‘The Stand’ on CBS All Access: How many episodes are there in total? All about the show based on Stephen King's 1978 book
A deadly virus, a devastating pandemic and a divided America. Rings a bell? No, we're not talking about the COVID-19 pandemic but the latest Stephen King adaptation. Presenting the mystical and apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil, the nine-episodic limited series is all set to enthrall fans of the dark fantasy novel first published in 1978 by Doubleday.
In the televised version, the fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail (Whoopi Goldberg) and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgård), the Dark Man.
The series is produced by CBS Studios. Benjamin Cavell serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Taylor Elmore, Will Weiske, Jimmy Miller, Roy Lee and Richard P Rubinstein. Josh Boone serves as director and an executive producer for the series premiere and final episode. Jake Braver, Jill Killington, Owen King, Knate Lee, and Stephen Welke serve as producers.
What is the story of ‘The Stand’?
Based on King's book, ‘The Stand’ is a dark fantasy last adapted for television by ABC in 1994. A part of the story revolves around how a killer virus (dubbed “Captain Tripps”) wipes out 99.4 percent of the world’s population. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Nat Wolff, who plays Lloyd Henreid said, “Suddenly everybody was saying, ‘Oh, [COVID -19] is just like the flu’ [like in the show], and I’m reading about prisoners in Italy lighting toilet paper on fire to get attention – I had just shot a scene where I was doing that. I went into panic mode."
Talking about his character, Ezra Miller wrote in an email as per the outlet, “Trash is the underestimated and misinterpreted amongst us; the divine genius concealed beneath apparent mental illness and personal dysfunction,” adding, “The world hinges on people like Trashcan Man — mad artists and depraved engineers, constantly overlooked in how pivotal they ultimately can be.”
Meanwhile, Amber Heard, who plays Nadine Cross, a schoolteacher with a dark destiny, said, “She’s one of the most nuanced of King’s female characters and not an easy part,” adding, “She owns and uses her sexuality, but that’s just part of her repertoire, not something that defines her. She also represents for me a kind of a balance between someone who is a villain and a victim.”
The same article calls Flagg the most seductive character, “portrayed by Skarsgård as an über-bro of demonic masculinity. He’s fond of holding raucous rallies, gladiatorial competitions, and public crucifixions of traitors.” Interestingly, Fiona Dourif (The Purge), who plays Rat Woman, a former showgirl, said, “He’s sort of sexy Trump.”
Who is in ‘The Stand’ cast?
In addition to Goldberg and Skarsgård, the series features a stellar ensemble cast, including James Marsden as Stu Redman, Odessa Young as Frannie Goldsmith, Jovan Adepo as Larry Underwood, Amber Heard as Nadine Cross, Owen Teague as Harold Lauder, Henry Zaga as Nick Andros, Brad William Henke as Tom Cullen, Irene Bedard as Ray Bretner, Nat Wolff as Lloyd Henreid, Eion Bailey as Weizak, Heather Graham as Rita Blakemoor, Katherine McNamara as Julie Lawry, Fiona Dourif as Ratwoman, Natalie Martinez as Dayna Jurgens, Hamish Linklater as Dr Jim Ellis, Daniel Sunjata as Cobb and Greg Kinnear as Glen Bateman.
What time does ‘The Stand’ premiere?
The episodes drop on the streaming site on the day of their scheduled release. If you're looking for the exact time it is available on the site, the drop time is at midnight PT / 1 am MT / 2 am CT / 3 am ET. However, there's no set time to tune in. You can watch it whenever you want after its premiere on the streaming service, a concept similar to Netflix drops.
How many episodes are there in total?
The series contains ten episodes in total and here's a brief summary:
EPISODE 1: ‘The End’ — Directed by Josh Boone and penned down by Josh Boone & Ben Cavell, it will release on December 17, 2020.
EPISODE 2: ‘Pocket Savior’ — Directed by Tucker Gates and penned down by Josh Boone & Benjamin Cavell, it will release on December 24, 2020.
EPISODE 3 ‘Blank Pages’ — Written by Jill Killington & Owen King, it will release on December 31, 2020.
EPISODE 4 ‘The House of the Dead’ — Written by Jill Killington & Owen King and Ben Cavell & Eric Dickinson, it will release on January 7, 2021.
EPISODE 5 ‘Suspicious Minds’ — Written by Jill Killington & Knate Lee, it will release on January 14, 2021.
EPISODE 6 ‘The Vigil’ — Written by Jill Killington & Knate Lee, it will release on January 21, 2021.
EPISODE 7 ‘The Walk’ — Written by Owen King, it will release on January 28, 2021.
EPISODE 8 ‘The Stand’ — Directed by Vincenzo Natali and penned down by Ben Cavell & Taylor Elmore, it will release on February 4, 2021.
EPISODE 9 ‘Coda: Frannie in the Well’ — Directed by Josh Boone and written by Stephen King, it will release on February 11, 2021.
How to live stream the series on CBS All Acess?
Catch ‘The Stand’ on the streaming service, CBS All Access, which is all set to be rebranded early next year as ViacomCBS' Paramount +. Did you know it is also included as an additional paid channel on Amazon Prime? Not just ‘The Stand’, you can also watch two ‘Star Trek’ series, ‘Discovery’ and ‘Picard’, as well as the Jordan Peele-produced ‘The Twilight Zone’ reboot.
Wondering how to live stream? You can get a CBS All Access subscription at the cost of $5.99 a month with limited commercials and $9.99 without any commercials. Moreover, viewers can also purchase the episodes and season on Amazon Prime. If you're looking for a long-term plan, go for the yearly package — priced at $59.99 for the basic plan and $99.99 for the premium, commercial-free experience.
‘The Stand’ premieres on December 17, 2020 with the first episode titled ‘The End’ and subsequent episodes in the nine-episode limited-event series will follow every Thursday on CBS All Access.