The Stand

In The Stand, a devastating plague wipes out most of humanity, and the scattered survivors coalesce around competing ideas of power and order. An elderly, faith-filled woman named Mother Abagail draws a small group who want to rebuild decency, while a magnetic and violent figure, Randall Flagg, attracts followers with promises of strength and control. The story moves through several characters, including Stu Redman and Frannie Goldsmith, as they make fragile alliances, face betrayal, and prepare for the inevitable confrontation between the camps. The series balances personal stories and larger moral questions, showing how far people will go to protect their community and what leadership costs. The series blends horror, drama, and speculative elements.

Released in 2020, the limited series was adapted from Stephen King's novel and developed for television by Josh Boone and Benjamin Cavell, with King credited as a creator. The cast includes James Marsden, Odessa Young, Alexander Skarsgård, and Whoopi Goldberg.

The Stand received limited awards attention and did not land major Emmy or Golden Globe nominations. While it wasn't an awards season standout, a number of critics included cast performances on year-end lists, and online roundups often highlighted particular scenes and performances. Some reviewers praised individual cast members for nuance.

Coming out during the COVID-19 pandemic, the show felt especially timely and prompted renewed interest in King's book. It invited comparisons to the 1994 miniseries, reopened debates among fans about Randall Flagg's portrayal, and sparked broader talk about pandemic stories on television. It also renewed talk about adapting King for streaming.

Critical and viewer response was mixed, reflected in a user rating of about 6.85 out of 10 from several hundred votes. Many reviewers praised the cast and atmosphere, while others criticized the series for uneven pacing and trying to compress too much of the novel. Social media reaction was lively, with fans and critics debating casting, tone, and how the source material was updated for a modern audience.