CinemaBlend
In the seventh and eighth episodes of CBS All Access
The Stand, readers of the original Stephen King book likely spotted some key differences in the treatment of Nadine Cross â played by Amber Heard. Specifically, in the text the character winds up going insane and all but comatose after she has sex with the demonic Randall Flagg, but that s not how things play out for her on the show. Sure, she undergoes some massive physical changes, as her pale skin, gaunt features, and white hair make her appear practically dead by the time she gets to New Vegas, but her faith in Flagg holds firm, and up until the end she is excited to be bearing his child.
Apathy after episode one has been replaced with a new found curiosity as
The Stand finds its feet. After the tedious opener which felt protracted and lacking in drama, ‘Pocket Saviour’ establishes context as pieces begin falling into place. Much of this comes from a clarity of structure which uses each episode to introduce pivotal characters onto a broader canvas alongside fantastical elements.
Amber Heard, Alexander Skarsgard and Jovan Adepo form the central backbone of this second foray into Stephen King territory. Drip feeding audiences with tantalising titbits which fill in back story and plant initial plot threads. Jovan Adepo’s Larry Underwood is a musician on the cusp of global adulation held together with drink and drugs. It is through the overtly human and contradictory nature of his characterisation that this actor ups the ante overall. Playing hedonistic rule breaker and reformed protector in differing time periods, allows him a great deal of latitud
The Stand both epic and iconic is not hyperbole. From its release in 1978, the novel has frequently appeared on best of lists and impacted popular culture and beyond with its post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy tale of the collapse of human civilization and the battle between good and evil. It s also a substantial book, well over a thousand pages in its complete and uncut edition, making an adaptation a massive undertaking and, while it s been done before with ABC s 1994 miniseries, CBS All Access is approaching the novel again in its own, nine-part series event that kicks off on Thursday, December 17th. Despite this adaptation making some changes and shifts its approach in telling the story, it may just be the most spiritually faithful adaptation yet.