Stephen King’s work remains perpetually relevant, and recently, every aspect of his creations—from the heartfelt () to the terrifying () and the dystopian ()—has been gaining attention. Meanwhile, on television, the HBO Max original series is offering a prequel narrative for the It films, substantially expanding King’s universe in the process.
However, long before Welcome to Derry, a different series tackled the “Stephen King universe” anthology concept in a far more ambitious manner—and both chilling seasons are now available on Netflix.
In 2018, Hulu debuted Castle Rock, a horror-thriller series built on an intriguing concept: the majority of its cast had previously appeared in other Stephen King adaptations. Melanie Lynskey portrays real estate agent Molly Strand, having starred in the television movie adaptation of Rose Red; Sissy Spacek from Carrie plays adoptive mother Ruth Deaver; and several actors from 2017’s It appear, including Bill Skarsgård.
The narrative is a complex mystery that draws from many of King’s signature themes, even weaving in familiar names like Shawshank. Yet this isn’t a prequel like Welcome to Derry; it contains no origin stories or nostalgia-driven moments. Instead, the series constructs its own mythology and interpretation of King’s world. The first season centers on Henry Deaver (Andre Holland), a prominent attorney who returns to his hometown and confronts mysteries spanning his past and present. The second season turns its attention to Castle Rock’s take on Misery’s Annie Wilkes (Lizzy Caplan), as she navigates a cult situation while grappling with family-related struggles.
Yet Castle Rock’s greatest strengths lie not in its seasonal storylines, but in its standalone episodes. Season 1, Episode 7, “The Queen,” stands as not only the series’ finest installment but was also acclaimed as one of 2018’s best television episodes overall. It traces Spacek’s Ruth Deaver through a non-linear, paradox-laden journey within her deteriorating memory, creating a haunting portrayal of dementia that folds inward in a deeply satisfying manner. The series understands that television episodes aren’t merely book chapters—they’re self-contained artistic works.
Castle Rock was discontinued after two seasons, though judging by 2025’s trends, it was simply ahead of its time. Now streaming on Netflix, the series can be rediscovered by a fresh audience—and by a new generation of Stephen King enthusiasts.