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Season 1 – The Swarm

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Swarm Feb 2023 Mystery & Thriller Sci-Fi Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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70% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
A battle with an unknown maritime intelligence threatens the existence of mankind and challenges humanity's self-image as the crown of creation.

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The Swarm — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times Sep 12, 2023
Though there are plenty of B movie beats and tropes in The Swarm, the execution of this first hour is first-rate. Go to Full Review
John Anderson Wall Street Journal Sep 7, 2023
You can learn something from The Swarm. Though perhaps not about whale-watching. Go to Full Review
Graeme Blundell The Australian Jun 16, 2023
It’s well-directed by Watson. Nothing is too overstated and the not entirely unfamiliar dystopian conventions and disaster movie cliches are handled with skill and some cinematic style. Go to Full Review
James Croot The Post NZ Nov 25, 2024
Stylistically, The Swarm reminded me of the recent France and Britain-set modern take on War of the Worlds. Like that series, part of The Swarm’s charm comes from its intimate feel and emphasis on character over “big moments”. Go to Full Review
Stephanie Morgan Common Sense Media Sep 25, 2023
3/5
And though the show follows the all-too-familiar plot of rebel experts challenging outdated policies and superiors, it also manages to introduce a unique global narrative on environmentalism. Go to Full Review
Bruce R. Miller Sioux City Journal Sep 22, 2023
2/4
Director Luke Watson goes underwater occasionally and uses light to indicate turmoil but he spends far too much time on mundane character issues to really pull audiences in. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Sarah : @Lovesproductions Dec 3, 2025 I loved this science fiction limited series. I hope they make a season too. I know it's not usual for a limited series to have a season 2 but it has the makings for a lot of seasons. I thought the acting was great. There is one thing that really bothered me. Spoiler alert! It was that big all decided to use the Ketamine on the ship Yrr. I have so much to say about that besides that I don't believe any of these intelligent people would have wanted to do that, while they were in the middle of the ocean, completely surrounded. They kept trying to back it up with that then the Yrr would negotiate if they knew re weapon but lol.. because again, they were right in the middle of the ocean surrounded. Plus I didn't think any of those people (save maybe the captain because of certain training that gives him a different sense of responsibility that was taking over, even though it didn't make sense in the middle of the ocean, surrounded) would choose to do that before trying to make peace. See more Xavi T @RT96237641 Sep 16, 2025 Terrible CGI, absolutely awful science (I know, this is science fiction)- the tsunami scene was utter garbage. See more Rich T @RT13116935 Jun 30, 2025 Finally something new , refreshing and original. It's not a remake or a 100 reboots or anything, it just a great original beautiful written show. The first episode will get you hooked and you can't help but wonder what is going to happen. The only issue I have is that it was a limited series and would love for it to continue but the ending leaves it up to the viewer which is good and bad. I watched it all in a single day. It's 8 episodes around 45 minutes each and it just captivates you. I tried to take a break and to finish later but I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen and that is the beauty of this show. I want a season 2 so bad but I know it's doubtful but anyone wondering if you should watch it I say absolutely if you want something new and refreshing and captivating and the visuals and just the entire show is absolutely beautiful 10/10 watch it if you can. 5 stars See more David M @RT58348903 Mar 29, 2025 I found The Swarm series on the CW a refreshingly original TV series about an oceanic intelligence making war on humanity. In essence, rising ocean temperatures have awoken something that was frozen in ice. I enjoyed it very much, but the worst part is that the TV series will not be continued. The good part is there's novel, which recently was delivered. See more Will S @RT23507648 Apr 3, 2024 i loved, it its been a long times since there was a show like The Mist or The Fog, the kind I love. please give us season 2 for The Swarm in 2024. See more Beverley J @RT39751563 Sep 26, 2023 I am trying really hard to maintain a level of interest; however, the story line is far to sporatic and difficult to follow. I was hoping for environmental points and facts and evidence, but so far all I have seen are ice worms that are growing bigger... Bacteria that is unexplainable... And, I yawn a lot and would rather take a nap! This 60 minute program is 30 minutes of show and 30 minutes of commercials and that makes it even more dislikeable. See more Read all reviews
The Swarm — Season 1

My Rating

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 22, 2023 Episode 1 Scientist Charlie Wagner discovers a phenomenon at an outpost in the Shetland Islands that fascinates professor Lehmann; abnormal behavior of whales off the coast of Vancouver Island worries cetologist Leon Anawak. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 22, 2023 Episode 2 As whales attack tourists in Canada and lobsters are turned deadly in France, a scientist discovers aggressive worms multiplying at speed. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 22, 2023 Episode 3 While Venice suffers an unprecedented plague of jellyfish, Dr. Roche discovers that a mutated bacterium is the cause of a growing number of deaths on the coasts; on Vancouver Island, Leon also suspects a mutation. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 1, 2023 Episode 4 Dr. Roche informs a commission about the dramatic situation on the French Atlantic coast; Sigur and Tina return to the Thorvaldson to survey the seabed again for ice worms and find the worms have continued to spread. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 1, 2023 Episode 5 Dr. Roche detects the same bacterium in crabs that have invaded coasts all over the world; Professor Lehmann has bad news for Sigur; Tina persuades Sigur to go with her to Geneva to check whether ice worms have also been found in other seas. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 1, 2023 Episode 6 Charlie and Sigur return to Kiel; at a UN meeting in Geneva, Dr. Roche predicts a global threat to drinking water supplies. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 8, 2023 Episode 7 The Thorvaldson heads for the Arctic; Leon and Crowe believe there is a way to communicate with the Yrr; diving robotics expert Luther Roscovitz and Charlie take a submarine into the depths; Alicia Delaware notices a strange glow in the pool. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 8, 2023 Episode 8 Mifune is flown in by helicopter to see for himself the research results on board the Thorvaldson; faced with a hopeless situation, Charlie makes a lonely decision. Details
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Season Info

Executive Producer
Robert Franke
Screenwriter
Frank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Chris Lunt, Michael A. Walker
Network
The CW
Rating
TV-14 (D)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 22, 2023
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