Hot off the heels of Atlanta, comes multi-talented creator Donald Glover’s newest concoction— Swarm. What Glover and co-creator Janine Nabers deliver is a tale of idolatry, addiction, and power. Taking inspiration from classics such as The King of Comedy, the outcome is a brutal and gut-wrenching— yet eye-opening— experience not dissimilar to Joker, viewed through the lens of Gen Z’s “stan” culture.
Who’s Your Favorite Artist?
Dre (Dominique Fishback) is a young adult who lives in Houston, Texas with her sister, Marissa (Chloe Bailey). She doesn’t seem to have many friends, she’s not doing well financially, and she has no love life. Besides her sister, there’s only one other thing in the world Dre loves— no… obsesses over. Ni’jah. The biggest popstar in the world. Ni’jah is basically Beyoncé in everything but name. Throughout the show you’ll see her fans use words such as “queen” and “bee hive” that signify that. Swarm is very intentional in how it parallels reality in that way, and how it explores the lengths some fans would go to for someone they idolize.
Queen Bee
Also similar to Beyoncé—Ni’jah is treated with a regal— or religious— reverence. She’s not just seen as a queen, but as a goddess. To some of her fans it’s just hyperbole, to some it’s part of a larger sense of community and camaraderie they have in their own corner of Twitter. To Dre… it’s all she knows, and damn near everything to her. Every thoughtless insult hurled at Ni’jah on the internet stings Dre. In her eyes, why would anyone insult her, if she’s the best artist?
I keep talking about Ni’jah almost more than Dre… and that is because to define her, is to define Dre. Make no mistake— Dre is definitely the lead of the show. But her, dreams, values, and motivations all point back to her favorite popstar… while the world around her treats her like a child for having such a ridiculous obsession. Ironically, the same people who judge Dre often have their own obsessions— their own vices, which are just as unhealthy, but more adult rather than childish.
Story Beats by Dre
Reading between the lines, from the very beginning, I could tell that the way Dre processes things suggests she’s neurodivergent. The way she reacts to conflict, the way she can have an expressionless face through both good and bad, and the way she has a bit of trouble clicking with other people all added up for me. Living with someone who is autistic, I see some of those things (to a lesser extent) on a daily basis, so it was recognizable for me.
Considering some of the circumstances Dre goes through, Swarm has a difficult task of balancing out horror and unease you’re made to feel, with empathy and understanding towards her. I can confidently say that it masterfully walks that line, leading to new story heights when it deals with the characters low points— devastating you with gut-wrenching blows to your soul, and leaving you wishing you could be there for her. Through it all, Dominique Fishback is phenomenal in what is a deeply complex performance, that not many others could pull off.
A Wild Ride
You’re not going to get what you expect in Swarm… at least at some point or another. The first few episodes are a frenetic downhill ride into anxiety, that is perfectly met with a break to breathe, midway through the series. What follows is a final few episodes that are a little bit slower in pacing, but give more room for characters to be fleshed out— hearkening back to some of the drama and style of Atlanta. While I believe that slower pacing was necessary, it does kill the momentum to an extent that tainted my view of the show ever so slightly.
The music in Swarm is amazing— and I’d expect nothing less of a Donald Glover produced show. The sound design though? Possibly even more on point. Sounds that sting you— that sear into your brain. Of course there’s visuals to match those, which are brutal and haunting— yet you just can’t look away. Swarm also heavily leans into being shot on film, which gives it unique stylistic flair in the modern TV landscape. Altogether it’s a perfectly crafted experience, even in the few mundane moments it has.
‘Swarm’ – Final Thoughts
Swarm— simply put— is must-see tv… on the condition that you can stomach it. If you can’t handle raw brutality that doesn’t pull punches, this show isn’t for you. However, if you can stick it out, there’s a masterfully filmed story of obsession, filled with twists that will continue to shock you, and a character who’s struggles will have you both wincing and tearing up throughout.
Swarm releases on Prime Video on 17 March. Check out the trailer below!
The Review
Swarm
Swarm— simply put— is must-see tv… on the condition that you can stomach it. If you can’t handle raw brutality that doesn’t pull punches, this show isn’t for you. However, if you can stick it out, there’s a masterfully filmed story of obsession, filled with twists that will continue to shock you, and a character who’s struggles will have you both wincing and tearing up throughout.