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What time will 'The Stand' Episode 2 'Pocket Savior' air? Here's why Stu, Frannie, Harold had the same vision

One hopes to see more of Randall Flagg in the next episode. Flagg is a recurring character in Stephen King's stories -- he has appeared in at least nine of his novels

Spoilers for ‘The Stand’ Episode 1 ‘The End’

CBS’s ‘The Stand’ is Stephen King’s apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. 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, the Dark Man (Alexander Skarsgård).

Episode 1 of the CBS All Access limited series saw a weaponized strain of influenza (dubbed “Captain Trips”) kill almost the entire world population, leaving a handful of survivors — it has a supposed fatality rate of 99 percent. Of them, Stu Redman (James Marsden), Frannie Goldsmith (Odessa Young), and Harold Lauder (Owen Teague) all have the same vision — of Mother Abagail telling them to come to see her in Nebraska. At the same time, Stu is being hounded for being the only one who isn't contagious to the virus.

Mother Abagail claims to be a prophet of God and leads the “​good” survivors of the “Captain Trips” plague. Having lived a long life of 108 years, she resides in a farmhouse near Hemingford Home, Nebraska. The spiritual leader of the Boulder Free Zone, she was born to freed slaves from South Carolina and outlived three husbands and her seven children. 

What to expect from Episode 2?

So, what can we expect for the series going forward? For one, we will be given a reason why the three shared the vision and what it means. And while that will give more meaning to the plot so far, seeing more of Randall Flagg will be great. Flagg is a recurring character in Stephen King's stories -- he has appeared in at least nine of his novels.

He has often been described in the books as "an accomplished sorcerer and a devoted servant of the Outer Dark," and he has supernatural abilities involving necromancy, prophecy, and influence over animals and human behavior. Flagg was a primary antagonist in King's epic series, ‘The Dark Tower’, who tries to keep protagonist Roland Deschain from reaching the Tower, so he can claim it for himself and become a god. 

One thing, going forward in the series, for fans to look out for — especially fans of King's work — is that the show's ending bears no resemblance with the canon. King himself rewrote it.

When will the next episode of ‘The Stand’ air and how and where can you watch it?

‘The Stand’ premiered 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. The episodes drop on the streaming site on the day of their scheduled release. 

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. The next episode, ‘Pocket Savior’, directed by Tucker Gates and penned down by Josh Boone and Benjamin Cavell, will air December 24, only on CBS All Access.