I remember sitting through The Stand in one sitting..totally hooked. I had not read the book prior so the whole 'Hand of God' bit at the end came as a complete shock to me and an utter disappointment. Felt very much like they (King included) had no idea how to end the story and went the whole 'Deus Ex Machina' UGH!!!
Loved The Stand as a whole but that ending was unforgivable and cringe worthy to me.
It was what Flagg was being set up for. Actually, I didn't mind the Hand of God so much; the thing I disliked about the book (the mini-series was not as bad in this respect) was the journey Stu and Tom took back to Boulder. That could have been disposed of in about a quarter of the time.
Did you like the book?
Just wanted to share a funny, at least I thought it was at the time, Hand of God reaction from a viewer I know.
My bestest buddy , since forever, watched The Stand when it first aired and we discussed each episode.
The funny part?
She was offended, yes offended, by the Hand of God scene. That Hollywood was showing God's actual "hand" at work and blaming Him for blowing up all those people.
It was nearly impossible not to laugh when asking her "Uhhh, G... you do understand the battle between good and evil theme right? That Flagg was basically the devil and God was striking him and his followers down, right???"
She didn't answer, but was still offended they presumed "showed the hand of God".
I stopped discussing any science fiction, horror, or religious themed shows with her after that.
It's been over a decade and it still makes me laugh.
doo doo doo dooda dooda
That is funny. I wonder how your friend thought it should end then?
shareIt sounds like the kind of reaction some muslims have about showing any image or representation of Mohammed.
shareI actually really enjoyed that sequence; it was great seeing Flagg ultimately undone by The Hand of God, which ironically was delivered to him (unintentionally) by his most devoted follower, the Trashcan Man (irony, anyone?)
The part I didnt like was how they didnt include the expanded ending from the uncut version of the novel (showing Flagg is still around, creating more havoc with a group of island dwellers under the name Russell Farady, showing how evil never truly dies, and Flagg is the embodiment of Evil; he can never be destroyed, and only shifts from one form to another). Without this, I feel the miniseries loses a lot if the impact the book had.
Regardless, both are great and both deserve to be hailed as masterpieces imo.
"I am the one who knocks"
Maybe the special effects were not so great, but I loved that part. It's what the last half of the miniseries was building up to (haven't read the book in years, and I never did finish it). It doesn't at all seem like King had no idea how to end it. To the contrary, the ending is so awesome it seems like he came up with it first.
🤣
shareI haven't read the book, but I felt like, after the ending, Trashcan Man had actually been on the side of Good all along. When he said "My life for you!" over and over, he wasn't really talking to/about Flagg at all. Never had been.
shareI disagree. Trashcan Man was clearly crazy, but I think he was truly devoted to Flagg. He just sort of screwed everything up. Pyromaniacs, I imagine, don't consider the consequences when they start fires, or steal nuclear bombs!
But yeah, he was loyal to Flagg, "My life for you!"
I intend to live forever.
So far, so good.
I haven't read the book, but I felt like, after the ending, Trashcan Man had actually been on the side of Good all along. When he said "My life for you!" over and over, he wasn't really talking to/about Flagg at all. Never had been.
I disagree. Trashcan Man was clearly crazy, but I think he was truly devoted to Flagg. He just sort of screwed everything up. Pyromaniacs, I imagine, don't consider the consequences when they start fires, or steal nuclear bombs!Bobbiekaye is correct. Trashy was on Flagg's side as Flagg's people gave him the only acceptance he had ever known. When Trashy was saying 'My life for you!', he was dedicating his life to Flagg, not God.
But yeah, he was loyal to Flagg, "My life for you!"
I had to watched it three times before I realized that all along he meant God and not Flagg ... It's been a long time since it's been on TV .. I know the past weekend " It " came on , which was a total disappointment .. A spider ... come on King .. lol .. I just wish " The Stand " would come on again .. I have it on DVD but have never watched it that way ... It's more fun knowing others are watching it too .
"A man that wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough".
I had to watched it three times before I realized that all along he meant God and not Flagg ... It's been a long time since it's been on TV .. I know the past weekend " It " came on , which was a total disappointment .. A spider ... come on King .. lol .. I just wish " The Stand " would come on again .. I have it on DVD but have never watched it that way ... It's more fun knowing others are watching it too .Sorry, but I just can't see this. The book makes it explicitly clear that Trashy is on Flagg's side here, not that of God. After all Flagg and his people had given him the only real acceptance that he had ever known in his life; they were the only people who ever wanted him.
That's exactly how I would have understood it from the movie if I was unfamilar with the book. It did seem like Max Headroom was talking to God instead of Flagg much of the time.
It was explicity the other way throughout the book, with many more scenes for Trashman. The whole getting saved from The Kidd part.
I almost think the movie version improved the story. A little ambiguity.
If nothing else, it seems possible that God might have been behind it ultimately, even if Flagg thought he was the one in charge. King actually had a kind of limitation in the book, in that it would be pretty difficult to have ambiguity about who a character is referring to, especially in a situation like that.
shareI've wondered about Trashcan Man as well and his mantra "My Life For You." The man was clearly batshit crazy. He was clearly drawn to Flagg...but he never makes it abundantly clear who he is talking about when he says "My Life For You". Initially you see that he is referring to Flagg...but at the end...he brings about the end of Flagg's regime and says "My Life For You." and it has always made me wonder if he wasn't talking to God.
shareSo from what I've seen on this thread everyone either thinks the book or the miniseries (or even both) had pretty big flaws, to which I have to say: read the comic
Around the early 2000s, Marvel Comics adapted 'The Stand' into a 6-part graphic novel series, and it's by far the best adaptation of (what I consider) the best Stephen King story of all time.
It fixes all the minor gripes everyone has on this post, and most importantly, even posits the idea that this is a battle of good vs evil, and that religion is just a way of interpreting it, that Mother Abigail sees it one way and Nick might see it another way.
Trust me, if you liked 'The Stand' but felt it could have been stronger, read the Marvel Comics adaptation.
my only problem with the hand of god is how poorly the effects have aged.
edit: whoa! i had noo idea there was a comic, cool.
It's been awhile... Didn't, "The Stand" UNCUT have a completely different ending than King's original edit? If you haven't read the uncut version, perhaps you'll like that ending better. I like the extended edition better & The film is very good. Yes, the ending didn't transfer well from page to film... But what can ya do? It was written how it was written. And even as it was, A truly scary premise indeed!The anti-Christ prowling a ravaged Earth! GOODNESS!
I honor the dead with Easter-Egg's! Please view & comment on my living-dead tribute "The Walker" / www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EIsv6QmEHk
It's been awhile... Didn't, "The Stand" UNCUT have a completely different ending than King's original edit? If you haven't read the uncut version, perhaps you'll like that ending better. I like the extended edition better & The film is very good. Yes, the ending didn't transfer well from page to film... But what can ya do? It was written how it was written. And even as it was, A truly scary premise indeed!The anti-Christ prowling a ravaged Earth! GOODNESS!Actually, the C&U version has a different incarnation of Flagg landing on a tropical beach somewhere, place and time unknown, and the natives are in awe of him.