An Underrated Sci-fi Series Is Hiding on HBO Max (And the Ending Is a Wild One)

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HBO and HBO Max have become known for high-quality, popular shows like *Game of Thrones* and *The Last of Us*. Beyond these big hits, the platform offers many international co-productions that don’t always get noticed. One particularly good show, released in 2023, is a science fiction thriller that deserves more attention. It’s based on a popular book and tells a large-scale disaster story, but instead of focusing on things like asteroids or aliens, it presents a frighteningly realistic threat that comes from within Earth itself.

The Swarm is an eight-part eco-thriller inspired by the popular novel by Frank Schätzing. The story starts with strange and dangerous events happening in the oceans around the world. Off the coast of Canada, whales suddenly become aggressive, attacking and sinking ships. In France, a deadly disease spreads among lobsters, contaminating the seafood. And deep in the North Sea, a new type of ice worm threatens to cause massive tsunamis by weakening the seabed. An international team of scientists must join forces to investigate, and they soon discover these events aren’t random – they’re coordinated attacks. The central mystery of The Swarm is the identity of the attacker: a hidden intelligence from the deep ocean that seems to be at war with humanity.

The Swarm Slow-Burn Mystery Is Its Biggest Strength

Unlike most disaster blockbusters with their fast-paced action, *The Swarm* takes a slower, more deliberate approach, unfolding like a compelling scientific investigation. The story jumps between different locations and characters, challenging viewers to uncover the frightening reality along with them. We follow Charlie Wagner, a marine biologist in the Shetland Islands, who discovers strange ice worms affecting methane levels. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, whale researcher Leon Anawak is the first to observe unusual, coordinated aggression in whales. And in Kiel, Germany, Professor Sigur Johanson works to connect these seemingly unrelated events and create a unified explanation.

Recent strange occurrences, like jellyfish infestations in Venice and massive crab gatherings in South Africa, are starting to feel like warnings of a larger disaster. The novel *The Swarm* relies on readers’ understanding of how science works, building a growing sense of fear as characters go from dismissing these events to debating them academically, and ultimately realizing the planet is reacting to something. By centering the story on the scientists trying to figure out what’s happening, the novel makes its extraordinary premise feel real and relatable, and the final showdown feels justified.

The Swarm High-Concept Conclusion Remains Divisive

Be warned, the following contains spoilers for *The Swarm*. The attacks in the ocean are caused by a strange, non-human intelligence the scientists call the “Yrr.” It’s portrayed as a kind of immune system for the planet, seeing humanity as a dangerous virus. After years of pollution, overfishing, and climate change, this deep-sea consciousness decides to eliminate what it perceives as an infection. This interesting idea leads to a finale that avoids the typical “humans versus aliens” conflict, which has caused a strong reaction from viewers – some loved it, and others didn’t.

The ending of *The Swarm* takes a surprising turn, moving away from typical disaster movie tropes. Instead of a straightforward resolution, it’s a thought-provoking and open-ended finale that makes both the characters and the audience consider humanity’s place in the natural world. This final act focuses more on raising big questions than providing a thrilling climax, which is why it’s sparked so much debate. While some viewers might find this lack of clear answers frustrating, those who enjoy science fiction that encourages discussion will likely find it a bold and unforgettable conclusion. It’s an ending meant to stay with you, prompting you to think about the challenges of communicating with a life form so old and immense that we may never fully understand its response.

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2025-09-15 21:11