List of Swamp Thing (1990 TV series) episodes
This is an episode list for the science fiction, action/adventure television series Swamp Thing. The series is based on the Vertigo Comics character the Swamp Thing and reprises Dick Durock as the title character. Originally airing on USA Network, the series ran from 1990 to 1993 with a total of three seasons. It was planned to run for 100 episodes but ended prematurely after 72.
In 2008, Shout! Factory released DVD collections of Swamp Thing episodes in their proper chronological order. The following list, however, lists them as they originally aired on USA Network.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 22 | July 27, 1990 | April 5, 1991 | |
| 2 | 11 | January 3, 1992 | March 20, 1992 | |
| 3 | 39 | July 10, 1992 | May 1, 1993 | |
Episodes
Season 1 (1990–91)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Emerald Heart" | Fritz Kiersch | Joseph Stefano | July 27, 1990 | |
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11-year-old Jim Kipp and his mother, Tressa are spending some time at her mom's house in the swamps of Houma. Jim is introduced to the mysteries and the danger of the swamp while Tressa struggles to bond with Jim. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Living Image" | John McPherson | Story by : Joseph Stefano, Judith Berg, and Sandra Berg Teleplay by : David Braff, Judith Berg, and Sandra Berg | September 7, 1990 | |
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Dr. Arcane attempts once again to obtain the bio-restorative formula from the Swamp Thing. However, this time Arcane has a helper, and the Swamp Thing knows her as his late wife, Linda Holland. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Death of Dr. Arcane" | John McPherson | Story by : Joseph Stefano Teleplay by : Judith Berg & Sandra Berg | September 14, 1990 | |
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Arcane has unleashed his latest mutant monster into the swamp to eat everything it sees and if this test trial works, then more will be released. To ensure that the Swamp Thing does not interfere, he takes a hostage and bargains for immunity. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Legend of the Swamp Maiden" | Yuri Sivo | Lorenzo Domenico | September 21, 1990 | |
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Jim and Oboe sneak out on a midnight visit to the swamp to find the Swamp Maiden, who appears only once a year. Despite warnings from the Swamp Thing, they, along with a visitor from the newspaper, come to learn the meaning of "looks that kill". | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Spirit of the Swamp" | Yuri Sivo | Story by : Michael Reaves, Judith Berg & Sandra Berg Teleplay by : Judith Berg and Sandra Berg | September 28, 1990 | |
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Veteran actor Roscoe Lee Browne plays an "Ogun," a voodoo priest whom Arcane employs to destroy the Swamp Thing. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Blood Wind" | Walter Von Huene | Marc Scott Zicree | October 5, 1990 | |
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Arcane's protégé, whom he refers to as the "Crown Prince", is experimenting with hatred pheromones and his latest batch,. which supposedly failed, is dumped in the swamp. The Swamp Thing has to intervene when Tressa is exposed and is in danger of being murdered - by everyone. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Grotesquery" | David Jackson | Michele Barinholtz | October 12, 1990 | |
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The Swamp Thing is overcome by toxic waste and falls unconscious where he is found by two men and is sold to a carnival freak show run by a cruel man in league with Arcane. Jim stumbles upon the carnival and tries to help the Swamp Thing before it is too late. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Natural Enemy" | Tony Dow | Robert Goethals | October 19, 1990 | |
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A mutant insect is on the loose in the swamp, and Jim's curiosity makes him a victim of its deadly bite. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Treasure" | Tony Dow | Jon Ezrine | October 26, 1990 | |
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A thief on the run from his female accomplice chooses the swamp as his hiding place for a fortune in stolen cash - and Jim's house as his final stop. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "New Acquaintance" | David Jackson | Lawrence G. DiTillo, Wade Johnson, & Daniel Kennedy | November 2, 1990 | |
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Jim is feeling lonely and tries to make a new friend when he meets a mysterious young girl in town, named Lily, who invites herself into Jim and Tressa‘s home, and who carries a dark secret. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Falco" | Fritz Kiersch | Joseph Stefano | November 9, 1990 | |
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One of Arcane's mutants arrives in the swamp to exact revenge on him. The Swamp Thing tries to make him understand how to live with what he is. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "From Beyond the Grave" | Tony Dow | Wade Johnson & Daniel Kennedy | November 16, 1990 | |
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Jim and Tressa may have to leave the swamp after a lawyer delivers a notice of eviction in the form of a will from Tressa's late mother. But they are unaware that the lawyer is in league with Dr. Arcane. Meanwhile, Tressa's mother's spirit guides her to the swamp where the real answers lie. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "The Shipment" | Walter Von Huene | Story by : Joseph Stefano, Judith Berg, & Sandra Berg Teleplay by : Judith Berg and Sandra Berg | November 23, 1990 | |
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Arcane captures Jim and sells him into slavery after the boy is witness to the evil doctor's hideous transformations of men into monsters and the local sheriff is in on the plans. Jim’s 17-year-old half-brother, Will, arrives to investigate Jim’s disappearance and teams up with the Swamp Thing to find him. | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Birth Marks" | Walter Von Huene | Tom Greene | February 1, 1991 | |
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A runaway teenage synthetic human, named Abigail, escapes from Dr. Woodroe's lab when it explodes and is seen running through the streets by Will, who takes her in. Meanwhile, a baby is swept away by the waters of the swamp from the same explosion - and into the arms of the Swamp Thing. | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Dark Side of the Mirror" | Bruce Seth Green | W.M. Whitehead | February 8, 1991 | |
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Arcane plots and murders the local district attorney when he swears to bring Arcane down. A high profile murder tied to Arcane would be hard to hide, unless someone nobody would suspect commits the crime. Somebody like...the Swamp Thing. | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Silent Screams" | Walter Von Huene | Judith Berg & Sandra Berg | February 15, 1991 | |
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Tressa and her friends are victims of another one of Arcane's experiments for General Sunderland. Tressa tries to save her friends when they suddenly disappear in the swamp right before her eyes. | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Walk a Mile In My Shoots" | Bruce Seth Green | Jonathon Torp | February 22, 1991 | |
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The Swamp Thing and Arcane switch bodies for a night and find that they are not fit to walk in each other's shoes. | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "The Watchers" | Lyndon Chubbuck | Tom Greene & W.M. Whitehead | March 1, 1991 | |
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Tressa accidentally uncovers a pair of robots casing the swamp and the Kipp residence in search of any evidence of Dr. Woodrue's experiments. Abigail is on the run and the Watchers must deal with the Swamp Thing to get to her. | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "The Hunt" | Bruce Seth Green | Wade Johnson & Daniel Kennedy | March 8, 1991 | |
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Tempers flare when Will's estranged father shows up looking for a rare white orchid that Arcane has paid him to steal. Will's trust is broken, and so is the swamp's when he leads his father to it unwittingly. Meanwhile, Arcane tests his poisonous mutant garden on Abigail. | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Touch of Death" | Walter Von Huene | Tom Greene & W.M. Whitehead | March 15, 1991 | |
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Arcane experiments on an innocent man by murdering him and trying to revive him with a serum, stolen from Alec Holland years ago. The man comes back to life again with severe side effects for anyone who touches him, even the Swamp Thing. | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "Tremors of the Heart" | Mitchell Bock | Wade Johnson & Daniel Kennedy | March 22, 1991 | |
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Romance and murder are in the air at the Arcane complex when he and his newest associate, Sienna, build a machine to make artificial earthquakes for General Sunderland. The two bicker and kiss back and forth as the earthquakes put Tressa and the Swamp Thing in serious danger. | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "The Prometheus Parabola" | Walter Von Huene | Tom Greene & W.M. Whitehead | April 5, 1991 | |
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An old adversary of Arcane is back in town and he has something Arcane wants. Tressa and Abigail are held hostage and the swamp takes a deadly blow as a result. | ||||||
Season 2 (1992)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Night of the Dying" | Steve Beers | Tom Blonquist | January 3, 1992 | |
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Arcane is possessed by evil spirits when he tries to practice voodoo. | ||||||
| 24 | 2 | "Love Lost" | David S. Jackson | Tom Blomquist | January 10, 1992 | |
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The Swamp Thing is struggling to remain hopeful that he will be human again. Someone from the past comes to visit him, using Will to guide her to him. Only Will does not believe that she is who she says she is, and he is about to learn who he can and cannot trust. | ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "Mist Demeanor" | David S. Jackson | Steven L. Sears | January 17, 1992 | |
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When a killer mist emerges from the swamp and invades Houma, the Swamp Thing and Arcane must team up to try to stop it before it decimates the whole town. Meanwhile, Will and Abigail race to warn the town. | ||||||
| 26 | 4 | "A Nightmare on Jackson Street" | Walter Von Huene | Jeff Myrow | January 24, 1992 | |
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Will has a secret from his past that comes back to haunt him. The swamp forces Will to face his inner demons, as well as the visitors that he does not know are waiting for him at the house. | ||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Better Angels" | David S. Jackson | Babs Greyhosky | January 31, 1992 | |
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Ann Fisk, a scientist and former student of Alec Holland, is in town. Ann's mentor, Carter LaRoche, has designs to build a recycling factory under Arcane’s financing in the swamp. Ann must trust a strange voice in the swamp to expose an evil that she is not aware of. | ||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Children of the Fool" | David S. Jackson | Fred Golan | February 7, 1992 | |
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Will falls in love with a lovely carnival worker named Amanda. Yet, Will becomes aware that Amanda is being held against her will by the shady carnie owner, Hurley, who has a dark agenda for Will. | ||||||
| 29 | 7 | "A Jury of His Fears" | Walter Von Huene | Tom Blomquist | February 14, 1992 | |
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Arcane is judged by the victims of his evil when he is killed by a laboratory accident. In this mock trial, he finds out who hates him and why, while he unsuccessfully tries to defend himself. | ||||||
| 30 | 8 | "Poisonous" | Walter Von Huene | Jeff Myrow | February 21, 1992 | |
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Ian James, an unscrupulous anthropologist, has come to the swamp to create a reputation for himself and the swamp suffers for it. Tressa is quite taken with him and in the process, the Swamp Thing is caught on film. | ||||||
| 31 | 9 | "Smoke and Mirrors" | Steve Beers | Tom Blomquist | February 28, 1992 | |
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Nathan Stone is a heavy metal musician staying alone in the Kipp boarding house where the Swamp Thing terrorizes him with a series of mind games as he seeks to teach the shallow and egotistical rock star to take responsibility for his wicked lyrics that have led to the suicide of two teenage fans. | ||||||
| 32 | 10 | "This Old House of Mayan" | Walter Von Huene | Steven L. Sears | March 6, 1992 | |
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Will is taken hostage by two greedy explorers who force him to help them find the location of a mystic Mayan temple in the swamp, housing buried treasure...and ghosts. | ||||||
| 33 | 11 | "Sonata" | Chuck Bowman | Babs Greyhosky | March 20, 1992 | |
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Ann Fisk returns to the swamp to find the mysterious voice that guided her before on the suspicion that she knows who he is. The Swamp Thing has discovered a fascinating phenomenom about his power. Meanwhile, two brothers seek revenge on Arcane for his evil and Ann is caught in the middle. | ||||||
Season 3 (1992–93)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 1 | "Dead and Married" | Steve Beers | Steven L. Sears | July 10, 1992 | |
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Will finds a car in the swamp, and attached are two married ghosts and their remains. The search for their killer, who just might be an old acquaintance of theirs, begins with the help of Will and the Swamp Thing. | ||||||
| 35 | 2 | "Powers of Darkness" | Chuck Bowman | W. Reed Moran | July 17, 1992 | |
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Dorian is an emotionally troubled teenager. He befriends Will, who begins to discover his troubled home life. Will and the Swamp Thing begin to try to help Dorian but there is one catch...Dorian could also be a vampire. | ||||||
| 36 | 3 | "Special Request" | John McPherson | Terry D. Nelson | July 24, 1992 | |
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Still fruitlessly searching for her missing son Jim, Tressa is diverted when she hears the voice of her former boyfriend, a radio jockey from the 70's. Tressa begins a second hunt for answers, as she discovers what really happened when her boyfriend disappeared 18 years ago, guided by his voice from the grave. | ||||||
| 37 | 4 | "What Goes Around, Comes Around" | Chuck Bowman | Jim Byrnes | July 31, 1992 | |
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Sheriff Andrews allows Dr. Arcane to hunt an employee for sport. To teach Andrews a lesson, the Swamp Thing traps the corrupt sheriff in a fantasy of the Wild West populated by familiar faces, forcing him to duel the evil Renegade Jake in a fight to the death. | ||||||
| 38 | 5 | "Fear Itself" | John McPherson | Brenda Lilly | August 7, 1992 | |
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The Swamp Thing's worst enemy is also the enemy of the swamp...himself. | ||||||
| 39 | 6 | "Changes" | John McPherson | Steven L. Sears & Jeff Myrow | August 14, 1992 | |
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When Arcane unleashes a genetic assassin into the swamp in the form of a virus, he gets more than he bargained for; he not only gets rid of the Swamp Thing, but he accidentally brings Alec Holland back. | ||||||
| 40 | 7 | "Destiny" | Tom DeSimone | Jim Byrnes | August 21, 1992 | |
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The ghosts of two temporally displaced Confederate Civil War soldiers appear in the swamp, one of whom is a previous resident of Will's house. The Swamp Thing assists Will to help the man to discover the mystery behind his wartime disappearance and make peace with his past. | ||||||
| 41 | 8 | "Tatania" | John McPherson | Randy Holland | August 28, 1992 | |
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Arcane finally resurrects his wife Tatania, only to learn the woman is an impostor. A few hours in the lab with this woman leads Arcane to discover the true whereabouts of his beloved wife and the identity of her captor; General Sunderland. | ||||||
| 42 | 9 | "Mirador's Brain" | Tom DeSimone | Bruce Lansbury | September 11, 1992 | |
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Arcane's genius mentor, Carl Mirador, has died. Using an experimental brain cell transfer, Arcane transfers all of Mirador's knowledge into his own brain. Unfortunately, he also transfers Mirador's mental illnesses. Meanwhile, Will meets, and falls for, Mirador’s granddaughter, Dana. | ||||||
| 43 | 10 | "Lesser of Two Evils" | Walter Von Huene | Steven L. Sears & Tom Blomquist | September 19, 1992 | |
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Arcane's rival, Carla Jeffries (Tyne Daly) takes over his business, putting Arcane in the streets and stealing his "loyal assistant", Graham. The Swamp Thing discovers that she is a much more formidable enemy than Arcane ever was. | ||||||
| 44 | 11 | "Revelations" | Chuck Bowman | Tom Blomquist & Steven L. Sears | September 26, 1992 | |
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Graham leads a team of heavily armed mercenaries into the swamp to kill the Swamp Thing once and for all. Meanwhile, Tressa learns a few of the secrets of the swamp when she has a wounded visitor. | ||||||
| 45 | 12 | "Easy Prey" | Steve Beers | Jim Byrnes | October 3, 1992 | |
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A hunter and his son search the swamp for an endangered hawk. Their relationship is in shreds, and their conflict may prove deadly for Will, who has been adopted by the swamp to help protect the hawk. | ||||||
| 46 | 13 | "The Handyman" | Andrew Stevens | Terry D. Nelson | October 10, 1992 | |
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Arcane hosts a science conference, but it is crashed by a professional hit man who used to work for Sunderland and now has a score to settle. The Swamp Thing discovers the identity of the hit man and has a score to settle of his own... | ||||||
| 47 | 14 | "Future Tense" | Steve Beers | Terry D. Nelson | October 17, 1992 | |
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A chemical plant causing toxic damage to the swamp is the key to a darker future. The owner of the chemical plant and an obsessed journalist are teleported to the future to see first hand what the damage is causing. | ||||||
| 48 | 15 | "Hide in the Night" | Andrew Stevens | Steven L. Sears | October 24, 1992 | |
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Arcane's experiment to bring out the inner beast in a human being works a little too well. He goes on a rampage and his assistants will suffer the cost as they, along with the Swamp Thing, search the swamp to stop him. | ||||||
| 49 | 16 | "Pay Day" | Tom Blomquist | Tom Blomquist | October 31, 1992 | |
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Three convicts escape from prison in search of loot from a heist buried in the swamp. They soon discover they are not only being followed by the cops, but the Swamp Thing as well. | ||||||
| 50 | 17 | "The Return of LaRoche" | Andrew Stevens | Babs Greyhosky | November 7, 1992 | |
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Arcane is convinced that Carter LaRoche is attacking him in the night. But LaRoche is locked up in an insane asylum, and he is getting pretty friendly with Will. | ||||||
| 51 | 18 | "Rites of Passage" | Chuck Bowman | John Lansing & Bruce Cervi | November 14, 1992 | |
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Will leads two spoiled girls on a journey through the swamp that tests their character. | ||||||
| 52 | 19 | "Never Alone" | Walter Von Huene | Fred Golan | November 21, 1992 | |
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A lunatic escapes from a local asylum and knocks on Tressa's door late at night. He proclaims himself as an alien killer. Even the Swamp Thing is in danger. | ||||||
| 53 | 20 | "A Most Bitter Pill" | Tom Blomquist | Tom Blomquist | December 5, 1992 | |
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Arcane, trapped in a cave with an unconscious Swamp Thing, launches into a monologue that sheds light on his motivations and (deep, enormous) neuroses. | ||||||
| 54 | 21 | "The Curse" | Chuck Bowman | Jeff Myrow | December 12, 1992 | |
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Arcane and a scheming hack journalist unearth a cursed mummy. | ||||||
| 55 | 22 | "Judgment Day" | Chuck Bowman | W. Reed Moran | December 19, 1992 | |
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Will is arrested for a murder that he did not commit. | ||||||
| 56 | 23 | "Eye of the Storm" | Chuck Bowman | Brenda Lilly | January 9, 1993 | |
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Tressa’s long-estranged sister returns looking for shelter from an enemy of her husband and ends up putting the Kipp house in danger, in the midst of a hurricane. | ||||||
| 57 | 24 | "Vendetta" | Steve Beers | W. Reed Moran | January 16, 1993 | |
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Arcane wines and dines a pretty reporter, but she is not who she claims to be. | ||||||
| 58 | 25 | "The Hurting" | Chuck Bowman | Tom Blomquist | January 23, 1993 | |
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When an elderly woman, named Irma Swanson, who knew and befriended the Swamp Thing, dies, her estranged daughter, Cathy, comes to town for her funeral. The Swamp Thing and the spirit of Irma then show Cathy the past of Irma’s troubled life in order for Cathy to make amends. | ||||||
| 59 | 26 | "The Burning Times" | Mitchell Bock | Katharyn Powers | January 30, 1993 | |
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Will falls in love with a woman who claims to have known him in a past life. | ||||||
| 60 | 27 | "The Specter of Death" | Tony Dow | Tom Blomquist | February 6, 1993 | |
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Arcane and Graham are haunted by a poltergeist...a familiar one. | ||||||
| 61 | 28 | "Cross-Fired" | Chuck Bowman | John Lansing & Bruce Cervi | February 13, 1993 | |
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An experiment gone awry turns Arcane into a kind-hearted good guy and renders the Swamp Thing helpless and insane. | ||||||
| 62 | 29 | "Patient Zero" | Walter Von Huene | Judith Berg & Sandra Berg | February 20, 1993 | |
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An old man has a deadly, infectious virus that only Alec's blood can cure. Arcane tries to exploit the disease for himself. | ||||||
| 63 | 30 | "The Chains of Forever" | Mitchell Bock | Randy Holland | February 27, 1993 | |
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A mysterious couple search the swamp for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Unfortunately the megalomaniac Arcane learns about the couple’s plans and tries to find the Fountain first, as Will is caught in the middle of the couple’s debate on whether or not the Fountain even exists. | ||||||
| 64 | 31 | "In the Beginning" | Chuck Bowman | Terry D. Nelson | March 6, 1993 | |
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Arcane accidentally creates a half-plant/half-robot with evil intentions from a mutated garden. The results are deadly to the swamp. | ||||||
| 65 | 32 | "Brotherly Love" | Walter Von Huene | Jim Byrnes | March 13, 1993 | |
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Brad is dating Tressa, but his brother is a killer who is looking for him. | ||||||
| 66 | 33 | "An Eye for an Eye" | Tom DeSimone | Jeff Myrow | March 20, 1993 | |
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The justice of the swamp comes in the form of a panther that stalks Arcane's compound. Arcane and his associates will be humbled one way or another, and the Swamp Thing can do nothing about it. | ||||||
| 67 | 34 | "Yo Ho Ho" | Walter Von Huene | David Kemper | March 27, 1993 | |
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A little boy dreams of being a pirate. When the boy accidentally stumbles on a plot from Arcane, it could cost him and his mother their lives. The Swamp Thing and Will help the boy's dream come true. | ||||||
| 68 | 35 | "Heart of Stone" | Mitchell Bock | Alan Jay Glueckman | April 3, 1993 | |
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The gods make a bet and the swamp is the playground. | ||||||
| 69 | 36 | "Romancing Arcane" | Tony Dow | Jeff Myrow | April 10, 1993 | |
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Arcane falls in love with a model. But will his counterfeit emeralds scheme doom their romance? | ||||||
| 70 | 37 | "Swamp of Dreams" | John McPherson | Randy Holland | April 17, 1993 | |
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The Swamp Thing gets addicted to hallucinogenic iguana eggs which makes him live out a fantasy of being human again. His addictions almost cost Will his life when Arcane gets involved. | ||||||
| 71 | 38 | "Heart of the Mantis" | Walter Von Huene | Steven L. Sears | April 24, 1993 | |
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One of Arcane's mentors, Oliver Duncan, has died, taking his secret research with him. Arcane is determined to get at what is left of his research by seducing Oliver's daughter, Louise. But Louise has plans of her own. | ||||||
| 72 | 39 | "That's a Wrap" | Walter Von Huene | Story by : Steven L. Sears Teleplay by : Tom Blomquist & Jeff Myrow | May 1, 1993 | |
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A film crew comes to the swamp for a TV movie about Arcane. But things quickly go awry when the lead actor is murdered and mysterious script pages appear detailing the truth about Alec's transformation and Arcane's crimes. | ||||||