‘Swarm’ Co-Creator Janine Nabers Shares Insight into a Hilarious Scene Inspired by Donald Glover’s Hookup Story
A Comedic Touch in the Pilot Episode of “Swarm”
Amazon Prime’s new show “Swarm” delves into the power of female friendships, stan culture, and the consequences of misguided devotion. Despite its serious themes, the drama, co-created by Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, also features plenty of humor. This includes a hilarious scene in the pilot episode involving a flaccid penis and a bowl of fruit.
In the scene, Dre (Dominique Fishback) wakes up after having lost her virginity to a random man (Rory Culkin) she met at a bar. To her surprise, the man is naked, washing a bowl of strawberries. He then walks over to her and offers her some fruit, with the glass bowl pressed directly against his flaccid penis.
From Glover’s Awkward Hookup Story to “Swarm”
During an interview with Insider at the South by Southwest Film & TV festival in Austin on Saturday, Nabers revealed that this scene was inspired by Glover’s account of an awkward hookup.
Nabers recalled Glover’s funny story about a girl he liked and how he offered them to her with a bowl of cherries after their encounter. She found the gesture strange and off-putting, given that they barely knew each other.
Nabers admitted to borrowing the idea for the scene, saying, “I was like, ‘I’m stealing that,’ and he was like, ‘All right.’ So I just ran with it.”
Exploring the Show’s Creation and Themes
Nabers also spoke with Insider about her and Glover’s creative process and the show’s core themes. “Swarm” follows Dre as she copes with a devastating loss and a subsequent spiral into homicidal madness.
The playwright emphasized that her perspective as a Black woman played a significant role in shaping the story. While online stan culture serves as a backdrop, the show’s central focus is on Dre and her relationship with her sister, transforming the pilot into a villain’s origin story.
Nabers described Dre as “an outsider in her own life” and explained that the series depicts her journey toward self-discovery as an adult woman.
“Swarm” is now streaming on Amazon Prime video. The trailer can be viewed below.
