In the original edition, The Kid appeared as a minor character and only appeared in the Trashcan Man's flashbacks; the revisedextended edition includes the full story of The Kid's encounter with the Trashcan Man. Theres no sign of Randall Flagg anywhere. He frequently references himself in third person. Lauder becomes a respected and esteemed member of the Boulder Community. For the 2020 miniseries, Marilyn Manson was in talks to portray the Kid, but his part was cut out of the script during the writing process.[8]. However, she is rewarded by news of both Redman's return to the Free Zone and her baby's recovery, proving it possesses some immunity to the virus. In the 2020 miniseries, he is portrayed by J. K. Simmons. Dorgan stands guard over Underwood and Brentner shortly before their planned executions and is eventually killed by the Trashcan Man's nuclear bomb. Beyond these magical abilities, Flagg does not appear to have any real power. Hes just brilliant in the part. Nick Andros encounters him while cycling through Oklahoma. After detonating the bomb, which kills seven people, Lauder and Cross flee toward Las Vegas. Redman and Cullen return to Boulder first by snowmobile and finally by foot, where Goldsmith has given birth to the first-known post-plague child. The character is last heard speaking to an army officer via radio in Los Angeles; it's unknown whether he survives the superflu or the chaos that follows. is as Randall Flagg in The Stand. It is stated in the novel that he will live for sixteen years after his master's death, and that a female puppy is found near Boulder, indicating that the canine species will survive. Shortly after, Underwood finds he is one of the few living people remaining in New York City. Flagg convinces the tribe's members that he has arrived to teach them the ways of civilization, identifying himself as Russell Faraday. This is who has been watching them from the corn. In the 1994 miniseries, Harold was portrayed by Corin Nemec. The author wrote the finale that allows Frannie (Odessa Young), who couldnt trek to Las Vegas with the others since she was eight months pregnant, to make her stand against Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgrd) and reject his attempt to lure her in. So 1 st question is who is that. Redman asks her if people "ever learn anything", to which she reluctantly replies "I don't know". Blakemoor eventually dies from a drug overdose that Underwood describes as "70% accident and 30% suicide." A female version of the character, named Ray Brentner, was portrayed by Irene Bedard in the 2020 miniseries. Lauder shoots at Cross and nearly hits her, suggesting that Cross may unconsciously prefer death to the dark consummation awaiting her in Las Vegas; and also revealing limitations to Flagg's power. Swann joins the party on its way to the Stovington Plague Center. Flagg might still be around, but hes unquestionably not as powerful as he would have been had his gambit with Frannie paid off. He does not meet Rita Blakemoor in New York, instead meeting Nadine Cross there, alone. Redman, together with Larry Underwood, Bateman, and Ralph Brentner, travels towards Las Vegas, but breaks his leg in Utah and is forced to stay behind, along with Kojak the dog. What has happened will happen again, but theres always hope that the good guys will win out in the end. And though, in the novel, Flagg tells the group that he has a mission to teach them how to be civilized, thats not what he says here. King revealed in an interview that Flagg was partially inspired by Legion; Flagg is a hollow demon filled with other people's fear, hatred, and resentment. In the 1994 miniseries, Dorgan was portrayed by Chuck Adamson. However, he follows his owner and is later attacked by wolves after arriving at Mother Abagail's empty house. He also can shapeshift. Stu goes into town to restock supplies and Frannie and the baby stay behind. During the occasional passages told from Flagg's perspective, it becomes evident he does not know his origins and has no memory of his life before Captain Trips, though he vaguely remembers isolated, violent, or hateful events, such as participating in the Vietnam War, Ku Klux Klan lynchings, race riots in the 1960s, the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, and a vague speculation that he was involved in Charles Manson's family. In that 1990 version, Randall Flagg appears to a group of natives on an island untouched by the deadly Captain Tripps virus. Comment 121. [6], Flagg's appearance shifts between human, demon, and various animals, and it is implied that he has lived many lives across many eras; "Flagg" is merely the name of the force's present form. While drinking beer with Underwood, Farris accepts the mission before Underwood can even muster the confidence to make the request, as he understands the spies' importance, assuring a saddened Underwood that he will be fine. Bateman, along with Larry Underwood and Ralph Brentner, travels to Las Vegas where he is detained by Flagg's forces. We made a real decision in telling this story to not have the viewers enjoyment depend on their knowing anything about Flagg from the larger King universe but we wanted to at least allow for the possibility that that universe and those other versions of Flagg could exist. Of course, as we saw in the penultimate episode of The Stand, Stu is still alive, and fortunately it doesnt take too long into the episode for him to appear. WebRandall Flagg aka Russell Faraday. The Kid and the Trashcan Man travel together until they reach the blocked Eisenhower Tunnel. He later meets Lucy Swann and Joe, and travels with them to Boulder. After the outbreak of the superflu, Cross finds an emotionally damaged young boy whom she calls "Joe," who has regressed to a savage state of mind but trusts Cross and remains with her. The fact that he is significantly older is noted in her diary, along with many other aspects of the trip. The novel was published in 1978, with its narrative set during the 1980s; however, a second edition was released in 1990, is considerably longer than the first version (1,200 pages compared to 800 pages), and is set in the 1990s. Warner Bros. Pictures released an announcement in January 2011 that the company would be producing a movie remake of the King novel. In the 2020 miniseries, Jurgens is played by Natalie Martinez. Her love fixing a tire on an unstable truck that threatens to fall over on him. He said, Flagg starts to move to the music, and he chose the song. An unstable, sex-crazed teenager who lives through the pandemic, Lawry and Nick Andros have sexual intercourse in the deserted store where they meet and then Lawry attempts to convince Andros to leave Cullen behind. He is the antagonist of the novel. He is first seen in New York when the plague hits, and says "The Rat Man forgive you, this time" when Larry bumps into him in an arcade. No. When we meet him in the finale, hes so at ease. April 26, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT. The 2020 miniseries also features a young girl portrayed by Kendall Joy Hall who is implied to be the spirit of Mother Abagail. He is the younger brother of Goldsmith's best friend, Amy Lauder, and is a social outcast at his local high school. What he consistently proves himself to be is a 73-year-old rich man who lives in one of the whitest states in the nation and probably doesn't encounter many The Stand didnt end on a horrible note apart from Flagg now becoming Russell Faraday, one of his many aliases, and forcing the native tribe hed showed to Frannie to worship him. In the 2020 miniseries, he was portrayed by James Marsden. Cross desperately proceeds with a final attempt to seduce Underwood, an act that would break her virginal commitment to Flagg and free her, but Underwood is, by this stage, firmly committed to Lucy Swann and rejects Cross's advances. We wanted the suggestion, as is in the book, that there is no final defeat of evil. On the way, one of the main characters, Stu Redman, breaks his leg and is left behind. She is one of the 0.6% of the population that is immune to the superflu and initially appears to some of the plague survivors in their dreams, drawing them to her farmhouse, just as Randall Flagg (also known as the "Dark Man" and the "Walking Man") draws the evil survivors to his settlement in Las Vegas. The sight of the full moon rising over Las Vegas triggers Cullen to act on a post-hypnotic suggestion planted in his mind and begin the return trip to Boulder, avoiding the nuclear explosion that destroys the city. WebThe Stand is the sixth book published by Stephen King; it is his fifth novel, and the fourth novel under his own name. After the plague facility proves to be a disappointment, the survivors head towards Nebraska, before reaching Colorado to join Mother Abagail; the group pick up more survivors during their journey. We loved the notion of Flagg lying against the tree, almost relaxed, almost relieved to be free of the responsibility of having to actually run a place and have all these followers hes concerned about and keeping in line. Horgan decides to take a "stand" against Flagg and publicly challenges him prior to the executions of Underwood and Brentner, leading to the realization from a few people in the crowd that Flagg has lied about what the Trashcan Man has done. In the book, Mother Abigails deathbed mandate from God insists that four prominent members of the Boulder Free Zone (aka the community of nice plague survivors) walk all the way from Colorado to Flaggs stronghold in Las Vegas. A quiet, intelligent widower and veteran from Arnette, Texas, Stu Redman is at his friend's gas station the night Charles Campion arrives. This ongoing effort by Lauder enables several other groups to join in Colorado. The character drives an enhanced hot rod-style vehicle and has a fanatical love of Coors beer and Rebel Yell whiskey. It was changed to Randall Stevens for 'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994) as a tribute to King's character Randall Flagg from 'The Stand' and 'The Dark Tower'. He also has a large role in Eyes of the Dragon, and is alluded to in several other works including Hearts in Atlantis and Insomnia. After being dismissed by the President of the United States due to his failure to contain the virus, Starkey commits suicide in the laboratory where the superflu was created. Although Andros kills the weakened Booth, the injuries force him to wear an eye patch for most of the story. Throughout the novel, Goldsmith becomes more and more homesick for her native Maine, and at the end she, Redman, and the baby return to Ogunquit; the last chapter also confirms that Goldsmith has become pregnant with her second child, with Redman as the father. Our first introduction of R.F. No. Read The Story (Play the Game) - Reserve with us for savings! After treating his severely burned arm, the Trashcan Man finds a bicycle and proceeds to travel westward with haste. They eventually enter a marital relationship upon settling in Boulder. In the 2020 miniseries, he was portrayed by Jovan Adepo. The Trashcan Man performs his duties with proficiency until, while being teased by fellow workers, a comment causes him to experience a flashback regarding his tormented youth. Henreid is found by Flagg, who frees him from his cell after Henreid, at that point starving and nearly delirious, agrees to be Flagg's right-hand man, despite Henreid's suspicion that his liberator is actually a devil. Padick was raped by a drifter at the age of thirteen during an explorative journey outside of his home area, whereby the young man wanted to experience the wider world. Was there anything King wanted done or not done to set up the finale? Cross eventually recovers sufficiently to taunt Flagg about his inevitable failure until, in his rage, Flagg throws Cross off the penthouse sundeck. In the 2020 miniseries, Susan is played by Lisa Chandler, although aspects of her character are applied to Dayna Jurgens instead. It's through The Dark Tower series that readers have been able to further understand the multifarious character, as King reveals that he was born with the name "Walter Padick" and that his father was Sam the Miller of Eastar'd Barony. When pressed, his mother points out his greatest character flaw to him directly: "You're a takeryou came home to me because you knew that I have to give." WebThe Stand: The Stand: Soul Survivors: Item Biography Randall Flagg / Russell Faraday: Tom Cullen: Walkin' Dude / Dark Man: Comments. However, Lauder's plan is already in motion at this stage and Redman narrowly escapes the assassination attempt the next day. She makes no prediction as to what will occur, only that one will fall before arriving in Las Vegas, while the remainder will be brought before Flagg. In a moment of emotional clarity, Lauder realizes that he is accepted and valued, and that he can choose a new life for himself as a respected member of society. Some people will surely wonder about a Season 2, possibly as an anthology, with Randall Flagg at the center. WebIn Stephen King's novella, the fake man Andy Dufrense invents is Peter Stevens. This version of Flagg is naked, kind of aloof, and calling himself Russell Faraday. After wandering New England for several days, Redman meets and befriends Glen Bateman and, shortly after, Frances Goldsmith and Harold Lauder. After supernaturally killing a member of their tribe, Flagg levitates and introduces himself as "Russell Faraday," demanding that they worship him, and the The character does not appear in the 2020 miniseries. The Kid has revealed to the Trashcan Man that he intends to replace Flagg, so Flagg sends wolves that trap the Kid in a car. The character's loyalty is further affirmed when he foregoes an opportunity to leave Las Vegas with several close friends; however, Henreid respects the decision of the men who plan to abandon Las Vegas and does not inform Flagg about the deserters. In the 1994 miniseries Kojak is a golden retriever mix, while in the 2020 miniseries he is a purebred golden retriever. Later, while setting the fires in Gary, he sustains severe burns to his left arm when a timing device he has placed in an oil tank ignites prematurely. But hes not completely gone, with the series ending the same way as Kings expanded version of the novel: Flagg, calling himself Russell Faraday, finds a new group of followers. In the 1994 miniseries, Judge Farris was portrayed by Ossie Davis, and travels to Boulder as part of Stu Redman's party, rather than Underwood's. Unlike the book, Flagg seems to Permalink: These fine folks, they Brentner is the first to notice the "Hand of God" as it descends from the sky to detonate the Trashcan Man's nuclear weapon, killing everyone present. Cross eventually surrenders to Flagg completely, communicating with him with the use of a Ouija board an echo of her terrifying experience with a Ouija board in college, when she was first touched by Flagg. Recovering after a night's sleep, Underwood travels to Maine, where he plans to spend the summer; along the way he meets Nadine Cross and the young Leo Rockway (known then only as "Joe" and behaving like a feral creature). Farris and one of the sentries are killed in a shootout that leaves Farris' head obliterated, a sign that Flagg's power is fallible, and Flagg kills the surviving sentry for disobeying orders. Joe, who has sufficiently recovered to the point that he reveals that his real name is "Leo Rockway", is suddenly reluctant to be in the company of Cross. Floating in the air, Flagg reintroduces himself as Russell Faraday, and demands worship. Lauder wrecks his motorcycle after slipping on an oil slick; the accident is implied to have been arranged by Flagg, who distrusts Lauder's intellectual nature. But once we saw how different it felt, in a wonderful way, from the interactions we had with Flagg, there wasnt any disagreement between the way Flagg and Frannie interact and the way he has with others or any redundancy. Dorgan is one of the sentries who intercepts Underwood, Bateman, and Brentner, who are all surprised by Dorgan's sympathetic nature but make it clear his rational views do not excuse or exculpate his service on behalf of the truly vile individuals he reports to. In the 1994 miniseries, Campion is portrayed by Ray McKinnon. In the 1994 miniseries, Dayna was portrayed by Kellie Overbey. Yes, its Flagg in some way, except he really doesnt exactly know that, what hes doing here, or how he got here. Lauder succumbs to Cross' seduction, fulfilling Flagg's wishes by constructing a bomb to kill the Free Zone's leadership committee. Redman and Goldsmith, who is pregnant again, this time by Redman, leave Boulder to raise their family in Ogunquit, Maine. I never say never. Thoroughly confused on ending. Some of those scenes that people are really attached to from the book, Im not sure theyre going to play the same way onscreen.. It looked like Alexander was having so much fun. He rescues Lloyd Henreid from starving to death in prison and, with Henreid as second-in-command, establishes a community in Las Vegas, Nevada. Whats particularly interesting with this temptation scene is that Frannie shows she wants every single thing Flagg is offering her, but does not waver for one second. Who is Russell Faraday The Stand? With the threat of "The Kid" neutralized, the Trashcan Man continues west to Las Vegas, where he receives a black stone with a red flaw and becomes one of Flagg's key associates. The revisedexpanded edition of the novel includes an epilogue in which Flagg, in a new incarnation, awakens in an unknown tropical location where he meets a primitive tribe. WebRussell Faraday Martin Broadcloak (sometimes called "Marten Broadcloak") The Covenant Man Walter Hodji Nyarlathotep He Who Walks Behind the Rows (implied) Flagg Richard Farris Raymond Fiegler Original Universe The Stand Occupation Sorcerer High-ranking place in any hierarchy he is found Wandering plotter Powers/Skills Nigh-immortality Along the way, they stop at a farm house in Nebraska for some much needed rest. When he looks at you a certain way, your prostate goes bad and your urine burns. The Stand has been an exceedingly frustrating viewing experience, Terry (for me, this is the most frustrating experience weve covered together aside from Penny Dreadful: who renames himself Russell Faraday, is an eternal force and that the forces of evil can never truly be defeated. Henreid ultimately refuses the offer, but quietly tells his friend he will keep his flight plan secret, while adding he will stay with Flagg until either himself or Flagg is killed because he owes that much. We made the show in the most compelling way we thought we could, he explains. Her baby, all alone, left to the elements, in danger. In the 2020 miniseries, she was portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, who had previously turned the role down in 1994. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Yeah, its bad news hes gathering a new batch of followers, but hes not doing so without an adversary wielding the light in this world. This turns out to be lucky for him because the others, sadly, dont return from Vegas. Despite a lack of formal education, Brentner possesses a great deal of common sense and is very skilled with tools and machines; he uses a powerful radio transmitter to contact other groups of survivors across the country. Swann becomes romantically involved with Underwood, but senses her feelings are unrequited due to Underwood's strong attraction to Nadine Cross; Swann's feeling persists despite Cross's lack of interest in Underwood. However, Flagg (who observed all of this in the guise of a crow) attacks and slowly executes Terry. While Campion is on night duty, a deadly superflu virus escapes the military complex he is monitoring. Andros becomes the newest deputy, due to the absence of any other healthy people, and watches two of the thugs die of the plague, along with the sheriff. Lauder swears vengeance upon Goldsmith and Redman from that point onward. Before Roberts can finish the job, Terry (unnecessarily) fires from the car, accidentally shooting Roberts through the neck. We were able to directly link the adulation Flagg gets from his followers to his power. Shes still at the bottom of that well, very possibly dying, but despite all that, Frannie wont even consider striking a deal with the devil. But when he grins, birds fall dead off telephone lines. In the 1994 miniseries, Carsleigh is played by Robert Knott. In the 2020 miniseries, he is portrayed by Curtiss Cook Jr. As the commanding officer of Project Blue, William Starkey is aware that, once loose, the superflu is almost impossible to control due to its constant mutations, meaning it will be impossible to create a vaccine. Flagg has the ability to see into other places by using his third eye. Flagg. In the novel, he's presented as diametrically opposed to Mother Abagail's personification of good. With The Circle Closes, Stephen King has essentially written a He meets a troubled middle-aged woman named Rita Blakemoor and the two decide to leave New York together. In the 2020 miniseries, he was portrayed by Henry Zaga. The Stand (CBS All Access) Stu races back to the house, where Kojak leads him to the well. During his journey, Cullen has a prophetic dream that compels him to double back and find Redman, who has broken his leg and has contracted pneumonia. Lucy Swann and Underwood become very close with Farris, and Underwood is upset when he successfully recruits Farris as the first of three Free Zone spies, but is unable to inform a distraught Swann of his whereabouts after he sets out. In the 1994 miniseries, Horgan was portrayed by Sam Anderson. She heals Frannies wounds, sending the new family off with the knowledge that a force for good walks the Earth. In an unexpected turn of events, Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgrd) is alive and calls himself Russell Faraday. WebThe Stand is an American post-apocalyptic fantasy television miniseries, based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Stephen King and a remake to the 1994 adaptation. The Kid does not appear in the 1994 miniseries, nor is he mentioned. At the execution of Underwood and Brentner, Henreid is then killed in the nuclear explosion caused by the Trashcan Man's atomic warhead. "Ratty" Erwins, also known as The Rat Man, is a pirate-like hoodlum. Thats when two accidents happen, which we find out were caused by a wounded, but still alive Randall Flagg: Stu is kept from getting back to Frannie quickly due to a blown tire, and Frannie falls down a well, gravely hurting herself. Randall Flagg is the notorious antagonist of The Stand and The Dark Tower series. The Trashcan Man abandons his original plans of starting fires randomly across America to join Flagg when the Dark Man appears in his dreams and promises the Trashcan Man "great work" in the desert. Cullen's speech includes colloquialisms such as "My laws!" And he did all this while finally giving Frannie Goldsmith the agency she deserves. He was portrayed by Owen Teague in the 2020 miniseries, which retains Stu's group finding his body. Kojak is Glen Bateman's dog, an Irish Setter, whom he adopted after his original master died of the superflu. As you know, King has been inspired by that character many times over the years. Something went wrong. Following the passing of numerous centuries, Padick became an emissary for the Crimson King and assumes a range of identities, including Randall Flagg. Tom Cullen is initially thought to be in his mid-twenties to mid-thirties, with a mild to moderate learning disability. Abagail receives prophetic visions from God, which end when she believes she has sinned due to pride and goes into exile in the wilderness. WebRandall Flagg (real name Walter Padick) is the main antagonist of the Stephen King multiverse. In the 1994 miniseries, Starkey is portrayed by Ed Harris. He performs minor tasks but is highly ranked in Flagg's society, reporting directly to Henreid or Flagg himself. Bateman refuses, laughing at Flagg for being so transparent, leading Flagg to order Lloyd Henreid to execute Bateman. She is 108 years old and lives in a farmhouse near Hemingford Home, Nebraska, well known in her pre-superflu community for surviving decades of vicious racism and voting for Republicans in every election she had ever seen.[5]. Mother Abagail ( Whoopi Goldberg ) appears in He loved it. As the plague and anarchy destroy New York, Underwood attempts to care for his dying mother, but she eventually succumbs to the superflu. The ending suggests that not only is Flagg the embodiment of true evil, but true evil cant be killed. Engstrom does not appear in either adaptation, with aspects of her character given to Julie Lawry in both miniseries. This event is the beginning of a turning point in Larry's life. Ordered. Director Josh Boone picks up with an unconscious Frannie at the bottom of this well. Like most of the characters we followed in this story, she dreams of Flagg. It was so much fun to watch. Ive always loved the last scene of the extended edition, which is where we end the series, of Flagg on the beach. The group then continues west towards Mother Abagail, during which time Goldsmith falls deeply in love with Redman. Please enter a valid email and try again. April 26, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT. In search of healing, the Dark Man is reborn as Russell Faraday on an island with a lost tribe. M O O N. Permalink: You come back now, Stu. Cavell says that King felt comfortable enough with the way the scripts were going for the This version of Jurgens takes on characteristics of Susan Stern and Mark Zellman from the novel and retains her death scene, albeit toned down (stabbing herself in the neck with a broken bottle). Along with Glen Bateman, the group arrives at Stovington to confirm not only the deaths of everyone at the facility, but also that Redman was nearly killed in his escape from there. Henreid is able to save himself from starvation by eating food that he has saved, along with whatever rats, roaches, or other vermin he can catchhe also very nearly consumes the leg of a dead cellmate (in the revisedexpanded version, Flagg insinuates that Henreid did indeed eat some human flesh, despite Henreid's attempts to hide the cuts in the leg before the Dark Man arrived). After being found by Tom Cullen, Kojak is taken back to Boulder. You cant have a force for good without a force for evil. Farris sees Terry in the car, holding a rifle and smiling wildly, prompting The Judge to attempt to pull his own gun, but Roberts shoots him first. Cross travels west with Lauder, but when Lauder's motorcycle crashes, she implies it was her intention for Lauder to die in a motorcycle accident, instead of being killed by Flagg upon their arrival in Las Vegas. At the center of The Stand, and one of its most captivating characters, is the villain Randall Flagg. With help from Andros's spirit, who appears to Cullen in visions, Cullen is able to nurse a delirious and dying Redman back to health while they are snowed in for much of the winter, in motels in central Utah (Green River) and western Colorado (Grand Junction). In the 1994 miniseries, Lawry was portrayed by Shawnee Smith and is inadvertently killed by Flagg's powers when she gets too close to Whitney Horgan's body. The final confrontation with the evil and mysterious Randall Flagg never changes much across these tinkered endings. In the 1994 miniseries, Henreid was portrayed by Miguel Ferrer. In the 1994 miniseries, the Trashcan Man was portrayed by Matt Frewer. Most of Flagg's memories indicate that not only was he able to escape during the last moments of many of these events, they also nourished his evil nature.[7]. During one session the group discovers that while hypnotized, Cullen possesses the same type of foresight as Mother Abagail, concurrently referring to himself as the "Tom" Andros met in Oklahoma and "God's Tom". However, for the characters of The Stand, the immediate future is all that matters. Underwood leaves Boulder with Redman, Ralph Brentner, and Glen Bateman, after Mother Abagail instructs them to go to Las Vegas. At this time, Flagg also gives Henreid a black stone with a red flaw to symbolize Henreid's allegiance to Flagg. (CBS) The episode sees a voiceover explaining how Frannies baby, named Abagail after Mother Abagail The Trashcan Man undergoes a schizophrenic episode and reverts to his old destructive ways, destroying several trucks and aircraft, which kills all the experienced pilots in Las Vegas. She also knows if hes lying here, hes not lying about much. Goldsmith is moderately injured in the blast, but her unborn child remains safe. Creighton is General Starkey's friend and right-hand man; he periodically updates Starkey on the situation. Did having a Frannie-Flagg scene in the finale affect plans for previous characters interactions with him? WebRandall Flagg, also known as "the Dark Man" or "the Walkin Dude", is the main antagonist of The Stand. They find Lauder's ledger, in which Lauder has documented his intention to kill Stuart Redman. A teacher at a private school in New Hampshire, Cross has retained her virginity due to a vaguely defined, but powerful, sense that she is destined for something "dark and unique."