Swarm
Dr Afriel is fascinated by the symbiotic aliens and their unique culture. He is also intrigued by the possibility of finding a way to break free from the Swarm and return to his own world.
The Tunneller is a giant machine that the pair use to make their way inside the nest of fungi. The machine is incredible because it is automated and it makes their way inside the nest quickly. This means that the fungus can get a good amount of food and nutrients while they are inside the nest.
Dr. Afriel, a scientist from the future, has come to the present to study the rapidly expanding human population. He believes that by retrieving an egg from the nest, he can use it to control and manipulate humanity’s growth. The Nest, which has been around for millions of years, is self-sustaining and does not need humans to survive. Dr. Afriel’s arrogance is what will ultimately lead to his downfall; he wants to exploit the Nest for his own gain instead of working together with humanity to help them thrive. ..
Although these creatures are not living beings, it’s still an ethical dilemma. Mirny agrees to help but things take a turn for the worse when Afriel is attacked by the Warriors from the heart of the Nest. After being badly beaten, he’s taken to the Queen where Galina happens to be part of this nest. She’s actually another division of the Swarm, used to figure out what Afriel actually wants.
The Swarm have been well-equipped to deal with humanity’s threat and as such, Afriel is offered a choice. Either remain a living intelligent being or there will be ugly events in the future. “I accept your challenge” Afriel replies, determined to prove the Swarm wrong and show that humanity are not the parasites the Queen believes they are.
The Episode Review
This chapter is fascinating, exploring humanity’s purpose on this planet and the idea of a self-sustaining swarm within a nest. The whole chapter is set up so well to take advantage of the excellent visuals, and the ambiguous ending certainly leaves plenty of the table for a potential follow-up. ..
This third season has felt like a step up compared to last year, and this thematically rich chapter exudes just enough exposition to show what’s happening while also leaving the wider implication of the world and how humanity fits into it very much open to interpretation. ..
Swarm is a strong chapter that provides a lot of new information and makes the story more interesting.
