Fans are divided over whether Mike Flanagan’s Carrie is too “pure” to be faithful to Stephen King‘s book.
The new ‘Carrie’ keeps its telekinetic teenager kind even as the abuse around her escalates. That’s the central criticism in Tyler Taing’s review of the new Prime Video series: Carrie’s anger and capacity for revenge, essential to Stephen King’s tragedy, give way to a heroine whose goodness survives the entire season.
All 8 episodes arrived on October 7. Summer H. Howell plays Carrie White, who enters high school after her father’s death ends the isolation he imposed on her and her mother, Margaret, played by Samantha Sloyan. Her first period, bullying at school and Margaret’s religious control accompany the emergence of her powers.
The contemporary setting gives that cruelty a digital outlet. Chris Hargensen, played by Alison Thornton, targets Carrie through an Instagram page called “Carrie Red.”
Carrie also develops a tentative friendship with class president Sue Snell, played by Siena Agudong. As the season approaches prom night, most of the students come to support Carrie, a change Taing argues weakens the alienation that drives King’s story.
His objection centers on what Carrie gets to choose. King’s 1974 novel allows its abused protagonist to become vengeful; Taing argues that the series preserves her sweetness while reducing her control over the climax. He praises Howell’s performance, along with Sloyan’s mixture of maternal affection and cruelty, but finds that the writing gives Carrie little room to change.
Flanagan’s empathy has helped shape his adaptations of Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck. Here, Taing argues, the emphasis on hope blunts a story built around accumulated humiliation and destructive anger.
His review awards the season 2 out of 5 stars and criticizes its finale for leaving ideas unresolved while setting up a possible second season. Flanagan has discussed a 3-season plan, contingent on Amazon approving more episodes.
