‘Carrie’s Biggest Change to Stephen King’s Novel Solves 1 Problem and Creates Another

Published Oct 12, 2026, 6:42 PM EDT

Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! 
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Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Prime Video's Carrie.

“It wasn’t just Carrie.” In an interview about the infamous prom scene, this line from Sue Snell (Siena Agudong) signals the biggest change in horror genius Mike Flanagan's reimagining of Stephen King’s Carrie. The eight-episode Prime Video thriller, led by Summer H. Howell as Carrie White, bringsthe story into modern times with new emotional depth as well as new characters, giving the classic tale of a young girl with telekinetic powers a fresh coat of paint.

Flanagan uses King's novel as a blueprint, but pushes it in a new direction with one major change. Much of Carrie’s story in this new version is about how her mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan), tried to shield her from the dangers of the world beyond their home. As much as Margaret believed she was protecting her daughter, she deeply underestimated that others like Carrie might be out there. By expanding the mythology of King's story, Flanagan gives the series legs to extend beyond a single season, but minimizes the stakes of Carrie's tragic arc in the process.

'Carrie's Infamous Prom Scene Is Completely Reimagined

Speaking to Collider, Flanagan shared, "Stephen King talks about Carrie’s place in this longer history of gifted women and the 'TK gene,' as he calls it." Using this concept originally as a framing device at the top of each episode, Flanagan reasoned to include it because, "The book points at it, but none of the other adaptations have had the real estate, I think, to dig in. That was an amazing opportunity for us. It was irresistible." Though Adelaide, the leader of this telekinetic cult, played by Flanagan mainstay Kate Siegel, isn't present at the prom, she sends her followers to subdue and take out Carrie. Carrie is the primary reason for the death of 200 students and faculty, but it's the other women who infiltrate the gym and aid in the disaster by further provoking her beyond the inciting incident involving pig's blood.

In the book and many adaptations, Carrie's actions are hers alone. The pig's blood incident is embarrassing, but rather than laughter, as Margaret infamously warns, the modern equivalent is streaming and photographing her humiliation. When Carrie uses her powers, the focus isn't on the terror she wreaks but on the strange women present. (When you have Ruth Codd appearing as an unnamed cultist, you know these characters will eventually be significant.) Exploring other women with powers is a brilliant concept, but making Adelaide's followers a significant part of the prom scene diminishes Carrie's overall arc.

Margaret White Is Longer the Most Evil Character In Carrie's World

While viewers only partly see the potential of what these women can do, the one individual who really changes Carrie is Emaline West (Thalia Dudek). Though Carrie gives permission, Emaline essentially takes over Carrie’s body, deciding who or what is destroyed — including Carrie's teacher, Rita Desjardin (Amber Midthunder). Few characters show Carrie empathy and kindness, genuinely wanting to be on her side. She was one of them. By removing her autonomy, Emaline makes Carrie even more of a victim because she’s now physically lacking control. Margaret may have tried to stifle it, but Emaline took it away.

Although Emaline is meant to save her and help her get the revenge she sought, Carrie ultimately becomes a prop for others to manipulate. Unlike in the novel, Carrie survives the catastrophe and escapes — but now that Adelaide has killed Margaret, Emaline serves as the only emotional and spiritual guide in Carrie's life. What's more, despite Carrie having significant trust issues as a result of the treatment she faced not just from her own mother but from her bully Chris Hargensen (Alison Thornton), she's put her faith in Emaline, which doesn't feel like the character King first came up with.

Mike Flanagan Is Building His Own Stephen King Universe

Image via Prime Video

By the end of the season, Carrie's on the run, where she'll likely be caught up in a new narrative beyond what King first imagined. Gone is the story of a deeply sheltered young woman, replaced by Carrie coming to terms with her powers as she harnesses them for protection. Given the bigger narrative pivot, ​​​​​​Flanagan might feel the urge to bring in other King characters, like Charlie McGee from Firestarter, into this existing world.

The possibility of expanding the Carrie universe beyond a passing reference to the "TK gene" in King's debut novel seems exciting at a glance; merging themes and characters from several King classics into one story has worked brilliantly in the past for shows like Castle Rock. Yet in an effort to introduce new worldbuilding that could sustain multiple seasons of television, Carrie’s overall arc is greatly diminished, ultimately sacrificing the core of King’s original story.

Carrie is available to stream on Prime Video.

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  Summer H. Howell

  Carrie White

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  Samantha Sloyan

  Margaret White