While some ofStephen King’s best-known TV shows are miniseries, one of his best and most underrated shows is 80 episodes long, but it’s worth the commitment.The works of Stephen Kingare best known for being horror-oriented, but many of them blend this genre with others, most notably drama and sci-fi.
Many of Stephen King’s stories have been adapted to other media for decades, and on TV, some of the most notable adaptations areItandSalem’s Lot, both miniseries that are quick to watch. In a longer format, some ofStephen King’s best TV showsareThe DomeandHaven, but there’s one show longer than these that’s worth the commitment.
In 1979, Stephen King’s sci-fi thrillerThe Dead Zonewas published.The Dead Zonefollows Johnny Smith, who, as a child, falls unconscious while ice-skating and mumbles a warning that becomes true. As an adult, Johnny has a car accident and falls into a coma, waking up five years later.
Johnny suffers a neural injury, and he calls the most damaged part of his brain “the dead zone.” However, Jonny experiences clairvoyant visions when in direct contact with people and objects, which he begins to use to help people. Johnny’s biggest mission, however, is to stop Greg Stillson from becoming President, having seen the disaster he will cause.
The Dead Zonewas a big success, and it’s key in King’s universe as it’s the first one to featurethe town of Castle Rock.The Dead Zonewas adapted into a movie in 1983, directed by David Cronenberg and starring Christopher Walken as Johnny.The Dead Zonemovie adaptation was a success, and the book was adapted into a TV show in 2002.
The TV adaptation ofThe Dead Zonestarred Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny, and it aired on USA Network from 2002 to 2007.The Dead Zonefollows the same premise as King’s book and follows Johnny as he uses his new abilities to solve different crimes. At the same time, Johnny is haunted by visions of apocalyptic events triggered by the election of a congressional candidate.
The Dead Zoneran for six seasons and a total of 80 episodes, which is a big commitment, more so now that TV shows tend to have fewer episodes per season. However,The Dead Zone’s combination of crime, sci-fi, and horror elements makes the show worth watching for 80 episodes.
What Makes The 18-Year-Old Stephen King Series Worth Watching
Many sci-fi horror shows have added crime drama into the mix, but what makesThe Dead Zonedifferent is its protagonist and the circumstances around his abilities. Thanks to Johnny’s condition and how he decides to use it,The Dead Zonehas standalone episodes, each one covering a different crime, and an overarching plot.
AlthoughThe Dead Zoneis mostly a sci-fi story due to Johnny’s abilities, it has horror elements very on-brand with King’s universe, with human monsters that bring a scare factor that the audience can easily relate to. In addition to this, the show covers topics like political conspiracy mixed with supernatural elements, which make it stand out even more.
A key element ofThe Dead Zone’s appeal is the performances of its cast, particularly that of Anthony Michael Hall, who brought to life the inner struggles of the character while he does his best to help others.
The TV adaptation ofThe Dead Zonewill be especially appealing to those who have read the novel, as it expands on it and gives Johnny other stories and crimes he can help with, thus showing more of what he’s capable of. 80 episodes might seem a lot, but thanks to them,The Dead Zoneis a well-developed story.
The Dead Zoneis engaging and will make it easy to stay for 80 episodes, but there’s an important thing to know.The Dead Zonewas expected to continue with a seventh season, but due to financial concerns and the producers’ fear of a drop in ratings, the show was canceled –the problem is that season 6 ended on a cliffhanger.
Without getting fully into spoiler territory,The Dead Zoneends with Johnny having a vision that leads to a shocking discovery about his father, while his son has a vision of an apocalyptic future. Unfortunately, this isn’t a cliffhanger that can be solved by reading the book, so it’s up to every viewer to decide what happens next.
Now’s The Perfect Time To Binge Stephen King’s 80-Episode Series
The Dead Zoneis available to stream (with subscription) on different platforms, but it just got a lot easier to watch.The Dead Zonehas found a new streaming home on Tubi, Fox’s free, ad-supported streaming service. The platform has an extensive catalog of movies and TV shows from studios like MGM, Lionsgate, and more.
The Dead Zoneis available to stream in its entirety on Tubi, and while it has recently been added, it’s worth noting that it’s unknown how long it will be part of the platform’s catalog.The Dead Zone’s arrival on Tubi is a great opportunity and excuse to watch it, but so is the current wave of Stephen King adaptations.
Movies likeThe Life of Chuckand the upcomingThe Long Walkhave been attracting attention, while the world of TV prepares for the release ofWelcome to Derry.The Dead Zoneis a great watch for fans of Stephen King and sci-fi horror, and 80 episodes won’t seem like much.
