I finally finished the Mike Flanagan adaptation of Carrie. I don’t know if this series will be a continuation for me because YA mutants aren’t my typical form of entertainment, but I do like how he changed aspects about Carrie and her mom.
There will be spoilers to a degree because I rarely write a well-informed piece when I do decide to write. I just like writing off the cuff. You’re welcome.
A major complaint I have read on Reddit is that Carrie’s agency was taken away from her in the last episode as Emmaline convinces Carrie to let her take over the violent revenge. I don’t really see it that way. Carrie basically has a come-to moment on the stage when she realizes the consequences of her powers killed the one kid who was really nice to her and had a fondness for her. Had Emmaline not intervened, Carrie may have had a very different outcome because she was written as more compassionate and kind kid compared to Stephen King’s original. Then I think people would have also complained because Carrie would be seen as weak for not finishing her total vengeance against the entire town as was part of the original story.
Also, yes, she is remorseful because that was her nature, Mike Flanagan’s version of Carrie. But if you pay attention, Emmaline has a way of getting Carrie out of that state. When they are riding in the car at the end, Carrie has a mischievous look of complete happiness when she is told how powerful she is and how the world is hers. The smile widens even still knowing she destroyed an entire town killing around 200 people and possibly killed her mother. That’s complexity. I get people are fans of the original and preface sometimes that they aren’t trying to be purists to the original, but Carrie’s not some two-dimensional freak of nature who hits the end of her rope and goes bat shit. This Carrie has more nuance, is intelligent, is naturally kind, wants the best for all, and is learning to balance that nature with the other side that is slowly developing, the one who is learning her power and what she is capable of and wants in her life.
I love Flanagan’s stuff, but the YA I kind of avoid. I am more into his adult shows, but watching Carrie was fun, I like what he did with it and now I am off to watch the original or one of the adaptations to refresh my memory of King’s Carrie.
I realize I didn’t get to Mags/Margaret White, but I freaking love that actor. Flanagan’s regulars are always a delight. And even though like so many I love, love, love Kate Siegel, I hated her character at the end. She did it well, too well. But damn she sure is pretty.
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