The Swarm - General Discussion

[AnimeMania]

The Swarm is an 8 episode Drama TV Series airing on The CW on September 12, 2023 at 9pm. The Swarm TV Series is based on Frank Schätzing’s 2004 novel "Der Schwarm" (The Swarm). The Swarm TV Series was a German production by ZDF filmed in 13 countries including Canada, Italy (outdoor scenes) and Belgium (underwater studio sets). The Swarm was filmed in English to have better access to an international market. Two documentaries about the production of the TV Series were also made at the same time. The Swarm has already aired on ZDF in Germany, on Sky in the UK, on France 2 in France, on RAI in Italy, on Hulu Japan in Japan, on ORF in Austria, on SRF in Switzerland, on Nordic Entertainment Group in Scandinavia and several other countries.   

The Swarm is a present day cautionary tale where anomalies and unnatural behavior in marine animals are causing upheaval all over the world, like pathogens spreading into drinking water and attacks perpetrated by sea creatures. With the situation worsening by the day, nobody can draw a connection between these seemingly random disasters, except for a group of scientists who believe there is an intelligent life force dwelling in and manipulating the ocean. According to the scientists, this being has witnessed the destruction of the seas and has decided to drive humans to extinction. Since hardly anyone believes their findings, they must undertake a life-threatening mission to get some proof and track down this elusive being residing in the Arctic Ocean. A mission they know may claim their lives.

The first 3/4ths of The Swarm is about things that are or could actually happen in reality, before they start incorporating the more surreal fantasy elements.

Alexander Karim as Dr. Sigur Johanson, a pathologist The marine biologist is an internationally recognised expert. His work forces him to make compromises that are increasingly troubling him. When an old flame returns, his passion for science and the environment is given an unprecedented boost, and Johanson opens a door to an unknown world. 

Krista Kosonen as Tina Lund, she convinces Dr. Sigur Johanson to do a study of the seabed for "Hovedstad", a Norwegian oil company.

Cécile de France as Dr. Cécile Roche, a French virologist, an expert in molecular biology. When a dangerous bacterium appears, her fears of an uncontrollable pandemic become reality. Roche decides that the best way to save the lives of her nearest and dearest, is to fight this new danger on the front lines.

Leonie Benesch as Charlie Wagner, a marine biology student in Scotland plauged by equipment failures and faulty readings. She is a talented doctoral student, who collects ocean current data for the Shetland Islands for her professor Katherina Lehmann. 

Jack Greenlees as Douglas MacKinnon, Charlie's fisherman friend.  

Barbara Sukowa as Prof. Katherina Lehmann, the director at a science institute. 

Eidin Jalali as Rahim Amir, a doctoral student of Prof. Katharina Lehmann 

Takuya Kimura as Aito Mifune, An entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has always been one step ahead of the pack. When an unknown intelligent lifeform threatens the world, he is the only one who accepts the scientists' findings and funds a research expedition with everything the scientists need, so that the team can prevent this latest threat to human civilization.

Takehiro Hira as Riku Sato, a representative of Aito Mifune

Joshua Odjick as Leon Anawak, a Canadian whale specialist asked to explain weird Ocra behavior. A talented and young whale researcher, who has deep roots in his native Vancouver Island, where his good friend loses her life in a whale attack. To find answers, he agrees to join the science team.

Elizabeth Kinnear as Lizzie, whale watching friend of Leon Anawak. 

Dutch Johnson as Jack Greywolf O'Bannon.

Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Alicia Delaware, a data analyst. 

Klaas Heufer-Umlauf as Luther Roscovitz, a submersible robotics expert. 

Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Samantha Crowe, an astrophysicist. 

Oliver Masucci as Capt. Jasper Alban, Captain of The Thorvaldson, a research vessel heading for the Arctic Ocean.

Lydia Wilson as Sara Thompson

Kim Mousa as Mesuli

[Bill1978]

Watched this series last month when it dropped here in Australia, felt like i was the only person in Australia watching it though. And I got to say I was impressed with the way they told the story. I won't spoil anything but if you are tuning in to see a disaster movie every week, you will have to rethink your approach. This is a slow burn that takes it time to explain what is happening with actual plausible science. It makes it feel more grounded and realistic compared to a 2-hour action movie. I really enjoyed that, like 1899, they had people speaking their own language when communicating to someone else from their country (most of the time). I was fascinated by the story that I thought about reading the book it is based on but baulked when I saw how long the book was.

On 8/30/2023 at 10:45 PM, AnimeMania said:

Oliver Masucci as Capt. Jasper Alban, Captain of The Thorvaldson, a research vessel heading for the Arctic Ocean.

I've just started watching Dark and couldn't place where I've seen this guy before. Now I know.

[AnimeMania]

I am not certain when "The Swarm"  is airing, but I believe it is airing on September 12, 2023 on the CW at 9pm and again on September 13, 2023 on the CW at 8pm, but check your local listing to be sure.

Edited September 7, 2023 by AnimeMania

[AnimeMania]

S01.E01: Episode 1

SERIES PREMIERE – Charlie Wagner (Leonie Benesch), a young marine biologist, is sent to a lonely outpost in the Shetland Islands. During a survey, Charlie discovers large amounts of methane ice on the water’s surface, something that is usually only found at great depths on the seabed. Other strange incidents are occurring in different regions of the world. While a fisherman in Peru is killed unexpectedly by a shoal of fish, off Vancouver Island in Canada, humpback whales and grey whales are keeping everyone waiting. When an orca is found dead on the beach, supposedly having recently attacked a fishing boat, young whale researcher Leon Anawak (Joshua Odjik) is worried. Finally, the whales return in large numbers. Leon immediately takes his boat out to sea. His good friend Lizzie (Elizabeth Kinnear) is also taking a trip in her excursion boat full of tourists. But no-one can imagine how the animals will behave.

Premiere Date: September 12, 2023       CW     9pm

[Raja]

On 9/1/2023 at 3:26 PM, Bill1978 said:

This is a slow burn that takes it time to explain what is happening with actual plausible science. It makes it feel more grounded and realistic compared to a 2-hour action movie

The problem with the slow burn was that for the entire first episode they teased the Jaws scene this time which barely made it in before the credits. What can a wounded, assuming that had to hurt,  humpback whale do to survive? Perhaps  he  was a suicide bomber or are the predators working together and will protect their honored veteran? I guess time will tell.

All the promotional material points to changing scenes to focus on in the coming weeks.

Edited September 13, 2023 by Raja

[AnimeMania]

S01.E02: Episode 2

THE WATER SUPPLY – On the French Atlantic coast, a chef of a luxury restaurant dies in agony after liquid splashes into his face while he’s preparing a lobster. Renowned molecular biologist Dr. Cécile Roche (Cécile de France) attempts to trace the cause of death. Meanwhile, in the Norwegian Sea, scientist Dr. Sigur Johanson (Alexander Karim) boards the research vessel Thorvaldson. His friend Tina Lund (Krista Kosonen) has commissioned him to do a survey on behalf of the Norwegian oil company Hovedstad. Johanson finds unusually large ice worms on the seabed in the planned development area. Charlie’s friend and classmate Jess (Andrea Guo), who is working aboard another research vessel, sends a message to Charlie, but Jess’ message is suddenly cut short. 

Premiere Date: September 19, 2023       CW     9pm

[jewel21]

I finally got around to watching the first two episodes and I have to say I'm really enjoying this so far. I like that we have stuff happening all over the world. So far I find myself engaged in each story line and wanting to know more about what on earth is going on. It's quite intriguing overall and I'm sad this tread isn't getting much traction. 

[AnimeMania]

S01.E03: Episode 3

THE VIDEO MESSAGE – While Venice suffers an unprecedented plague of jellyfish, molecular biologist Dr. Roche (Cécile de France) discovers that a mutated bacterium is the cause of a growing number of deaths on the coasts. On Vancouver Island, Leon (Joshua Odjick) also suspects a mutation after an apparently new and exceptionally large and fast-growing species of mussels block the wheel of a cargo ship. Shocked by the news that the Juno research ship has sunk, Charlie (Leonie Benesch) sets off for Kiel. They watch footage of the completely destroyed Juno with their institute director Prof. Katharina Lehmann (Barbara Sukowa) and PhD student Rahim Amir (Eidin Jalali). 

Premiere Date: September 26, 2023       CW     9pm

[jewel21]

I enjoyed the last episode. Things seem to be moving along. Also, that visual of Leon swimming into the sleeping pod of whales was freaky. He didn't have an oxygen tank with him, though, and I thought that he swam rather deep and it took him awhile to get back to the surface. I have no idea how these people can hold their breathes for so long. I can't last past 20 seconds, heh. 

[AnimeMania]

S01.E04: Episode 4

THE MYSTERY – Dr. Roche (Cécile de France) informs a commission about the dramatic situation on the French Atlantic coast and the political leaders are skeptical. Elsewhere, Sigur (Alexander Karim) and Tina (Krista Kosonen) are back on board the Thorvaldson to survey the seabed again for ice worms and find the worms have continued to spread dramatically. When a drill breaks through the seabed during the investigation, the Thorvaldson falls into extreme distress. Meanwhile, on Vancouver Island, Leon (Joshua Odjick) and his colleagues have found matches between the mussels found in the hull of the freighter and the substance found in the brainstem of the stranded orca. Leon reluctantly agrees to work with the mysterious owner of the ship, the Japanese entrepreneur and billionaire Aito Mifune (Takuya Kimura).

Premiere Date: October 3, 2023       CW     9pm

[AnimeMania]

S01.E05: Episode 5

THE WARNING – Dr. Roche (Cécile de France) detects the same bacterium in crabs that have invaded coasts all over the world. In Kiel, Professor Lehmann (Barbara Sukowa) has bad news for Sigur (Alexander Karim). Tina (Krista Kosonen) persuades Sigur to go with her to Geneva to check whether ice worms have also been found in other seas through the Japanese billionaire Mifune’s (Takuya Kimura) foundation, which is based there. Mifune’s representative Riku Sato (Takehiro Hira) tells Sigur about Leon’s (Joshua Odjick) observations in Vancouver. Back in Kiel, Rahim (Eidin Jalali) and Charlie (Leonie Benesch) recount a light phenomenon and a noise that Jess (Andrea Guo) unknowingly recorded in her video to Charlie. Sigur flies to the Shetland Islands to exchange information with Charlie. Just when the helicopter is ready to take off again, a dire warning arrives from Professor Lehmann.

Premiere Date: October 10, 2023       CW     9pm

[AnimeMania]

S01.E06: Episode 6

YRR – Charlie (Leonie Benesch) and Sigur (Alexander Karim) return to Kiel. At a UN meeting in Geneva, Dr. Roche (Cécile de France) speaks and she predicts a global threat to drinking water supplies. Sigur gives a name to the unknown ocean intelligence he suspects is behind it all: Yrr. 8 astrophysicist Samantha Crowe (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) surprises Sigur with the news that certain sounds have been heard before, which prompts Sigur to make a decision which the UN refuses to support. Mifune (Takuya Kimura) offers help in a surprising way.

Premiere Date: October 17, 2023       CW     9pm

[jewel21]

Sadly, this episode failed to hold my interest and I spent the majority of it coloring on my phone rather than following what was going on. Hopefully the final two episodes will pick up and the show will end on a high note. 

[AnimeMania]

S01.E07: Episode 7

CONTACT – The Thorvaldson heads for the Arctic, where many Yrr signals have been detected. Leon (Joshua Odjick) and Crowe (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) believe there is a way to communicate with the Yrr. To test the equipment, diving robotics expert Luther Roscovitz (Klaas Heufer-Umlauf) and Charlie (Leonie Benesch) take a submarine test trip into the depths. At the same time, Leon and Crowe send their signal to the Yrr. There, data analyst Alicia Delaware (Rosabell Laurenti Sellers) is left alone for a moment and notices a strange glow in the pool, which is followed by a complete circuit failure on the Thorvaldson. 

Premiere Date: October 24, 2023       CW     9pm

[AnimeMania]

S01.E08: Episode 8

SEASON FINALE – Mifune (Takuya Kimura) is flown in by helicopter to see for himself the research results on board the Thorvaldson. The scientists around Sigur (Alexander Karim) want to find out as much as possible about the Yrr with further experiments. When Roche (Cécile de France) discovers a way to kill the Yrr, trouble erupts on the Thorvaldson. Charlie (Leonie Benesch) is convinced that the Yrr are also interested in the intelligent, but dangerous, humans. Faced with a hopeless situation, Charlie makes a lonely decision.

Premiere Date: October 31, 2023       CW     9pm