After a Brutal Offseason, ‘Swamp People’ Season 17 Is a Different Show Now

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Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
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Things are going to look a bit different in the bayou this season. As fans gear up to watch the upcoming season of Swamp People, there may be some nuances that feel different than in previous seasons. It may not be evident for the average viewer, but the stars of the long-running History Channel series are certainly feeling it.

In the first episode, viewers quickly learned of the difficulties the alligator hunters face as unpredictable conditions arise due to fluctuating water levels. As Captain Troy Landry leads his team with Cheyenne "Pickle" Wheat by his side, they'll work to maintain order without too much stress. But for others on the water, namely "Little Willie" Edwards, dealing with personal tragedy won't stop them from fulfilling their destiny. Strife has always been present on Swamp People, but these little events are proving to be bigger, changing the show in the process.

Nature May Put a Damper On This Season of 'Swamp People'

To kick off the season, Troy held a team huddle to prepare everyone for the challenges ahead. Due to flash-flood chaos hundreds of miles north, the water flowing to the Bayou has been greatly affected. That means the bait that the hunters place may end up becoming far too high to attract their prey. Further, with fluctuating levels, should a boat be filled with gators, it could end up too heavy, causing trouble getting out and onto shore. As the entire fleet experiences the newfound adjustments, it's forced the hunters to accept the elements out of their control and become their own weatherperson.

Speaking to TV Insider ahead of the new season, Executive Producer Brian Catalina discussed how the environment in Louisiana is being affected by events in other states. "We’ve had seasons where the water is low and seasons where the water is high. The water of the Atchafalaya Basin comes from the Mississippi straight up the country. A lot of water from other states finds its way down from the Mississippi to the Gulf," he said. "This year, because of the weather conditions across the country, there is an extraordinary number of sudden and very intense rainstorms. When that rain comes in enormous quantities, it has more of a tendency to get washed over into the tributaries and ultimately into the Mississippi. Due to the intensity and frequency of these activities, the water was like a rollercoaster this year down here." As he put it, the unpredictability is a "super big deal." It's not just how the boats can tackle the waters; it's how the gators react to the changing environment, making it potentially harder to track.

Swamp People is not the only reality show to be affected by climate change. Both Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers have had to adapt to nature's changes to keep their lucrative industries afloat. On Deadliest Catch, due to the warming of the waters, the captains were forced to navigate new terrain at the top of the season. On Ice Road Truckers, the lucrative industry shrinks over time as the ice melts earlier, reducing the window to deliver essentials to cut-off communities. While some viewers may not fully grasp these changes, they do highly alter the viewing experience. Experts in their fields are forced to venture into new territories and try new techniques just to make a living. Though it may not be a positive for experts, for viewers, it helps maintain longevity by offering a new story to explore.

A Loss in the 'Swamp People' Family Changes the Future Forever

Though they can overcome the elements, there is one individual who was forced to return to the water without an essential member of the family. As seen in the first episode of Season 17, the loss of Junior Edwards has had a profound effect on the cast, namely Little Willie. Following his passing, the show paid tribute to him on Instagram, writing in part, "Junior wasn’t just a fierce hunter and skilled gator man, he was a true legend of the bayou." An original cast member, he is best known for inventing treble hooking. Throughout the first episode, Little Willie made it his mission to make his pawpaw proud, practicing his signature techniques. A very traditional young man, he conveyed sentimentality and vulnerability in ways rarely seen before. Rather than loss preventing him from moving forward, he offered an inspiring story by allowing grief to propel him to pay tribute to Junior.

At the end of the day, Swamp People may seem like a slow-paced piece, but the hunters are in a race against the clock. The stakes are enormously high. And, even in the face of tragedy and adversity, it's not slowing down our crew. The brutal off-season has only made Swamp People a more compelling series. Having new stories for our favorite faces provides a truly refreshing experience.

Swamp People airs Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. on The History Channel with new episodes available to stream the next day.