The Circle Opens: A Podcast Devoted to Stephen King and His Works

Gray Matter: Alcohol consumption turns a man into something inhuman.  For more on Night Shift and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com

The Boogeyman: A man calmly describes to his psychiatrist how the Boogeyman killed his three children.  For more on Night Shift and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com

The Mangler: An industrial speed ironer and folder becomes possessed by a demonic entity.  For more on Night Shift and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com

I Am The Doorway: After a space mission to Venus, a paraplegic astronaut becomes host to an alien lifeform. For more on Night Shift and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com

*Be warned that this episode is full of spoilers for both episodes, as well as spoilers for the novel.  Sean from the What Does It Matter? podcast joins me on today's episode to discuss episodes 1x04 and 1x05 of CBS All Access's adaptation of The Stand. There may also be a *little* bit of discussion about The X-Files.  Visit thecircleopens.com for more about the podcast and The Stand!

Night Surf: A young man questions his survival in a post-apocalyptic world.  For more on Night Shift and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com/

Graveyard Shift: A drifter begins work at a textile mill in Gates Falls, Maine when he's recruited by the cruel foreman to clean the rat-infested basement. For more on Night Shift and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com/

My review of Blank Page, the third episode from the CBS All Access adaptation of The Stand! For more on The Stand and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com

The journey through Stephen King's short stories begins with the 1978 collection, Night Shift, and its first story, Jerusalem's Lot.  I also give my thoughts on Pocket Savior, the second episode of CBS All Access's The Stand (airdate 12/24/20). Beware of spoilers! For more on The Stand and Stephen King, check out http://thecircleopens.com/ Review of Pocket Savior: 6:00 Summary/Review of Jerusalem's Lot: 19:25 Sources: Hubpages: Jerusalem's Lot and Salem's Lot – Lovecraft and King Stephen King Wiki  

*Be warned that this episode is full of spoilers for the episode, as well as some spoilers for the novel. * Sean from the What Does It Matter? podcast joins me on today's episode to discuss the premiere of CBS All Access's adaptation of The Stand. Visit thecircleopens.com for more about the podcast and The Stand!

M-O-O-N, that spells goodbye. I discuss the last few chapters of The Stand and if the ending of King's novel is a satisfying one. I also discuss the future of the podcast now that my review of The Stand is complete. 

A review of Chapters 75 and 76 as we near the end of the novel. Will Tom and Stu make it home alive?

In Chapter 74, Stu fights for survival with the help of a familiar face. I also have a few brief thoughts on the new full-length trailer from CBS All Access!  Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

Glen, Larry, and Ralph arrive in Las Vegas and make their final stand against Randall Flagg.

I will fear no evil. In Chapter 72, Glen, Stu, Ralph, Larry, and Kojak continue west and Mother Abagail's premonition comes to pass.

Trashcan Man finds what he is looking for in Chapter 70, while Flagg finds *who* he is looking for in Chapter 71.

In Chapter 69, Lloyd expresses his disillusionment with Flagg and learns his friends plan to cut loose from Vegas, and The Dark Man.

Trashcan Man seeks atonement in Chapter 68. I also discuss the new teaser trailer for The Stand from CBS All Access! Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

In Chapter 67 things are unraveling quickly for Randall Flagg, while a familiar face appears to guide Tom east.  Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

In Chapter 66, Lloyd deals with two major problems: Trashcan Man and Julie Lawry. Tom spots the full moon and you know what means? M-O-O-N, that spells time to GTFO.  

How we love to love Nadine... Nadine and Flagg finally come face to face. I give my thoughts on Nadine's character development, and why I think she's one of the most complex characters King has ever written. Please be warned that, while not graphic, this episode discusses sexual assault.

"I was misled." A familiar face emerges in Las Vegas in Chapter 63 while another attempts to make amends in Chapter 64. 

In Chapter 62 we shower Dayna Jurgens with appreciation as she infiltrates Flagg's inner circle and earns the status of Total Bad*ss.    Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

We start the third and final book in The Stand! In Chapter 61, Judge Farris heads west and has an unnerving run-in with a crow, while Flagg follower Bobby Terry makes a very big mistake.    Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

As On the Border comes to an end, we learn the fallout from Harold and Nadine's deadly betrayal and discover why Mother Abagail has returned to the Free Zone. Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

Everything changes for the Free Zone Committee in this explosive chapter.  Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

Harold's dangerous ledger is finally discovered just as Harold and Nadine's plans fall into place. Chapter 57 teases a potentially explosive end to Harold and Nadine's time in the Boulder Free Zone.  Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

The Free Zone Committee says goodbye to two more scouts, Fran hears some not-so-optimistic news that could affect her unborn baby, and Harold plans a rather explosive exit from the Free Zone for him and Nadine. Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!

In Chapter 55, Judge Farris and Tom Cullen are both asked to head west to spy on Flagg while Harold and Nadine sink deeper into darkness. Check out thecircleopens.com for more about The Stand and the podcast!  

The Free Zone Committee continues to discuss what is needed to safely rebuild the country within Boulder, while Harold is faced with a choice that could have deadly consequences for everyone.

In Chapter 53, The Free Zone holds its first community wide meeting, Larry makes a choice, and Nadine's fate is sealed. I also give my thoughts on the May 20th Vanity Fair article about the CBS All Access miniseries and what we can expect from Josh Boone's take on The Stand. VF: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/05/stephen-kings-the-stand-exclusive-first-look    

Mother Abagail receives a message from God, Harold connives to get Stu alone, and Glen finds an unexpected visitor on his front porch. TCO debuted one year ago today. Thank you to everyone who has joined me on this journey!

Larry meets Harold and he is not quite what Larry expected. The ad hoc committee finally meets to make some important decisions, and Fran finds something disturbing in her journal. I also give my spoiler-free review of If It Bleeds.

Our characters settle in Boulder and realize they need to start reforming a society before things get out of control. Mother Abagail and Nadine finally come face to face and Harold has plans of his own.

50 miles from Boulder, Lucy and Larry discuss an unraveling Nadine, who continues to feel drawn to her dark bridegroom, Randall Flagg. 

Trashcan Man completes his journey to the promised city, aka Las Vegas, but has quite the adventure on his way, including a run-in with The Kid. Do you believe that happy crappy?

A gun battle breaks out, leaving behind casualties and new survivors to join Stu and Fran's party. The group decides to head for Colorado, and Harold makes some choices that will have long-term consequences for them all. 

Stu and company deal with a deadly case of appendicitis and King gives us some interesting insight into Harold from the point of view of Fran's personal diary.

In Chapter 45 we finally meet Abagail Freemantle, aka Mother Abagail, and the first of the survivors arrive in Hemingford Home, Nebraska.  

"No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. There are no maps of the change. You just come out the other side. Or you don't." Larry Underwood meets three new survivors on his journey, gets some help from Harold Lauder, and discovers that he's not the only one dreaming of an old woman in Nebraska... or the dark man. Recap of Ch.43: 01:35 Summary: 02:35 Review: 50:40 Wrap Up: 1:05:50

On his way to Nebraska, Nick Andros meets three very different survivors of the superflu. Welcome to On the Border, Book 2 of The Stand. 

"For a moment they all seemed helpless to proceed further-a group of three dots which, when connected, would form a triangle whose exact shape could not yet be foreseen." In the last chapter of Captain Trips, Stu meets Fran and Harold.

"The worst is being alone. Being lonely." Larry and Rita's stop in Bennington, Vermont takes an unexpected turn in Chapter 41. 

In Chapter 40, Nick Andros is tempted by Flagg... and finds comfort with Mother Abagail. 

In Chapter 39, Randall Flagg hands Lloyd the key to his freedom... in exchange for a promise.  

Survivors of the superflu experience something known as the second epidemic. No great loss.  I also chat a bit about when to expect The Stand miniseries in 2020, and Fiona Dourif's casting as Rat Man!  

In Chapter 37 Stu gets to meet Kojak (yay!) and Glen Bateman, a former professor of sociology who has some thoughts on the future of mankind. 

Being the last two living people in Ogunquit, Fran and Harold decide to leave Maine and head for the Stovington CDC in Vermont, because surely there are people there who will be able to help them, right? Intro/Outro: Project Blue by WG Snuffy Walden

In order to escape Manhattan, Larry and Rita must navigate the Lincoln Tunnel, which is now a tomb of the dead... I also give my non-spoilery thoughts on The Institute! Intro/Outro: Project Blue by WG Snuffy Walden

Take a journey through the life of Donald Merwin Elbert, better known as Trashcan Man, as he prepares to set the world on fire... literally. Happy Holidays! Intro/Outro: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

The power is failing, and Ray Booth returns to finish off Nick Andros before the superflu does the same to him.  Intro/Outro: Project Blue by WG Snuffy Walden