Castle Rock: Reactions and Reviews
If anyone here hasn’t yet seen this Hulu series which debuted in July, I firmly suggest you borrow someone’s account for a couple days if you don’t already have your own. While you don’t have to be a fan of Stephen King to appreciate the show, a familiarity with his work doesn’t hurt. And regardless of what kind of fan you are, I am jealous of what you are about to find out. That is, of course, provided my review sways you to turn it on.
I think it wise to start with the casting of Castle Rock. Actors Andre Holland, Sissy Spacek, and Scott Glenn deliver towering performances and it’s on their merit alone that I would recommend this show.
Holland plays defense attorney Henry Deaver who gets summoned back to his hometown of Castle Rock after an alarming discovery in Shawshank Prison.
A young man (Bill Skarsgaard) is found locked in a cage—unidentified and uncommunicative—in the depths of the prison. When asked for his name he gives Deaver’s, presumably requesting legal counsel. The icy Shawshank warden (Jane Cusack) aims to cover up the incident, fearing what it would do to her career. Yet further mysterious circumstances which arise push her to release the unnamed prisoner, and he falls into Deaver’s care.
Navigating obligations to his new client are balanced alongside mother Ruth, brilliantly played by Sissy, who is in the early throes of dementia. Ruth relies on chess pieces to remember what appears to be household chores, yet we learn differently as the season progresses. Live-in boyfriend Alan Pangborn (Scott Glenn) is the retired Castle Rock sheriff, and the only recurring character considered King canon. Some will recognize the name from Needful Things and The Dark Half, but there is no need to have read these to appreciate Glenn’s knockout performance.
There isn’t a weak supporting character in the whole Rock ensemble, albeit some are working with better material than others. Local real estate agent Molly Strand is an empath who holds some curious connections to Deaver’s past, as shown in some very moody flashback sequences.
In my own opinion, the relationship between Molly and Henry wasn’t as developed or well understood by the writers as I would have thought. There are some large revelations shown in these flashback scenes between the two characters, yet I don’t feel the plot really capitalized on them. Still though, there is enough good in here that I feel that this flaw can be overlooked.
Probably one of my more partial episodes is one which just about stands alone from the others, having not much to do with Henry Deaver at all. A college professor and his wife set up a novelty bed and breakfast in town, a business venture proven short-lived when their first few guests end up brutally murdered. These bed and breakfast scenes are scary, and carry some startling revelations of their own.
Overall, Castle Rock pulled off a solid first season; first-rate acting all around, and homages to King are never overdone. Filming locales fulfill every shred of imagery I’ve had while reading about Castle Rock and Shawshank Prison. The plot line though, while it does set up a lot of interesting twists and suggestions, never seems to want to cash in on them, which reduces the closer episode to something confusing and convoluted as a result.
Still, this is a fun ride I suggest everyone takes the time to go on. J.J. Abrams and Hulu have created a love letter to Stephen King properties and leaves the door open for some great possibilities in the season to come.
