Carrie (2026) is the greatest adaptation of the novel…..until it’s not. For seven episodes, this is yet another brilliant showcase of Mike Flanagan’s immense talents. Summer H. Howell is the best version of Carrie, Alison Thornton is incredible as Chris Hargensen and the show overall is a haunting, ambitious and layered look at how American institutions are currently failing our children. If you stopped at episode 7, this might be Mike Flanagan’s best work. But unfortunately, there’s episode eight. A bizarre and frustrating season finale, that trades out closure and finality for franchise baiting and Multiverse building. The character of Emaline West is an absolutely abysmal character that completely undercuts Carrie’s agency (Please kill her off immediately in Season 2). That and the show weirdly introduces a secret society of X-Men like individuals for the sake of more seasons. It’s weird, it’s out of place and the only way it’s justifiable is if future seasons knock it out of the park. If Carrie had been one season and cut out all of the secret society bullshit, this might be a top three Stephen King adaptation of all time. Instead, it’s an incredible season of television that fumbles at the goal line. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️