The new Prime Video series adaptation of Stephen King's debut novel Carrie is now streaming, with all eight episodes available. Showrunner Mike Flanagan has described the series as a reimagining of the source material, and viewers have noted several significant alterations from the book.
Carrie's family life
In the book, Carrie's mother Margaret is portrayed as a religious fanatic who beats her daughter and tells her she has sinful thoughts. The series softens this, showing Margaret as a woman of strong faith but not as fanatical, and suggests the parents may be conspiracy theorists. The book states her father dies in a construction accident before her birth.
New characters and powers
The series introduces characters not in the book, including Mr Peist, played by Rahul Kohli, and Emaline, along with a group of super-powered girls. Mr Peist's fate shows the consequences of online rumours, while Emaline 'takes over' for Carrie before her revenge. In the book, Carrie is in control, and around 440 people die, with the town shutting down and survivors moving away.
The book's ending, which features a letter about a woman's infant daughter with powers, may have inspired the group of super-powered people in the series.
The ending
The series makes major changes to the ending. In the book, the principal and gym teacher resign, not die at prom, and blame themselves. Carrie dies from her mother's stab wound, but before dying, she links minds with Sue Snell, learning Sue meant her no ill will. The book uses excerpts from Sue's memoir and police interviews.
In the series, Carrie's mother Margaret survives the house collapse but is killed by an unknown person posing as a documentary filmmaker, who stops her heart. Carrie survives and is driven to safety by Emaline, who tells her she is a God and the world is hers, prompting speculation about a second season.
Carrie is streaming on Prime Video.
