The arrival of Swamp Thing on The CW couldn't be more perfectly timed. Beyond coinciding with what would have been the start of the new fall television season, the one-season-wonder of the DC Universe streaming service is a perfect Halloween treat for horror enthusiasts and the sort of show that holds broad appeal for The CW's core demographics.

Created at the height of the horror comics revival of the 1970s, Swamp Thing was a monster hit for DC Comics. The original series centered around Dr. Alec Holland; a botanist who was doused with chemicals and left for dead in the swamp hiding his secret lab by gangsters after the secrets of his research. Transformed into a plant-man, Holland struggled to make sense of his new form while hunting down the criminals responsible for transforming him and killing his wife. Comics' legend Alan Moore would later redefine the character, turning him into a guardian of the environment while also increasing Swamp Thing's powers to allow him to control the plants around him. Swamp Thing has been a horror icon ever since, thanks in part to Moore's work, a 1982 film adaptation written and directed by Wes Craven and a television series which ran for three seasons. Hopes were high for DC Universe's attempt to revive Swamp Thing with a new streaming series overseen by Aquaman director James Wan. Sadly, despite winning over critics and fans alike, the new Swamp Thing series was canceled with only a single episode having aired.

Given the drama behind the original production, many were surprised when The CW announced that they would rerun all ten episodes of the new Swamp Thing series as a summer fill-in. Despite the network needing new material to fill its schedule in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Swamp Thing seemed like an odd fit for The CW, despite a schedule full of other adaptations of DC Comics' properties. The CW is largely viewed as a youth-market and most of its programming is aimed at teens and young adults, making a horror series centered around two thirty-something scientists seem like a tough sell.


The CW wound up delaying their rerun of Swamp Thing until the fall, though no reason was given for the delay. The timing, however, seems incredibly fitting for several reasons. Many young people celebrate Halloween as a month-long festival rather than a single holiday, seeking out spooky entertainment all through October. Swamp Thing's story is a perfect fit for the spirit of the season. The horrific tone is also a good match for the aesthetic of Supernatural, the longest-running series on The CW.

The weird romance at the center of Swamp Thing is another factor to be considered. Many of The CW's most popular original series have centered around romantic dramas between supernatural beings. While Swamp Thing Season 1 barely had a chance to touch upon this, there was a hint of something growing between Dr. Abby Arcane and the titular swamp monster. Certainly, the show has enough going for it that network president Mark Pedowitz has said he is open to reviving the series and supporting a second season of Swamp Thing on The CW. That gives fans of the show ample reason to watch it again on The CW and spread the word to those who might not have seen it yet.

Swamp Thing premieres on The CW on Tuesday, October 6 at 8 PM EST.