Carrie - TV series

Having previously written and directed adaptations of Gerald's Game, Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck, Mike Flanagan is already a Stephen King veteran.

In 2021, he brought the critically acclaimed Netflix series Midnight Mass, which is deemed an unofficial spiritual successor and/or tribute to 1975 novel 'Salem's Lot.

Anyway, considering story has been told three times before, does the latest version justify its existence?

Summer H. Howell - Carietta "Carrie" White

Siena Agudong - Sue Snell

Samantha Sloyan - Margaret White

Alison Thornton - Chris Hargensen

Amber Midthunder - Rita Desjardin

Josie Totah - Tina Blake

Arthur Conti - Billy Nolan

Thalia Dudek - Emaline West

Joel Oulette - Tommy Ross

Matthew Lillard - Principal Henry-Grayle

Rahul Kohli - Seth Peist

Tim Bagley - Peter Morton

Kate Siegel - Adelaide

Michael Trucco - John Hargensen

Heather Graham - Madison Hargensen

Tahmoh Penikett - Ralph White

Episodes

1. First Period

2. Foreign Language

3. Social Studies

4. Dramatic Arts

5. Physical Education

6. Home Economics

7. Romantic Literature

8. AP Physics

Summary

2026, Chamberlain, USA.

Awkward teenager Carrie White has been home-schooled her entire life by her domineering mother Margaret.  After Carrie's father Ralph is tragically killed in an accident at a construction site, Margaret is forced by social services into sending Carrie to Ewen High School to retain custody.

She befriends Sue Snell, but is snubbed by popular super bitch Chris Hargensen.

After Carrie starts bleeding in the locker room, the other girls throw tampons at her, with ringleader Chris live-streaming event on social media.

At the end of opening episode, Chris creates an Instagram account Carrie Red and uploads locker room footage, with bullying scandal dominating series.

Of course, Carrie discovers telekinetic powers, bringing about death and destruction.

As you'd expect, modern spin gives mainstays different personas and takes extreme liberties with source material. 

For example, psycho ex-student turned drug dealer Billy Nolan was expelled for bringing a cattle prod into school and going after a kid.  He lives on a farm, and off-screen, kills a pig to fill a bucket of blood.

Who knows, it might come in handy on prom night.

Chris's asshole dad John features pretty heavily and is eventually jailed for embezzlement.

Exclusive characters include the mysterious Emaline West and cult leader Adelaide¹.

¹Kate Siegel also directed E3.

Miscellany

In E3, Carrie reads a book about telekinesis and witchcraft, featuring Nina Kulaniga, a former member of the Red Army tank regiment.  In March 1970, she 'allegedly' stopped a frog's beating heart with her mind.

This is interesting, as that's how Carrie kills Margaret in the original 1974 novel.

Whether King was inspired by story is unknown.

And shit doesn't stop there, as Adelaide murders Margaret by...

Yeah.

Before doing so, she tells her that a lot of people have "a little shine in them", referring to the psychic powers Danny Torrance possesses in The Shining, adding further weight to a popular theory that Carrie and The Shining are connected.

While Carrie is dancing in the street in the final episode, the marquee of movie theatre Brian de Palma retrospective in 35mm pays homage to the director of classic 1976 original.

Margaret bathing Carrie in the bath bears an uncanny resemblance to a shot of Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair in The Exorcist.  This was probably deliberate, as Flanagan has made The Exorcist: Martyrs, due for release in March 2027, which sounds like a sequel to The Exorcist III.

Chronicle

Accusation is way out there, but principle of Carrie breaking Chris's nose for saying something horrible about Margaret and Ralph is identical to Andrew getting revenge on Wayne by psychically ripping his teeth out.

Another odd 'coincidence' is Carrie showing off at a junkyard and causes a car to explode.  Andrew on the other hand crushing vehicle was way more spectacular.

Cruelty and disorder

Despite some issues, I binged entire series in one epic sitting and was hooked from the off.

Summer H. Howell and Matthew Lillard knock shit out of the park, but Chris and Desjardin were pretty annoying.

Margaret still sends Carrie to the closet, but she's relatively nice compared to Piper Laurie.

Subplot of new character/teacher Seth Peist having an affair with Chris's stepsister Brooklyn was completely unnecessary.  During E6, it's revealed bastard hung himself after the truth was exposed.

Emaline

Undoubtedly the most interesting new addition first appears in E2, when Carrie is crying in the bathroom.

The end of E5 suggests Carrie has been talking to an imaginary friend.  However, that was a red herring, as Adelaide confirms astral projector can appear without physically being present, explaining why others can't see her.

Ending

Like the poorly received 2002 TV movie, Carrie survives.

Rather than Sue, Carrie drives away with Emaline to pastures unknown.

Is Emaline on the run from Adelaide and does she have more sinister plans for Carrie?

All might be revealed, if a second season happens.