Classic Sci Fi TV: Our ongoing look back at many of the classics of science fiction and fantasy television.
What Is It? After a deadly virus is released that wipes out 99.4% of the Earth’s population, two sets of survivors receive visions in their dreams directing them to locations where they should meet. Those contacted by kindly Mother Abigail are summoned to Nebraska, while those contacted by the sinister Randall Flagg are directed to go to Las Vegas. Once they arrive at their respective destinations, they then prepare for a final stand; a battle between good and evil.
Aired: ABC, 1995, 4 Part Mini-Series
Starring: Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Miguel Ferrer, Ruby Dee, Ray Walston, Matt Frewer
Created By: Stephen King
Is It Must-Watch Sci Fi? Yes. This is a faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s book and a first-rate genre drama the deserves to be counted in the upper echelon of sci fi and fantasy television productions.
The Skinny: The early to mid 90’s was a good time for sci fi TV with the Star Trek shows and Babylon 5 going strong in syndication and The X-Files getting its start on FOX. The Big Three broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) did not have as much interest in ongoing genre entries, but ABC did greenlight a mini-series based on Stephen King’s The Stand and spared no expense with the production (giving it a hefty $28 million budget). King himself was brought on to write the screenplay which resulted in a faithful adaptation of the story, and the network pushed the bounds of broadcast standards and practices in order to keep it as close to the book as possible.
But what really made this mini-series stand out is its cast. Led by Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Ray Walston, Miguel Ferrer, Ruby Dee, and more, the actors each turned out to be perfect fits for their parts and helped carry the production to the next level. That included Rob Lowe playing against type as a deaf-mute (in what I consider one of his best roles) and Matt Frewer going bonkers a Trashcan Man. And of course, Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg and Ruby Dee as Mother Abigail perfectly represented the standard bearers of Evil and Good as they drive the survivors to their final confrontation.
Note that the tone of the mini-series shifts dramatically after the first installment. That part focuses on the spread of the virus across the country and attempts by the government to contain it. Starting with the second part, most of the population has been wiped out and the focus shifts to the survivors and the decisions they must make. And a bit of a spoiler warning that the final confrontation turns out to be somewhat of a disappointment, but the same is true of the novel. The journey is worth it, though, and this is an excellent mini-series that is definitely worth seeking out.
>Buy The Stand on DVD and Blu-ray from Amazon.com
Should It Be Rebooted? Whether it should or not, it is being rebooted by CBS All Access. The 1994 mini-series is a classic that handled the story about as good as you could expect and had a nearly flawless cast, so I’m not sure what the new adaptation will bring to the table. But the entertainment industry is still addicted to reboots and revivals (and the Stephen King name), so expect to see the new mini-series at some point in 2020.
Interesting Facts: Stephen King considers The Stand to be an American version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and there are multiple allusions to the trilogy throughout his story. King originally planned to adapt the book as a movie with George A. Romero directing. But he could not come up with a script that was short enough to be movie-length and that did justice to the story. When the opportunity to do the mini-series came up, he decided that was the better way to go.
Where Can You Watch It? The mini-series has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, but is not available for streaming on any of the major services. It is not available for purchase VOD at the moment either, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is released around the time that the new mini-series comes out.
Read More About the Show: Wikipedia | IMDb.com
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