but is a separate set of buildings belonging to AT&T Yes, it’s a genuinely real place, not a facade), & used as apartments for AT&T employees. Various street sets in the Universal complex were very frequently used too. Other attractions were utilized. The 'Kongfrontation' ride was used in 'Jury of his Fears' when Arcane is running for his life; and also in 'Vendetta' (that's why there's a fire raging in the background). The outside of the 'Back to the Future' attraction was used as the headquarters of General Sunderland's HQ in 'Tatania' (and the corridor inside where Arcane and Graham are confronted by the guard is the inside of the same building, just before you enter the room to go on the ride itself), whereas the end of that same episode, when Arcane, Graham and Tatania are making their escape in the exploding building, it’s the exit ramps of the ‘Kongfrontation’ ride that are used, with parts of ‘Earthquake’ added in to give the impression of the building being destroyed. The area in ‘Love Lost’ and ‘Poisonous’ that show a lit up street (supposedly a New Year’s celebration in Love Lost) is part of the Universal street sets (The Embarcadero) The Houma Inn in the series is really 'The Hollywood Hotel' in the studio complex, which is situated next to the Cafe La Bamba, just next to the Garden of Allah Villas. Alec Holland’s old lab, Ann Fisk’s boathouse, the Houma Docks boat shed (from ‘Treasure’, where Oboe is working on a boat) and the building where The Handyman drives his speedboat in are all one and the same set of buildings, set in the middle of the lagoon. Adjoining them is the landing with the petrol pump where Arcane escapes to in ‘Prometheus Parabola’ (before falling into the water after the explosion.)
GATORLAND, ORLANDO
(various cypress swamp and gator scenes) Gatorland is a small theme park devoted to the flora and fauna of Florida (particularly Snakes, Alligators and Crocodiles). At the back there is a native cypress swamp and alligator/crocodile breeding marshes. The place is also a commercial alligator farm. Scenes from 'Superboy' and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' were also filmed there.
OTHER LOCATIONS
The dirt track road used in 'Death of Dr. Arcane' and many other episodes is part of Turkey Lake Road in Orlando. Since the series though, it's now been developed.
4.2. WHO WORKED ON THE SERIES?
AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE SERIES:
TOM BLOMQUIST (writer, director, executive producer): Accomplished writer and Producer of series such as Walker Texas Ranger, Christy, The A-Team and Riptide.
STEVEN L. SEARS (writer and co-producer). Accomplished writer and/or producer of series such as Raven, the A-Team. Supervising producer (and writer) of Xena: Warrior Princess and has just finished the feature: "The Last Perfect Wave"
BORIS MALDEN (producer) Executive Producer of BBK Productions inc, Mr. Malden has produced several series and movies of the week including Matt Waters, Fortune Hunter and Bermuda Triangle
TOM GREENE (Executive Producer and Writer) also worked on "Thunder in Paradise" and "Magnum P.I.", and created, wrote, directed and executive produced "Wildside", among many other projects.
JOSEPH STEFANO (producer, writer) the man who produced the original Outer Limits.
KRITZ KIERSCH (director) also directed Chidren Of The Corn, among many movies.
JOHN MCPHERSON (director) also directed Babylon 5, cinematographer on Alien Nation, Incredible Hulk.
WALTER VON HUENE (director)worked on the movies Jingle All the Way, Apollo 13, Parenthood, and Pretty Woman. Also an actor, he once auditioned for the part of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.
DAVID JACKSON (director) directed on Miami Vice
TONY DOW (director) best remembered as Wally on Leave It To Beaver. He is well established as a TV producer and director. He has directed on Babylon 5 and was the visual effects producer for the 1996 Dr. Who movie.
MITCHELL BOCK (director) worked as assistant director and actor on several Mel Brooks films
ANDREW STEVENS (director/actor) see entry under guest stars.
CHUCK BOWMAN (director) directed for Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, among others.
NEAL MARTZ (co designed Swamp Thing costume) makeup on a number of movies including Stephen King's Thinner, The Paper, Mad Dog and Glory, and Amityville 3-D
BABS GREYHOSKY (writer) established from the Stephen J. Cannell stable, she has written episodes for many popular series including the A-Team and Xena: Warrior Princess.
BENJAMIN MELNIKER AND MICHAEL E. USLAN (executive producers) Co-owners of Batfilm Productions, they are also the team responsible for bringing Batman to the big screen. [Actually, they had the Batman project in development for many years. Guber/Peters actually brought the Dark Knight to the screen]
ANDY HEYWARD (executive Producer) President of DIC entertainment, who have produced or adapted series such as 'Where in the World is Carmen San Diego' and 'Sailor Moon'
DOC DUHAME (actor, stunts and stunt co-ordinator), a member of the stunt group 'Leavitation', Mr. Duhame has done acting and stuntwork for movies and series such as Karate Kid III, Maverick, Sledgehammer, To Live and Die in LA and The Quick and the Dead.
STEVE BEERS (Director) Has worked as producer, supervising producer, writer and director on series such as 21 Jump Street, Booker, SeaQuest DSV and 2032 and is currently a supervising producer on Dark Skies.
4.3. HOW MUCH DID EACH EPISODE COST TO MAKE?
Tom Greene's very kindly come forward with info on this, and the cost per episode for the second season was around the $600,000 mark (not bad! more than expected, I'd say. It's possible that part of this sum was for the extra publicity material and advertising that the second season got.) For the third season, the budget was cut dramatically (to 'next to nothing', to quote Steve Sears in a recent magazine interview) in half, to around the $300,000 per episode mark (coinciding with Boris Malden's resume that states that his budget range varies from $300,000). No info is yet known on the budget for first season, but it's unlikely to be less than that of the third. My guess would be somewhere between second and third season. If anyone has any more accurate information on this, it would be appreciated.
4.4. HOW LONG DID EACH EPISODE TAKE TO PRODUCE?
For the first season the schedule was for a 6 day week, working 16 hours a day to produce each episode in 3 days, not counting post production by Century III and music composition (pretty intense); however, this did slacken off to give more time for later episodes. A week was taken to compose the music for each episode. In a magazine interview, Mr. Malden, the Producer, stated that it was conceivable that he could deliver an episode in two weeks (information courtesy of ‘Comics Scene’ #16 article)
4.5. WHAT WERE THE RATINGS FOR THE SERIES, AND HOW PROFITABLE WAS IT?
At one point it was USA Network's top ranking show. The first season premier registered 2.9 in the ratings, and during the two month span, the series averaged better than a 2.2 rating, reaching an estimated 2 million homes. Figures for later episodes are, as yet unknown -- although it's believed that they remained relatively constant -- and any additional information would be more than welcome.
4.6. HEY, DIDN'T I SEE THAT SHOT IN ANOTHER EPISODE?
Swampy re-used absolutely tons of footage. You'll frequently recognise the stock shots such as the storm blowing through the swamp and trees, as Alec uses his powers, super weapons cause damage, storms rage etc. etc. Also, take a look at the explosion from 'Birthmarks' as the boat cracks in two. You don't have to look very closely to see that when the tanker explodes with Sunderland and Arcane on board (in 'Specter of Death') that it's the same footage. Then there's the classic 'changing the car radio' footage. At the end of 'Special Request' Tressa is in her car fiddling with the radio. You see a shot of her hand and the car radio saying frequency 690. Later in the series, during 'Specter of Death' Arcane is driving home when the car starts behaving oddly. He adjusts the radio. Funny how that hand looks familiar and the radio is still on 690. Then there's 'Brotherly Love', where Tressa's been kidnapped by Kurt and driven away. Guess what the radio says when the kidnapper adjusts it? Yup, 690! & funny how a rather well built guy suddenly has such slender and manicured hands. Perhaps we'll never know who's hand it really was, but it definitely wasn't Tressa's, Arcane's AND Kurt's! (& 690 must be a *very* popular channel!) Other scenes such as the mist rising over the swamp (in 'Mist Demeanour') were used in multiple episodes, as were all the bubbling swamp water bits and the lit street scene from 'Love Lost' (also seen in’Poisonous’.) Another occurs at the end of many episodes where Swamp Thing descends into the swamp, while the voice over pronounces one of his philosophical mutterings. (There are at least two different takes used over and over. You can tell them apart by the location of the floating flower) Another favourite was where Arcane's complex is put on alert and sentry hunters/guards come running. It's always the same stock shot of them running.Also, in ‘The Living Image’, Alec holds a bracelet and a photograph of himself and Linda at 2 points in the episode; but it’s the same scene re-used. This type of thing happened all the time. In ‘Sonata’, when Alec is summoning the powers of the swamp at the end, it’s the same footage from ‘Silent Screams’ when he’s channeling the lightning. In “Legend of the Swamp Maiden”, when Alec’s lurking in the water, it’s the same footage as in ‘Birthmarks’ when he’s waiting for Graham and Keifer. It would be nearly impossible to individually list all small and generic scenes of background material and Alec lurking/moving in the swamp shots etc., but there are *many* of these to spot.
4.7. SOME TRIVIA (FROM A PRODUCTION POINT OF VIEW)
IS WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, WHO PLAYS DR. HOLLISTER; THE SAME W.M. WHITEHEAD WHO WROTE SOME EPISODES?
Yes, and he also played General Sunderland in Season 2, although he's uncredited with the role.
IN 'JURY OF HIS FEARS' I NOTICED THAT WALTER VON HUENE IS THE DIRECTOR, AND AN ACTOR IS CREDITED AS WALTER VON. ARE THEY THE SAME PERSON?
Yes (and it's pronounced 'Huneee')
IS ANDREW STEVENS, WHO PLAYED BARTOK (IN 'THIS OLD HOUSE OF MAYAN') THE SAME ANDREW STEVENS WHO DIRECTED SOME OF THE EPISODES?
Yes
IS JIM BYRNES WHO WROTE SEVERAL EPISODES, THE SAME JIM BYRNES AS THE ACTOR FROM HIGHLANDER AND WISEGUY?
No. They are different individuals.
WAS THE CHANGE IN FORMAT BETWEEN 'THE SHIPMENT/BIRTHMARKS', AND "PROMETHEUS PARABOLA/NIGHT OF THE DYING" ALWAYS INTENDED FROM THE START; OR A LATER DECISION?
After the first thirteen episodes of the first season, the show was shut down for retooling. Tom Greene came on board to improve the series, and had little previous knowledge of it prior to his involvement, and the creative reins were very much his. All the new characters (Abigail, Tatania, Dr. Hollister, General Sunderland, Graham etc.) were entirely his work, and not considered at the inception of the series. Similarly, the change of sets (swapping the cave for the complex), the new look and atmosphere; evolving characterisation, lack of mutants, the new art and photographic direction etc. were all equally thought up AFTER the end of the first season and not intended from the beginning.
Similarly, changes between 2nd and 3rd season were also only brought in AFTER the previous season was over, and a new creative team was brought in (in this case, Tom Blomquist and Steve Sears.) It's likely that Ann Fisk was brought in since it was becoming obvious that any romance with Alec was not going to work using Tressa (which was very slightly hinted at in the first series, but went nowhere.) Oddly enough, She was only intended to provide temporary romance for Alec, until Tressa discovers him in 'Revelations'. However, her part was clearly extended. Tressa and Alec never became more than just good friends, and Ann's relationship with Alec continued to grow more romantic.
Many ideas in the third season flatly contradicted proposed plans for the second season and beyond (& many of those second season plots were never filmed even for the second season itself; the reasons for this being unknown). For more information on what was intended for the second series, a highly detailed series bible was written by Tom Greene, who has very kindly given permission for it to be used (and I think you'll be pretty amazed at the thought and effort that got put into it, and some of the plotlines that never got to be filmed; and the differences between the proposed episodes and the final filmed versions!... just get a load of the proposed last episode!) The bible is available here.
Note: October 23, 1990 SWAMP THING BIBLE - TOM GREENE PRODUCTIONS, INC. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - USED BY PERMISSION - DUPLICATING OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN - FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY - SWAMP THING IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF DC COMICS WHICH HOLDS ALL RIGHTS
WHY WERE JIM, OBOE AND ABIGAIL WRITTEN OUT?
As was mentioned above, it's likely that Jim was written out to be replaced by an adult character. He proved to be a very unpopular character and this no doubt helped the decision along. It seems clear that Oboe was written out because he was only ever used as Jim's sidekick. Without Jim there, he became superfluous. Had his character been developed prior to this, and more made of him, perhaps it would have been different, but it wasn't to be. He was barely noticed when he was in the series (no detriment to Anthony Galde; he just simply wasn't given much to do), so his loss went very much unnoticed. Abigail was written out because Kari Wuhrer wanted to leave the series. The reasons are unknown.
THROWAWAYS, TRIVIA AND 'IN' JOKES:
In 'The Shipment', the name on the side of the truck is "Von Huene Trucking". The Director for that episode was Walter Von Huene.
In 'A Jury of his Fears', the worm like monster guarding Arcane is the same creature that killed him in 'Death of Dr. Arcane'.
In ‘The shipment’, Arcane stands over a man on a trolley, about to inject him. He pauses and looks down at the man, asking if he’s been mutated before. There’s no evidence really that this is an in-joke, but it does seem to come across as either an ad-lib, or a joke referring to the guy on the table having played mutants before (Doc Duhame perhaps?). It’s just a hunch and I could well be wrong about this one. The delivery of the line just has that ad-libbed feel to it.
And speaking of ad-libbing, it's now known that a lot of the creative input for Arcane and Graham was down to Mark Lindsay Chapman and Kevin Quigley themselves, who apparently re-wrote or ad-libbed a significant portion of their interaction (this was definitely true of the second season. The third is unknown territory in this department though, but considering how they came across on screen, it's likely that this continued to some degree.)
In 'Return of LaRoche', in the asylum, there's a comment about Dr. Arcane. In the background are the shrieks and cries of the inmates. Listen carefully to one of the cries as Dr. Arcane's name is mentioned. It's actually the same cries that were used back in 'Grotesquery' when he's assaulted by his mutants near the end of that episode.
Almost the entire episode of 'That's a Wrap'. Specific incidents noted are the saddle from 'Prometheus Parabola' getting a mention; Alec past-sensing the area as he did in 'Judgement Day', which just happened to use the exact same sets as 'Judgement Day'; Tressa's sarcastic comment about one of Arcane's victims maybe coming back to haunt him; especially considering that the movie that is being made is being filmed in the exact warehouse and set that 'Specter of Death' took place in (notice the little sign saying 'Warehouse 9' and the familiar interior.) At the beginning of the episode, the script for the movie that’s being made: “Anton Arcane: The Latent Great” is shown to have been written by Jeff Blomquist and Babs Sears (an amalgam of the main Producers/writers: Tom Blomquist, Steven L. Sears, Jeff Myrow and Babs Greyhosky.) It’s more than probable that the line “They expect Spielberg on a joke budget” could be a direct comment on the series itself. The crew of the 'Arcane' movie were the actual real life crew of the TV series. There are other theories about this episode, but that's all speculation.
It was discovered on the set of "Dead and Married", that Writer and Co-Producer Steven L. Sears, and guest star Philip Michael Thomas (of Miami Vice fame) are in fact distant cousins.
Still on the subject of Mr. Sears, when you next watch the episode "What goes around comes around", watch out for the first scene when Arcane is hunting down Raymond (played by actor, and long time friend of Mr. Sears, Patrick Anton) The lackey hunting with Arcane (the one that drags Raymond away) is a cameo appearance by none other than Mr. Sears himself.
Not Mr. Sears this time, but now back to the subject of relatives, Cheree Vandoren, who appeared in "Night of the Dying", "Tatania" and "Cross-Fired", is married to Mark Lindsay Chapman, and they have a 3 year old son together (Hunter)
Arcane's sword kata scene from "Dark Side of the Mirror" was written by Mark Lindsay Chapman, who is in fact a master swordsman in real life.
Mark Lindsay Chapman originally auditioned for the part of Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation (this has now been confirmed, which is why I'm adding it), and it was down to just him and Brent Spiner.
The original title of "Dark Side of the Mirror" was to be "The Miserables" (originally intended as a two part take-off of the Victor Hugo 'Les Miserables'), but this was scrapped because it was thought that the references wouldn't be understood, and it became a single part episode instead; but a homage remained in that the name of the deputy who Arcane mutates into a mirror image of Alec, was Javert, one of the main protagonists from the original novel.
The entire episode "The Watchers" was specifically written for guest actor Peter Palmer (Orvis, the cyborg hillbilly! :)), in order to get Mr. Palmer to come back and give a rendition of the 'hillbilly' role that he portrayed in the Broadway show, 'Little Abner' (one of writer and producer, Tom Greene's favourite shows)
One of Tom Greene's trademarks is that in every episode he produces, of anything, there is always an in-joke or reference to "2001: A Space Odyssey" (as well as many other in-jokes for the names of things.) . So far, I haven't spotted them for the second season eps, but when I do, they'll be added here. If anybody beats me to it, please let me know! :-)
The entire title of ‘Prometheus Parabola’ is an in-joke/homage. In that episode, the guest actor playing JJ Dax (Terry Funk) is a wrestler who had a regular role in a 1985 series called ‘Wildside’. The name of his character... Prometheus Jones.
Still on homages and in-jokes with names: The name of Dr. Hollister's character was similarly used, and based on the main father and son characters from the same series "Wildside" (Brody and Sutton Hollister); and also Houma's trademark 'Skillet's Cajun Cuisine' restaurant where Will worked for the second season: Skillet was the Cajun restaurant owner in the town of Wildside. The reason for these homages... "Wildside" was Writer and Executive Producer, Tom Greene's creation, and both William Whitehead and Terry Funk have worked with Mr. Greene on numerous occasions.
In one second season episode, a sudden storm halted outside production, and the only indoor shot that could be filmed was one of Arcane talking to Tatania in her cryo tube. Unfortunately, the regular actress who played her wasn't around. The only person available was a lady tourist on set with her boyfriend. So, ten minutes later, it was said lady tourist that was floating in a cryo tube being smooth-talked by Anton! :-)
In 'The Destroyer' series of books (one of the most famous, long running paperback series) that later became ghost written by Will Murray, the hero, Remo Williams turns out to have a long lost father, Sunny Joe Roam (a.k.a William S. Roam.) Remo's father turns out to have worked as an actor and stuntman, most famously appearing in 'Muck Man'. In real life, the author, Mr. Murray is a friend of Dick Durock's, and admitted that Sunny Joe was directly based on Mr. Durock.
SCREW-UPS, CONTINUITY ERRORS THAT GOT LEFT IN, & GENERAL BITS THAT DIDN'T SOUND QUITE RIGHT
In the scene in 'New Acquaintance' where Lilly is having her cuts treated, she and Tressa are stationary at one end of the kitchen. Jim is stationary behind a table. However, a shot of the kitchen shows a woman walking across the kitchen. Odd, since there's nobody else there! (Having watched the episode again, this is actually a scene from earlier in the episode where Lilly walks across the kitchen. Why it was used again later to provide a nothing but a continuity error is baffling)
In 'Return of LaRoche' Carter is insane because of his fear of having seen Alec. However, what drove him insane is seeing the animated corpse of his victim haunting him. He never, at any point in that episode, actually saw Alec. So how come he knew about him??
In 'Prometheus Parabola', as Arcane's shouting threats to J.J Dax during the assault on the Langford house, he stumbles over his words a bit, and the sentence he ends up saying doesn't, when listened to, make that much sense in context to the previous line. A mistake in the scriptwriting....or an out-take left in? (my guess is the latter)
Also in "Prometheus Parabola", the character of JJ. Dax (and actor Terry Funk) has come in for criticism from many viewers for poor acting. Certainly, there's something very odd about the way the man speaks and the camera angles used on him accentuate this strangeness. However, to put the record straight, whatever the end result, the acting problem was NOT Mr. Funk's fault as his voice was looped over by a different actor (who is unknown, as are the reasons for doing this.) Before the voice looping, Mr. Funk's portrayal of Dax was well up to par. Having now seen Mr. Funk in Wildside, I can testify that the voice doesn't sound like him, and seemed a wooden, exaggerated attempt at an imitation of him.
In 'In the Beginning', Arcane is playing with his biosphere and summoning rain. Notice carefully that Arcane is soaking wet just BEFORE the rain starts. I wonder how many takes that took to get right! :)
Back to 'In the Beginning again'. Arcane, Graham and Will are huddled together as the creature makes its escape past them, looking at it in horror. Just before the scene cuts away, notice Scott Garrison at the end breaking into laughter at something that's obviously happened off screen?
In 'Lesser of Two Evils', Arcane is beaten up and unchained from the wall, then dragged away by Carla's female assistants. Mark Lindsay Chapman can clearly be seen smiling and saying an aside (looks like “Thank you”) to one of the actresses. It’s possible it’s meant to be in the text, but if it was Arcane being snide, then surely the comment wouldn’t have been understated. It comes across more as a comment by the actor, but judge for yourselves.
This time it's 'Sonata'. Matt and Burl Caleb are planning to go to Houma to kill Arcane. They stop at Skillets diner/restaurant and are clearly heard saying that they still have several hours drive left before they reach Houma. Now the must have a *really* slow car since Skillets is in the middle of Houma's town centre! (There’s no doubt that what’s responsible for this is the use of budget stock shots to show the externals of restaurants, and the one used happened to be one also used for Houma scenes)
In 'Treasure', Cynthia flees the Langford House near the end after shooting Tressa. It's night time and Alec is in the attic, weak from lack of sunlight and proximity to the swamp. Suddenly, it's daytime outside, and Alec, who had been close to death now has the strength to heal and resurrect Tressa! Sorry, but I don't buy it, guys!
In 'Never Alone' Alec is dying from his wounds. The excuse given is that he's sustained too much damage (he's lost an arm) and can't get back to the swamp. Bollocks!! In 'Specter of death' he's completely dismembered. We're talking lots of little Alec pieces here. And he's no further away than in 'Never Alone'. His injuries don't seem to be more than a minor inconvenience then, and he merely regenerates, gets up and walks away!
'Patient Zero' (We can have a field day with this one). The Zero Virus is obviously meant to be a parallel to the HIV/AIDs situation; however, it was a bad choice for the following reasons: HIV is so deadly because it is dormant for years in unsuspecting hosts, while active and infectious. The Zero Virus may spend 10 years in the system, but for that time it's NOT infectious (at least that's how it comes across in the episode.) When it does show up as active, the host is obviously ill and dies within days. Since the virus is neither air nor water borne (only spread through bodily fluids) this would mean it being easily contained and would have little chance of spreading. Hardly a world threat! And another thing; for now let's just forget the previous statement and assume that this virus *is* a world threat. Alec witnessed Arcane being covered in blood, and presumably infected. Parnell begs him not to see the virus get any further before he dies. Aside from burying Parnell, what does Alec do, considering his usual stand as world saviour?.....absolutely bloody nothing! Logically, I would have thought he'd be going all out to either a) cure Arcane, or b) kill the guy. Not even a single mention of this somewhat important plot arc development in any episode following it! Naughty writers (although it is possible it was an intended plotline for the series that never got made. Speculate is all we can do.) The reasoning was that mortality being nearer for Arcane would make him more obsessive in his search for immortality. Fair enough, but considering how obsessive he already is, even after Tatania's death, wasn't all this just a tad redundant?
Alec's explanation as to why he needs to save Arcane in 'Eye for an Eye' just doesn't cut it. The explanation was that if the panther ingested Arcane's evil it would grow and multiply, and pass that evil on to subsequent generations. Come on, guys. The panther was preternatural. It just appeared and disappeared. It wasn't having Panther rugrats. Besides, it had already killed enough nasty little victims. Eating Arcane was hardly going to make it any more evil since it was a creature of the swamp. And it could have killed him *without* eating him. If they'd simply had Alec using compassion that would have been a better reason (stupid yes, but in character and more believable!) There is an actual explanation for this that does make more sense, but it's never actually mentioned in the episode itself, so I guess I'd better mention it here. The Panther was intended to be a summoning by the swamp that is nature's interpretation of Arcane's evil energy (although why eating him would make it worse is still beyond me); and that Arcane's full repentance of all his deeds is the only thing that can dissipate it, i.e. make it lose it's evil coherence and go.
And speaking of that Swamp Panther from “Eye for an Eye”; it’s the strangest Panther I’ve ever seen! Funny, I could have sworn it was a swamp COUGAR.
In 'Mist Demeanour', why was Abigail's death necessary to make the mist go? and why couldn't Alec even try to bring her back? OK, so the plot device was needed because Kari Wuhrer was leaving the series, but it could have been explained in a more plausible way. "Her greater destiny" was mentioned. OK! So what happened to that destiny then? What was it? Nothing more was ever heard from Abigail.
In ‘Return of LaRoche’, at the end, it’s safe to assume that Arcane and Alec begin their journey to the swamp at roughly the same time; Alec after he’s scared Carter; and Arcane after he’s run him over in the car. Now assuming Alec is lumbering about on foot (and sneaking through town slowly as usual, trying not to be seen; not to mention waiting to get out of the building equally unseen), and Arcane is driving his 4 X 4 at full speed, and heads straight for the swamp to clear things up; how come Alec is already at the swamp waiting for him when Arcane arrives there?? Alec has got to be the fastest runner going!!
Exactly WHEN did Alec Holland’s ‘accident’ occur? In ‘Revelations’, it’s mentioned as being 7 years ago (presumably 7 years from when he first started recording his history, which would probably have been around ‘Sonata’ in 1992, hence the accident would have been 5 years before the events in the series, around 1984/85; or it could have been seven years prior to the series, in 1982/83 (which would be a little more consistent with the first movie). However, in ‘Living Image’, the fake Linda clearly says it was 10 years ago, which would have made it 1980. It doesn’t really matter, when all’s said and done; but consistency would have been nice.
Credit Problems: In "Special Request", Rick Swanson is wrongly credited as 'Rick Morrison'. In "Future Tense", Congressman Newton is wrongly credited as 'Senator George Parker', in "The Hurting", the Reverend Miller is wrongly mentioned as Houma's previous minister, Reverend Dwayne Willeford. Actor and character names are even spelled wrong: In "Brotherly Love", Brad is played by David Ruprecht, but his name is spelled ‘Reprecht’; and a very unforgivable one comes in "That's a Wrap", when poor Carrell Myers is reduced to being Tressa Kip, not Kipp.
.In 'From Beyond the Grave' Everett Baxtor is surrounded by Gators who move in to kill. At first glance it looks like he's snapped up and eaten; but a closer look sounds like a gunshot to the Gators. The scene cuts away too abruptly. The very next scene is a completely bizarre and unexplained one. Arcane is in his cave throwing a right royal tantrum. He's half naked, throwing equipment around, wearing a chain round his neck and ranting Shakespearean dialogue for no apparent reason. Now it's fair to say he'd be a bit miffed at the way events turned out, but this scene is crazy. It looks like some explanation got cut out along the way.
In 'Legend of the Swamp Maiden' there was full frontal nudity filmed which was cut out for transmission (mentioned in a Fantazia magazine article.)
The same article mentioning the above edited material, also mentioned that there were other (unspecified) scenes cut from the episodes.
In 'Grotesquery', Savannah Langford is credited as being in the cast. All official episode guides mention her as being the one lobbying Arcane to clean up the swamp. However, she's never actually in the episode and Tressa is the one who lobbies.
In 'Dark Side of the Mirror', Doc Duhame is credited as appearing as Kiefer; yet he's never seen in the episode itself.
In ‘Return of LaRoche’ Alec refers to an incident where he warned Will about Carter LaRoche, stating that he knew of Will’s visit to him. There was no such conversation or prior interplay between Alec and Will shown in the episode. It is always possible that it was simply a plot device to mention an unseen incident, and not a scene that is missing, but it’s noticeable by its absence.
Also in 'Return of LaRoche', could Carter's knowing about Alec not be a continuity error (see the previous section), but a scene that was never shown in 'Better Angels' ?
In several episodes, characters are credited with names that are never given in the episodes themselves. This may indicate missing scenes; or may simply be names added at the script stage that never made it to film. Some examples are Heather Jo from ‘Emerald Heart’, ‘Hurd Fitch’ from the same episode, ‘Kiefer’ from two second season episodes, Gardenia from ‘Grotesquery’, plus numerous others.
In 'Falco', as the guests are leaving the reception after Savannah's death, Arcane suggests coming round to Tressa's for afternoon tea. Tressa flatly refuses, twice, and Arcane leaves. However, later on, he's seen at the house having afternoon tea with her. What happened? Did Tressa change her mind? Did Arcane turn up on her doorstep with a fait accompli and the sandwiches? It looks like there might have been an interim scene to explain the change of circumstances. It was very noticeable by its absence.
5.0. VIEWERSHIP AND PRESS
5.1. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT THE SERIES?
COMICS SCENE # 16 ran a 4 page colour article in December 1990. It contains mini interviews with Boris Malden, Dick Durock, Mark Lindsay Chapman and Jesse Zeigler. Photos of Swampy, Arcane, the Swamp Maiden and mutants. A very good article with a lot of information.
FANTAZIA # 8 ran a b/w 2 page article on the first season, complete with mini-episode guide for the early episodes. There is also an interview with Dick Durock. Photos of Swampy, Arcane, Jim and Tressa
EPI-LOG # 10 ran a b/w season 1 and 2 episode guide containing photos of Swampy, Arcane, Will and Abigail. This was reprinted in the 1992 summer special, and the book; "The Superhero Illustrated Guidebook"
DC: 60 YEARS OF THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE COMIC BOOKS (by Les Daniels) is a book that ran 2 pages of text and colour photos of Swampy and Arcane. It covers both the movies and the TV series.
THE COMPLETE DIRECTORY TO PRIME TIME NETWORK AND CABLE TV SHOWS 1946 - PRESENT: contains 2 columns of text about cast and synopsis (with some errors and no photos)
THERE IS A BASIC PRESS KIT with series premise, history, credits, brief cast biogs etc. This is sometimes available from the Sci Fi Channel (without photos) Originals of this can occasionally be found at memorabilia shops, complete with the aforementioned information, plus various stills and slides. Two press kits are known to exist for seasons 1 and 2. A season 3 one is almost certain to exist, but it hasn't been located yet.
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ran a reasonable sized article by Howard Rosenberg in the January 10th 1992 edition (beginning of the third season.) There is a photo (content unknown) but a pictureless copy is available from the LA Times website (for a small fee though)
PEOPLE MAGAZINE IN THE JULY 15TH 1985 ran a largish article on Mark Lindsay Chapman (with photo). This is well prior to Swamp Thing though, and is written by William Plummer and reported by Jonathon Cooper.
NEW YORK POST IN APRIL 7TH 1986 ran an article on Mark Lindsay Chapman; also well prior to Swamp Thing; and written by Tim Boxer.
THE US TV GUIDE ran picture advertisements for most of the episodes, in conjunction with their other original programming, including Ray Bradbury Theater, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Hitchhiker. Most ads used generic pictures of Swamp Thing/Arcane but contained a brief episode description. Larger ads would run when guest stars were featured and during ratings "sweeps" periods. Some larger ads were featured for the episodes "The Watchers", "Birthmarks", "Dark Side of the Mirror" and "Prometheus Parabola". There may have been others, but I am unsure of these.
TV ZONE #92: Memory Alpha column published a letter and two columns on the series and Mark Lindsay Chapman, with 2 photographs, both of which were incorrect and from the 1982 movie instead. A revision letter was printed in issue #93. (I’d like to give a thank you to Jane Killick of TV Zone for her time, trouble and great help in investigating this )
STARLOG #246: Contains an interview with Steve Sears, which is mostly concerning Xena, but does have a paragraph on Swamp Thing
5.2. HAS SWAMP THING BEEN REVIEWED OR COVERED BY ANY TV PROGRAMS?
Only two that we know about. The Sci Fi Channel used to run a short behind the scenes promo of the second series (about 3 mins long), which contained some *very* short mini interviews (including Mark Lindsay Chapman, Carrell Myers and some of the crew), and an out-take of Dick Durock having problems with the Swampy costume. A very nice, informative little program that could have done with being longer (which performed the amazing feat of actually making the show look high budget!!) Sci Fi Channel showed it as a filler between programs; although they haven't in a while now, and don't plan to again. Sci Fi Channel Europe have just made their own 3 min filler show, which has a variety of clips (including tracing the show's history in movies and comics), some mini-interviews (including the one of Mark Lindsay Chapman from the US filler show, as well as Wes Craven.) It's a nice attempt to give a decent amount of information in only 3 mins, but considering how little time there was, perhaps too much of it was spent dwelling on the movies and comics, which don't really have much to do with the style of the TV show. Some nice artistic segways between the clips worked well though, and brought out the humour of the series very well.