The Latecomers

Episode Notes This week, we experience the re-imagined ending of The Stand in the finale episode of 2020’s adaptation, penned by the man himself. And both of us have punch up suggestions, first for this episode and then for the whole of the series. Amity is mad and turns Frannie southern, bless her heart. We discuss racism, classism, ablism, law and order, social and societal responsibility and mo...

Episode Notes Glen coming into his own; Lloyd taking a turn; the return of the Trashcan Man and a re-imagined hand of God brings New Vegas to it’s knees. Nadine realizes she’s been used, Lloyd comes to terms with his non-murderous heart, Flagg does a jig, and Larry will fear no evil. The story we know comes to a close with the emergence of Tom from a cloud of dust and Frannie swearing into labor....

Episode Notes Excellent news – it’s the best episode yet with plenty of the best character (it’s Glen) and the death of the worst character (it’s Harold) and there’s makeup issues and accidents and a big nuke hug – everything you could possibly want.   Recommendations: Child’s Play (1972) [On Paramount+] Next up: The Stand Episode 8 “The Stand” (2021) (Paramount+) Email us at latecomers@gmail.com...

Episode Notes We are entering the home stretch of 2021’s adaptation of The Stand, and you can tell because we are starting to kill off characters we barely know. To be fair, we barely know anyone, but that won’t stop the momentum and this episode takes out Nick, with whom we have spent perhaps 10 minutes. It’s a good thing we got some good hugs between him and Tom or what even would be the point?...

Episode Notes We are seated firmly in the after time in this center episode of the 2021 adaptation of the Stand. We also are in a world that has veered away from adaptation and into complete rewrite and that world is Las Vegas where instead of all work and no play, we have a class of all play and a seeming slave class. Cocaine, sex and violence seem to permeate every aspect of the so-called societ...

Episode Notes This week not much happens, but also we have a lot to talk about. Nadine and Harold’s messed up dynamic, Dayna’s Walking Dead style entrance, a second-rate Julie Lowry, allowing our heroes some agency, a Stephen King cameo, poor Teddy, whether this show is trying to be The Joker, and so much more!     Recommendations:  The Vigil (Hulu); Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)     Next up: The...

Episode Notes This week we get more Glen and less Nick than we thought (the hazards of trying to guess what this adaptation is going to do). We discuss the scariest scene so far, the location of crucifixion, whether Amber Heard is the most beautiful woman in the world, and the problem of Tom Cullen.   Recommendations:  The Tomorrow War (Amazon Prime); Of Mice and Men (1939 adaptation available on...

Episode 2 of the 2020 adaptation of The Stand starts with a reveal that’s barely a reveal and a title card to center us in time, so progress is being made. Larry, Rita, Nadine and Lloyd are introduced in increasingly gory scenes. An indecent proposal is made. Rats should be first billed in the credits, but get short shrift and Harold gets one scene that doesn’t make us instantly uncomfortable. We...

Episode Notes We begin at “The End” – episode one of the Paramount miniseries The Stand. Buckle in for an amorphous temporal romp with everyone favorite incel Harold Lauder. We meet our Franny and Stu. We glimpse our Mother Abigail and Randell Flagg. But mostly we get a face full of Harold, much to our chagrin. This is going to be a good series of conversations if not a good miniseries itself.   R...

Episode Notes It is with a heavy heart we come to the end of The Outsider this week. Half of our beloved team gets taken out by one sharpshooter with Jack Daniels and rattlesnake venom pulsing through his veins because sometimes a man who threatens not to shut up, doesn’t in fact shut up. Which of our intrepid heroes makes it out? How to the women reconcile? Is there hope for the Maitland family?...

Episode Notes We’re putting all the pieces into place for the coming endgame this week on The Outsider. Our intrepid detectives pair off and come to terms with their relationships and requirements and finally have an offensive plan. Jack is at the whim of a growling monstrosity with Claude’s face, Andy comes for his lady, and finally Ralph sees the light. We’re heading into the final climax and Am...

Episode Notes Entering the third year of our Stephen King coverage, we get into the creepy center of 2020’s The Outsider. Holly has some news to share and it’s quite a doozy. Ralph backslides into the 1800s in his dismissal of his wife, while said wife makes some alarming and not particularly well thought out decisions for Glory’s family. We learn of international boogeymen and give our outsider a...

Episode Notes We slow down on plot and pick up on detecting this week in the second block of The Outsider. We are reintroduced to Holly Gibney in a new and fascinating form. We witness Jack getting what he deserves after he literally pisses on a crime scene. We follow Ralph as he continues to work off book and around the edges. And we meet poor Heath and Maria – both doomed by the same predicament...

Episode Notes Cherokee City Georgia is where we set our wretched scene – which is actually quite beautiful and skillfully directed by child murderer (or just teacher, coach and dad) Jason Bateman. Two episodes in and everything we think we learn in the first half an hour is undone in the second half an hour – and then things get weird. Join us as we watch 2020’s The Outsider.   Recommendations:  A...

Episode Notes We’re wrapping up Castle Rock this week. We discuss the ethics, aggression and communication styles of possession, what is and is not wrong with Joy, where’d The Kid go, how great Tim Robbins is,  Lizzy Caplan’s performance and what happened to Nadia and Abdi and Chance, oh my!   Recommendations:  Shadow on the Cloud (Hulu), Those Who Wish Me Dead (HBO Max) and the Anthropocene Revie...

Episode Notes We get a second historical episodes in as much time and we finally see what’s really going on and who has taken over Ace and so many of the town. Angel makes an appearance and all we were told about his character from the first season turn to ashes in our mouths – because they were lies! Annie makes some odd choices – especially for her. Amity is a real witch (the one from Castle Roc...

Episode Notes We’ve reached 100 – the world of Stephen King Adaptations is seemingly endless and this week we delve into the creamy center of season 2 of Castle Rock and we find out some of the hows and whys of the Ingalls family – aliases abound and a familiar King face emerges. We discuss inappropriate parent-daughter relationships, the chemical changes in a depressed body, narcissism and so muc...

Episode Notes In our 99th Stephen King episode we get into the meat of Castle Rock Season 2. Tables are turned on Annie, Joy’s eyes and mind are opened, Pop makes some decisions that aren’t his to make, Nadia makes some discoveries, and Ace builds a gang. There’s a lot going on – join us to talk about it!   Recommendations:  After Hours (HBO Max); Ink Masters (Yes – still - Netflix/Paramount+); Th...

Episode Notes We head back to the great white north (eastern version) as we dig in to the second season of Castle Rock. Lizzy Caplan channels Kathy Bates as a young Annie Wilkes and is luminous as our slant protagonist. A prequel that takes place after the happenings on Misery, placed in modern day Castle Rock and Jerusalem’s Lot with a cavalcade of shady but familiar characters around her. Join u...

Episode Notes This week, we know we were supposed to be revisiting the Mercedes-verse but due to technical difficulties instead we revisit one of our favorite places – the Overlook! We watched the Director’s cut, which blessed us with 25 extra minutes of character insights. We discuss the blending of King’s books with Kubrick’s film and are generally grateful that the Overlook was still standing f...

Episode Notes We’re getting creepy with a father son duet this week as we discuss In the Tall Grass from 2019. Patrick Wilson – yes, that Patrick Wilson – leads a no-star cast in this Netflix production that has us questioning time, continuums, mandrakes, and salespeople. Join us on the ride!   Recommendations:  Killer’s Kiss (Available to rent digitally on most platforms) The One (Netflix) Next u...

Episode Notes This week we discuss the second half of the theatrical It adaptation and why it can’t quite live up to the first half. We wax poetic about some fantastic casting, some bold choices and some heinous violence, and then we wonder at the speed and silliness of the climax. We compare favorite characters and put ourselves in their shoes. It’s a fun watch and a funner discussion, so join us...

Episode Notes Back to Maine and some poor choices as we discuss the 2019 remake of Pet Sematary. We compare the stylistic and narrative choices this adaptation made, what works, what doesn’t and what’s wrong with Rachel. Amity definitely calls Church Gage and vice versa – but can you blame her? I submit that you cannot as that cat could be called anything and Gage is both barely a name and barely...

Episode Notes We put a wrap to season 2 of Mr. Mercedes. Any medical questions you have? Don’t worry, the writers also have the same questions. Legal questions? You aren’t alone there either. There was a lot to do in two hours, and David E. Kelly is unafraid of plot holes. He’ll even point them out for you. Does it sound like we didn’t like it? We did! Surprise! Listen to here the details.   Recom...

Episode Notes The penultimate episode of Season 2 of Mr. Mercedes and we get into some of the whys and make predictions on what’s to come. We hold our breath for Al, for Holly, and for men in general under the yoke of toxic masculinity. Join us as we ease in to the final lap of the season.   Recommendations:  Nadia Bakes (Netflix)   Next up: Mr. Mercedes Season 2 Episodes 7 & 8 (Free with comm...