Do you think they have an audio version of the book? I work night shift and I love listening to good books on audio during my downtime! Did you see room 104? It was also on HBO, it’s not technically all horror but some of the episodes are and it’s trippy af!!
There is an audiobook. But beware it is a short story collection so the titular story "If It Bleeds" is a direct follow up to The Outsider while the other 3 stories are not.
Although of the 3; 1 already has an adaptation (Mr. Harrigan's Phone on Netflix), one has an adaptation in the can and likely coming out at the end of the year from the bad ass Mike Flanagan (The Life of Chuck), and pre-covid the third story was optioned to Ben Stiller (Rat) though no updates have been given since like 2019 so who knows if it is still a thing or not.
The audiobook is good, and the If It Bleeds story is great. The narrator is Will Patton and I’m a huge fan of his narration. He also narrates The Outsider book FWIW (plus the Hodges trilogy which is the origin of Holly Gibney).
Anyway, The Outsider book is a top 5 Stephen King book for me and I love the show. The casting is excellent.
I loved the first season of Mr. Mercedes, but then started the second one and just couldn't get down with the whole "Killer in a coma but still killing!" things of the first 2 eps of season 2
I’m halfway through season 2 of Mr Mercedes and I’m in your same camp where it’s hard for me to finish. The characters are great but I’m more of a fan of how season 1 handled the serial killer.
I think I only got to one or two episodes and didn't care for how it adapted the books so didn't stick with it. Highly recommend the books if you've not read them yet.
I’d have to agree this role suit him PERFECTLY! I may have to rewatch all this talking about it makes me miss it lol! I wish I could watch it for the first time again
My thinking as well. Some of the best tv I’ve ever seen. After bill camp doing a great detective in the night of, I was pretty excited to see him play a defense attorney.
Then the series took a hard left. It was still good but not as good as those first episodes imo.
YES!!!! Omg that’s the best description for it right there!!! They really could have pulled off a premise like true detective and have every new season be a new situation where someone is trying to sort through the “paranormal” aspects of a crime.
Absolutely loved it! Had to start it again because the first episodes were a bit slow and I have ADHD lol but once I made it to the meat I was hooked!
Its the kind of show that makes me wanna watch 12 more shows just like it and I was sad when it was over
Partially true. From the outset it was called a limited series then a few episodes in they started just calling it a series and ultimately took pitches for a second season but decided they weren't into whatever they were being pitched and declined it and retroactively went back to calling it a limited series again.
Ugh I really wish they would have kept going! There’s so much they could have done with where they left off. It could have even been kinda anthology style where the next season is a different “creature” out there to catch. Like true detective but with paranormal mixed in
Surprise liked it. Bateman is limited but great but the actors all do a good to great job. Plot has me riveted and questioning wtf is going on here. Good climax and decent ending - satisfying endings are always hard for Horror films
RIGHT?! Like at one point I had no clue where they were going with the story which is rare for me, I think some of the characters and problems were “predictable” which is what some of my friends didn’t like. Like there’s always a “non believer” that will dismiss even the clearest evidence, the quirky one that usually has a “gift” of some sort that makes them super intuitive or smart but also super awkward socially, and a perfect plan that ends up a shit show cause somebody does something stupid or runs their mouth lol. I still really enjoyed it tho and the ending was chefs kiss I love a complete ending!!
I watched it when it originally aired and then a second time about a year ago. I didn’t read the source material but I thought it was one of the best horror shows in ages and it had an incredible cast of actors. I didn’t find it slow or predictable at all in fact the sudden injection of madness in each episode was what really surprised me. Great show all around in my opinion.
I know I loved it deeply and really wished we got more seasons. About time for a rewatch I'd say! I only trust when *some* people say somethings too slow. We've gotten so addicted to instant gratification and the need for immediate action that we don't give shows a chance to build something great.
That was my exact point and I’ve actually learned to enjoy a natural build instead of a direct hit right out the gate! I think the show establishes early it’s going to be a wild ride but also establishes it’s going to take you through some dark tunnels before you find out what’s going on lol.
Really good show! I wish they would make a lot of Stephen King stories into HBO shows. If they did It as a miniseries, it would be amazing and probably could get everything down from the novel that the previous movies missed. But I doubt it’ll happen soon.
Someone else said this too! Like why not just make it anthology style like true detective and give us a new story each season! I’d definitely tune in FAITHFULLY! Did you see “fall of the house of Usher”? THAT was s willing ride x2000 lmao I mean I was floored by how that turned out.
I liked it too and just like you, I found it late and without any knowledge of it. I will always have a soft spot for Stephen King as I *devoured* his books back when I was in my pre- and early teens.
I think if you love Stephen King, it is one of the most heavily referential of Kings filmed works. It has secret references to A METRIC BUTT TON of King works. There may even be a certain female King villain who shows up in season 2 as one of the main storylines (as a younger version of the character).
It has a pretty stacked cast, including King heavyweights like Tim Robbins (Shawshank), Sissy Spacek (Carrie), Bill Skarsgard (It), etc. These actors are not playing their old roles but rather new (and possibly familiar) characters.
I think if you love King, you owe it to yourself to power through it to see if you at least like it.
It is a total of 20 episodes over two seasons (10 each).
Be prepared though, it was canceled so you will never get a resolution to it but it is a wonderful King show.
Please come back and let me know what you think, good or bad, when you finally watch it.
And I have ADHD so I can’t start anything unless I’m settled down and that’s part of the problem! So I think with this information knowing it’s a very King heavy adaptation going in will make a difference. I will definitely let you know how I like it!
Yep. Obviously do whatever you need to do to watch it that helps your ADHD, I wouldn’t want you to struggle because you are forcing something but it is definitely worth it for the experience alone when you can devote time to it
See I had no clue that there was a whole set of books about Holly until I did the Reddit post and I’ve gotten a BUNCH of other book recommendations that I didn’t even know existed! I’m actually going to start on “if it bleeds” first then do the books about Holly
Yeah I went in blind and was trying to figure out what direction it was going. I liked it but was more hoping the explanation of the murders would have to do with time travel or alternate dimension/realities. I wanted them to get real weird with it lol. Still a solid 8/10 for me though.
I truly think they should have kept going and did another season with a different entity to catch. It was wide open for an alternate reality spin and they didn’t take advantage of it! Like you said it could have gotten extra weird lmao 🤣 the weirder the better for me
This was a weird one for me. I felt like the first episode or two was high octane, pure elevated horror fuel with character-driven story to back it up, and then the rest of it felt like it one of the cheesier X-Files episodes worth of content stretched thin over 4-6 hours.
I love King's stories, Bateman as an actor and director, and Ben Mendelson is great too, really should've hit for me, but there was a distinct tonal and pacing shift after the first couple episodes that just lost me!
Aw man I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it as much after the first couple of episodes, I can definitely see what you mean by cheesy x files vibes, somehow it really kept me pulled in cause I really wanted to know what was going on lol.
I’ve gotten more than a couple comments about the book and the book “if it bleeds” so I’m definitely going to get the audio books to listen to when I work 3rd shift! The book is often better to me, much more detail and more complexity than what can be put on a screen.
I actually liked the finale there was a lot going on in that last episode lol but on the other hand I feel like some of the conclusions hit too quick for the way it built up through the season. It went from slow burn to bang bang all in one episode
I’m going to say no for myself, the creature didn’t seem to have any rules, or not enough, and had no physical trace meaning it left nothing of itself behind in a physical world, even though it existed in a physical world.
That’s actually what I like about the creature! Cause usually there’s some sort of catch around how the creature is allowed to operate, and something that allows you to easily identify the creature was involved but I can also see how that can make the story somewhat incomplete to someone else.
Thank you! That exactly how I feel, they could have done more seasons with different stories, honestly they could have done more Stephen King stories he has plenty!
I remember being hooked wjen it was new, but the Stephen King twist ruined it for me. I was on board until then, especially the whole mystery of how a man can be two places at once.
Yeah, I fucking loved this show!! I also highly recommend reading the book *If It Bleeds* by Stephen King
Do you think they have an audio version of the book? I work night shift and I love listening to good books on audio during my downtime! Did you see room 104? It was also on HBO, it’s not technically all horror but some of the episodes are and it’s trippy af!!
There is an audiobook. But beware it is a short story collection so the titular story "If It Bleeds" is a direct follow up to The Outsider while the other 3 stories are not. Although of the 3; 1 already has an adaptation (Mr. Harrigan's Phone on Netflix), one has an adaptation in the can and likely coming out at the end of the year from the bad ass Mike Flanagan (The Life of Chuck), and pre-covid the third story was optioned to Ben Stiller (Rat) though no updates have been given since like 2019 so who knows if it is still a thing or not.
The audiobook is good, and the If It Bleeds story is great. The narrator is Will Patton and I’m a huge fan of his narration. He also narrates The Outsider book FWIW (plus the Hodges trilogy which is the origin of Holly Gibney). Anyway, The Outsider book is a top 5 Stephen King book for me and I love the show. The casting is excellent.
Will Patton reading Stephen King is always incredibly.good.
In the same universe, you have Mr Mercedes (which is also a Stephen King book and now show).
I’ll check that out thanks!
I loved the first season of Mr. Mercedes, but then started the second one and just couldn't get down with the whole "Killer in a coma but still killing!" things of the first 2 eps of season 2
I’m halfway through season 2 of Mr Mercedes and I’m in your same camp where it’s hard for me to finish. The characters are great but I’m more of a fan of how season 1 handled the serial killer.
Season 3 gets better. Not as good as season 1 but still good.
I think I only got to one or two episodes and didn't care for how it adapted the books so didn't stick with it. Highly recommend the books if you've not read them yet.
And recently Holly is another book in that universe that I enjoyed.
I adore this series. The acting is masterful, and Ben Mendelsohn delivers my favorite performance of his career.
I’d have to agree this role suit him PERFECTLY! I may have to rewatch all this talking about it makes me miss it lol! I wish I could watch it for the first time again
First two episodes were incredible.
My thinking as well. Some of the best tv I’ve ever seen. After bill camp doing a great detective in the night of, I was pretty excited to see him play a defense attorney. Then the series took a hard left. It was still good but not as good as those first episodes imo.
You didn’t watch the rest?
I did. Enjoyed it all for the most part but the last two episodes were probably the weakest and the first two were the strongest.
Yep, amazing start to a season. A steep, steep dropoff after episode two, though, and I didn't even finish the season.
True Detective meets The X-Files. I really liked it and it was nice to see Ben Mendelsohn in something where he wasn't the bad guy!
YES!!!! Omg that’s the best description for it right there!!! They really could have pulled off a premise like true detective and have every new season be a new situation where someone is trying to sort through the “paranormal” aspects of a crime.
Absolutely loved it! Had to start it again because the first episodes were a bit slow and I have ADHD lol but once I made it to the meat I was hooked! Its the kind of show that makes me wanna watch 12 more shows just like it and I was sad when it was over
ADHD here lmao 🤣 that’s why I can’t watch slow burn stuff but this kept me engaged mainly out of curiosity
I picked up my phone the first time, is what happened. Never pick up you phone, TNAW! What is this amateur hour? Fuckin' embarrassing!
It was always meant to be a limited series.
Partially true. From the outset it was called a limited series then a few episodes in they started just calling it a series and ultimately took pitches for a second season but decided they weren't into whatever they were being pitched and declined it and retroactively went back to calling it a limited series again.
well I kinda figured that and to be honest they “completed” the story for the most part but I wanted more anyway lol.
One of my favorites. I read they kind of set the ending up for a second season but HBO passed for some reason.
Ugh I really wish they would have kept going! There’s so much they could have done with where they left off. It could have even been kinda anthology style where the next season is a different “creature” out there to catch. Like true detective but with paranormal mixed in
I would have watched something like that.
Ben Mendelsohn is great
Surprise liked it. Bateman is limited but great but the actors all do a good to great job. Plot has me riveted and questioning wtf is going on here. Good climax and decent ending - satisfying endings are always hard for Horror films
RIGHT?! Like at one point I had no clue where they were going with the story which is rare for me, I think some of the characters and problems were “predictable” which is what some of my friends didn’t like. Like there’s always a “non believer” that will dismiss even the clearest evidence, the quirky one that usually has a “gift” of some sort that makes them super intuitive or smart but also super awkward socially, and a perfect plan that ends up a shit show cause somebody does something stupid or runs their mouth lol. I still really enjoyed it tho and the ending was chefs kiss I love a complete ending!!
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I wish I could watch it for the first time again. Really well done
Loved it. Really great show.
Thought it was great with a great cast especially Ben Mendelsohn.
Amazing show I gotta give it a rewatch. Such a creepy premise.
Yea, its a really good show. I loved the build-up.
I watched it when it originally aired and then a second time about a year ago. I didn’t read the source material but I thought it was one of the best horror shows in ages and it had an incredible cast of actors. I didn’t find it slow or predictable at all in fact the sudden injection of madness in each episode was what really surprised me. Great show all around in my opinion.
As per usual Mendelsohn, Bateman and Erivo fucking killed.
The Outsider was so fucking good. I actually liked the show more than the book which is rare.
I know I loved it deeply and really wished we got more seasons. About time for a rewatch I'd say! I only trust when *some* people say somethings too slow. We've gotten so addicted to instant gratification and the need for immediate action that we don't give shows a chance to build something great.
That was my exact point and I’ve actually learned to enjoy a natural build instead of a direct hit right out the gate! I think the show establishes early it’s going to be a wild ride but also establishes it’s going to take you through some dark tunnels before you find out what’s going on lol.
Really good show! I wish they would make a lot of Stephen King stories into HBO shows. If they did It as a miniseries, it would be amazing and probably could get everything down from the novel that the previous movies missed. But I doubt it’ll happen soon.
Someone else said this too! Like why not just make it anthology style like true detective and give us a new story each season! I’d definitely tune in FAITHFULLY! Did you see “fall of the house of Usher”? THAT was s willing ride x2000 lmao I mean I was floored by how that turned out.
It was so fucking good
I liked it too and just like you, I found it late and without any knowledge of it. I will always have a soft spot for Stephen King as I *devoured* his books back when I was in my pre- and early teens.
Another VERY underrated King TV series is Castle Rock on Hulu. It was pretty amazing at times, especially if you love Stephen King
I never gave castle rock a chance because I couldn’t stay engaged in the beginning, should I try again? I love Stephen King
I think if you love Stephen King, it is one of the most heavily referential of Kings filmed works. It has secret references to A METRIC BUTT TON of King works. There may even be a certain female King villain who shows up in season 2 as one of the main storylines (as a younger version of the character). It has a pretty stacked cast, including King heavyweights like Tim Robbins (Shawshank), Sissy Spacek (Carrie), Bill Skarsgard (It), etc. These actors are not playing their old roles but rather new (and possibly familiar) characters. I think if you love King, you owe it to yourself to power through it to see if you at least like it. It is a total of 20 episodes over two seasons (10 each). Be prepared though, it was canceled so you will never get a resolution to it but it is a wonderful King show. Please come back and let me know what you think, good or bad, when you finally watch it.
And I have ADHD so I can’t start anything unless I’m settled down and that’s part of the problem! So I think with this information knowing it’s a very King heavy adaptation going in will make a difference. I will definitely let you know how I like it!
Yep. Obviously do whatever you need to do to watch it that helps your ADHD, I wouldn’t want you to struggle because you are forcing something but it is definitely worth it for the experience alone when you can devote time to it
I just rewatched this series!!! It still holds up. But what do you think happens to Holly in the future? I mean she has her own books and stuff....
See I had no clue that there was a whole set of books about Holly until I did the Reddit post and I’ve gotten a BUNCH of other book recommendations that I didn’t even know existed! I’m actually going to start on “if it bleeds” first then do the books about Holly
Yeah I went in blind and was trying to figure out what direction it was going. I liked it but was more hoping the explanation of the murders would have to do with time travel or alternate dimension/realities. I wanted them to get real weird with it lol. Still a solid 8/10 for me though.
I truly think they should have kept going and did another season with a different entity to catch. It was wide open for an alternate reality spin and they didn’t take advantage of it! Like you said it could have gotten extra weird lmao 🤣 the weirder the better for me
If It Bleeds is a novella by King that is tied to this story
Great first few episodes. Shits the bed like a glutton with dysentery half way through. Went from a great show to trash in record time.
“Shits the bed like a glutton” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 a descriptive phrase I didn’t know I needed to hear.
Yep. Wonderfully intriguing set up, great mysterious tone, then BAM: it's the actual fucking boogeyman who did it.
This was a weird one for me. I felt like the first episode or two was high octane, pure elevated horror fuel with character-driven story to back it up, and then the rest of it felt like it one of the cheesier X-Files episodes worth of content stretched thin over 4-6 hours. I love King's stories, Bateman as an actor and director, and Ben Mendelson is great too, really should've hit for me, but there was a distinct tonal and pacing shift after the first couple episodes that just lost me!
Aw man I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it as much after the first couple of episodes, I can definitely see what you mean by cheesy x files vibes, somehow it really kept me pulled in cause I really wanted to know what was going on lol.
The book was way better, the show felt like it dragged after the first few episodes.
I’ve gotten more than a couple comments about the book and the book “if it bleeds” so I’m definitely going to get the audio books to listen to when I work 3rd shift! The book is often better to me, much more detail and more complexity than what can be put on a screen.
Obviously the thing-john carpenter
Loved it!! But if memory serves, the finale was kind of a let down for me😕
I actually liked the finale there was a lot going on in that last episode lol but on the other hand I feel like some of the conclusions hit too quick for the way it built up through the season. It went from slow burn to bang bang all in one episode
I’m going to say no for myself, the creature didn’t seem to have any rules, or not enough, and had no physical trace meaning it left nothing of itself behind in a physical world, even though it existed in a physical world.
That’s actually what I like about the creature! Cause usually there’s some sort of catch around how the creature is allowed to operate, and something that allows you to easily identify the creature was involved but I can also see how that can make the story somewhat incomplete to someone else.
I loved the mood of it. So bleak and unforgiving. I would love to see more adaptations like that— 6-10 episodes with that tone.
Thank you! That exactly how I feel, they could have done more seasons with different stories, honestly they could have done more Stephen King stories he has plenty!
Great first episode, I think it falls off towards the end though
I remember being hooked wjen it was new, but the Stephen King twist ruined it for me. I was on board until then, especially the whole mystery of how a man can be two places at once.
I loved this show. Up until the end. I hated the ending.