Let me begin by saying I’m a “defender” of Mike Flanagan’s Carrie. With the caveat that I’m not familiar with Stephen King’s book, I thought Flanagan’s execution of the series was well-done as the platonic ideal for a horror series made for a young adult audience. But I’m frankly a little baffled by the news that it’s on for season 2—and, I’m learning now, a third on the way.
On October 22, Prime Video announced that Carrie was renewed for season 2, with a streaming date not confirmed. Apparently, Flanagan has three seasons in mind, and he’s already briefed King on his plans. Said Flanagan in the press release: “For 50 years, audiences have known and gravitated to Carrie White’s story. From the beginning, we imagined a story that goes far beyond the prom, and I’m incredibly grateful for Stephen’s trust and support in exploring what comes next.”
King was also quoted in the announcement, saying: “I can’t wait for audiences to get to see what’s down the road for Carrie White. Mike Flanagan and I are excited about what comes next. It’s bound to be thrilling.” Amazon MGM Studios’ Head of Global Television, Peter Friedlander, also gave a quote, but he said the words “iconic IP” so just know that Amazon is pleased as punch that Carrie had enough viewers to warrant the renewal.
But what might all these plans for “what’s next” entail? Again, I haven’t read King’s book, but to the best of my understanding the show covered the entire thing. Like, we got to prom and all the blood and the house burning down. Right? That’s the whole story! Or is it? It seems Carrie is still setting up something big that King’s original text never encompassed, with a three-season plan set to go places that even King himself didn’t go before.
To recap (and take this as your spoiler warning), season 1 ended with Carrie surviving her house collapse and being rescued by Emaline (Thalia Dudek), who spent most of the season astral projecting into Carrie’s mind. Emaline is an acolyte of Adelaide (Katie Siegel), who leads a cult-like organization of psychic women. (King fans recognize it as having the “Shining,” but complicated book rights mean they probably can’t use that word in the show.)
Nothing involving Emaline or Adelaide or any house of psychic women was in the original Carrie, as the book ended with Carrie dying—stabbed by her own mother—in the arms of Sue at the White House tavern. That ending was about Carrie and Sue coming to an understanding that they never intended to hurt each other, which is the real tragedy of the story.
But Sue and Carrie don’t have such a moment in the show, and instead Carrie winds up with Adelaide and her faction of psychics. Season 2 is undoubtedly about Carrie learning to harness her powers under the tutelage and guidance of Adelaide. But what does Adelaide have in mind for this small army of powerful women? It’s honestly interesting how much the show feels like it’s shaping up to encompass The Institute, King’s 2019 novel about a harsh facility for teenagers with psychic powers, but that show already exists with a second season slated for MGM+ in November. You think a crossover is in the cards?