Biggest Stephen King Letdown

[mengstrom]

You can't please all the fans all of the time, but here's my #1 moment that I felt Stephen King really let all of us down:

The resolution of the Randall Flagg character in The Dark Tower. I mean, this is THE bad guy that King has built up over the entire DT series, as well as in other books. He is THE character that holds his whole universe together. And he gets offed real quick-like by Mordred, Roland's spider-child, and it just kind of happens for no point in The Dark Tower. No real struggle. No real fight. And then, when I was sure that Stephen King was going to link "It" to The Dark Tower - that Mordred the spider-monster was going to be the monster in It - the only thing that would salvage killing off King's coolest character in Randall Flagg so quickly and easily - that didn't happen either.

Man what a total letdown.

[Dylan Roberts]

Well...If we can include Mr. Bachman in this...

Methinks Mr. Steinbeck probably rolled in his grave a time or two @ the absolute ripoff of his beloved "Mice and Men".

But hey, I'm just a musican, I write songs...which sometimes can be stories, and occasionally can be pretty descriptive and in depth. They have to be brief as well and not cause the tongue to choke up or the rhyme/metre to go out of whack. King can write sentences as long as he likes them to be, with fragments galore, with as much or as little as he wants to put into them. And at the end of the day,he's going to make a ton more money and be far more noted in history than I.

Dylan

[JRLauer]

Yeah it was anti-climactic, but it was satisfying seeing that SOB die.

[Cody44]

Stephen King's decision to kill Wireman after the supernatural events in the book Duma Key.

[Black Suit]

Stephen King? Let down? ..


Black Suit cannot register.

[arachnapheobia]

Well I guess to each his own. But in my opinion, that just went to show that the whole series was more than just the good guy versus the bad guy and that people are only people, a small part in the big picture. it was more about Rolands quest to reach the Tower, not fight Flagg.
It was like something I was talking over with a friend of mine a while back, on how some people centre events arounds hero worship, 1 good guy who is the best and so on, and others who spread the focus over a vast expanse of characters, (actually like the lord of the rings, book not movie)
but like I said, I guess to each his own.

[Matthew.Degnan]

I thought the biggest let own was all the hype for Goes to the movies and then it was rubbish when it came out.

[mengstrom]

Well I guess to each his own. But in my opinion, that just went to show that the whole series was more than just the good guy versus the bad guy and that people are only people, a small part in the big picture. it was more about Rolands quest to reach the Tower, not fight Flagg.
It was like something I was talking over with a friend of mine a while back, on how some people centre events arounds hero worship, 1 good guy who is the best and so on, and others who spread the focus over a vast expanse of characters, (actually like the lord of the rings, book not movie)
but like I said, I guess to each his own.

Don't you think SK made Flagg the center, though? Roland's Yin to Flagg's Yang? He was important enough to get a painting in DT7! I mean, this was SK's life's work (literally), and Flagg's end just happens. He didn't need to make it cliche, but it should've had more weight to satisfy the readers who stuck with the story for decades. To me, it's his "George Lucas Moment."

Don't you think it would've been cool and obvious (but still so damn cool) to link Mordred to It as well? That would've been sweet, and would've explained why It focused on children.

Love SK, but everyone screws up at least once.

[Cerralin]

I wouldn't say it was a big let down but I wasn't too happy with the ending to the DT books. I understand why the end was the end but I certainly wasn't prepared for it!!

[Roseasharn]

I don't like to complain and it's not so much of a necessity thing, but I really liked Cuthbert and Alain. I could have definitely used more time with them.

[boogerb53]

THE biggest let down for me occured in the movie Dreamcatcher. When Duddits turned into a stupid alien I almost flipped my lid! That was the maddest I have ever been at a movie! It was like the doorbell rang and they said Oh, lets finish this first *type, type,type* and were done. It had absoulutely NOTHING to do with ANYTHING in the book and was a big ole copout as far as I'm concerned! I will NEVER NEVER NEVER watch that movie again1

[The Mangler]

Under The Dome. It seems very close to The Simpsons Movie, only I'm guessing it will be a lot more horrific!

:wink2:

[marew1]

Mine is Kingdom Hospital. I watched a couple of episodes and couldn't get hooked watching it.

[tillyn]

I think in the Dt series there was more than just one let down, i mention it in the Drogan (sp?) Still enjoyed them none the less.

[the_last_gunslinger]

The last third of The Dead Zone. I found the parts of the book that dealt with the personal trauma Johnny felt, the massive changes in his life that occurred during his recovery to be the most fascinating part. I also liked the part where Johnny identified the deputy as the killer.

I really thought the political storyline brought down the personal nature of the book, that it lost some of its magic as a result.

[rjt65]

uhhh--nada, none, 无, niet, Aucun, keine, κανέναςnessun, ningunos


never let done---

[Goodlovin]

The final DT book was a letdown for me and probably a bunch of other constant readers.

Black House was sort of a letdown for me as well but then I had high hopes so I can understand why I did not end up being the way I wanted it.

The third chapter will come out and kick ass so I think things will end ok.

Either way Mr King is the man!

[sam peebles]

I like Cuthbert and Alain too, and could've gone for more of them (especially Cuthbert). Did you read the comics? They nailed Roland and Cuthbert, but Alain is a stocky pudgy kid. I didn't realize Cort would allow his apprentice gunslingers to be on the heavy-side. I always pictured him as a big farmhand type.

I'm going to have to agree, however, that the death of Flagg was a huge let down. I mean, he survived a direct nuclear blast detonated by the hand of God in The Stand, but Mordred just wipes him out without breaking a sweat? SK spared him so many times, and for what?

I think it would be hard to relate Mordred to It. Yes, they're both spiders, but the spider is the closest thing the Loser's clubs mind can come to comprehend It. It's really something far more sinister, the Dead Lights at the edge of Todash that will cause your insanity if you happen to glance at it (Lovecraft, anyone?). Although, It is pregnant, so maybe it wouldn't be too hard to make the Crimson King and Mordred descendants. I was actually expecting Pennywise to show up himself in some form. King has, on several occassions, made allusions that It still lives.

Yes, this was the biggest Stephen King letdown for me as well. Or maybe it was the end battle for Wolves of the Calla.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

It's my belief that by the death of Flagg, after years of making him a figure of fear (and to some extent the Crimson King), Sai King was pointing out that there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Sundrop]

I don't think that I've ever felt "let down" by any of SK's work. Sure, there have been some works that I really didn't understand (Kingdom Hospital for instance), but there's a world of difference between being "let down" and "getting it". :)

[Moderator]

I've posted this before but it may have been on the old Board. I asked Steve about Flagg's fate in The Dark Tower. This is his (paraphrased) response:

You have to remember that the world had moved on and that things were in flux. Those that had power no longer did or their power was slipping. Flagg had become arrogant and believed that he was no longer vulnerable which made it that much easier for his demise. Killing him off so easily was intentional as an indication of how his arrogance was his downfall. Mordred sensed that and Flagg realized it, but too late.

[Matticus]

I totally agree with that. Arrogance is often someone's downfall and I always considered Flaggs reputation and vision of himself a much greater power than anything he actually had.

Word of mouth can turn a parlor trick into a miracle.

[crazycrashink]

I think the closest I've ever been to letdown was with Blaze. I can't pinpoint why I feel this way, but I still flew through it so if that is the worst SK letdown I have I'll take it :blush:

[coolambindang]

Yeah, I have to say I was not disapointed at all. I mean Flagg was going to try to kill Mordred, he thought he was going to be in control, he overstepped his bounds and that was his demise, I waited a long time for the conclusion of DT, not as long as some but since W&G came out, so mid 90's, IMHO SK totally delivered a great ending!

[bopropadop]

I've learned a lesson or two about being "let down," or it's distant cousin "not expecting much." I was let down when I first read Cell and then liked it much better on a re-read.

And I avoided The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon for years because I listened to critical reviews and did not expect much. I finally read it last weekend and loved it.

And back to the original question about Flagg, thank you Ms. Mod for your post! It's great to hear it from SK himself.

[Sawney Beane]

Frankly, I don´t ever feel let down by anything that happens on a book,I can get sad by the disappearence of a character,or maybe a bit dissapointed if someone I like doesn´t make it to the end, but only on the context of the story.I don´t see books as anything malleable (sometimes not even for the writer himself) so I always take them as they are.Other thing is wether I like the story or not.In my opinion,what happened to R.F was a natural consequence to his acts and it fits perfectly on the story,any other way would had spoiled the tale..If I was to sacrifice a story in order to save a character I would rather tell the Creed family to stay in Chicago and put up with the cold weather.

[Mattislegion]

Well this doesn't have to do with the man himself really... but I was incredibly disappointed that he let them change the ending of The Mist for its movie adaptation. It was such a disappointment watching that movie after reading the story.

[mengstrom]

Frankly, I don´t ever feel let down by anything that happens on a book,I can get sad by the disappearence of a character,or maybe a bit dissapointed if someone I like doesn´t make it to the end, but only on the context of the story.I don´t see books as anything malleable (sometimes not even for the writer himself) so I always take them as they are.Other thing is wether I like the story or not.In my opinion,what happened to R.F was a natural consequence to his acts and it fits perfectly on the story,any other way would had spoiled the tale..If I was to sacrifice a story in order to save a character I would rather tell the Creed family to stay in Chicago and put up with the cold weather.

That's interesting. I think of myself as a writer, and so I approach these things a little differently. I revised the Star Wars Prequel screenplays so that I could see the movies I wanted to see, so that's where I'm coming from! :smile2: There are times when an artist's creation becomes something much bigger - it takes on its own life. This is definitely true with the Star Wars universe with the creativity it has inspired, and I guess I see SK's DT universe in the same light. In fact, I would dare say that SK himself sees the DT universe as malleable based on its conclusion (which was a brilliant artistic point about creativity) and the fact that he re-edited Gunslinger - it seems like if SK had to do it over again, he hints that he would've done some things differently.

I also understand that SK writes in a fashion of uncovering the story as he goes along - he likened it to uncovering a pot buried in sand - it's already there, and he just gradually digs it out. Maybe sometimes you don't notice a feature of the pot as you're digging, and only notice it later on but by then it's too late.

So, I'm one of those guys that reads things, watches things, with the idea that the creation itself is its own thing - that the creator guides the creation, and sometimes doesn't make the "right" decisions - that doesn't mean the decisions made are wrong, but only maybe there is another idea that is "better." That's the great thing about art, I guess.

That's also the importance of editors, IMO. Tolkien could've used one on LOTR. Lucas could've used some people who weren't Yes-men on the prequel trilogy (check out fan edited version of the final Anakin/Obi-Wan battle on You-Tube - The Black Knight Rises version - it is amazing what a few cuts can do to really deliver a powerful sequence). I've had a ton of input on my work, and it is invaluable.

If the point in Flagg's demise was to show the fatality of his arrogance, I'm sure there are limitless ways that could've been done that would have completely blown away and satisfied the audience that watched the build up of Flagg over the many years. To me, it seemed a bit of an afterthought to just tie up the loose ends, like much of the conclusion of Star Wars ROTS.

But that is evidence of the power of what SK created, so in some ways it's good to be a little disappointed here and there. I also didn't really like the sudden end of Wolves of the Calla after all the build up - with the robots being so easy to kill similar to Shardik with an easy target above their heads! - where at the same time I was satisfied with the sudden end in Wizard and Glass - HILE GUNSLINGERS, KILL THEM ALL! is one of the best moments in the whole series - so I guess the conclusion needs to feel earned if it's sudden, rather than just happening.

The truth of Flagg's existence as revealed in DT7 also makes the importance of the jawbone at the end of Gunslinger and used in Wastelands to make the key to open the door to rejoin with Jake not important at all, and in my mind it doesn't make sense anymore - it wasn't Flagg's/Marten's/Walter's jawbone at all but the dead body of a corpse in the Golgotha, just some dude - why is his jawbone important again? SK should've just kept the whole idea of the malleability of time, and Flagg being everywhere and nowhere - a force of chaos, he's still alive even as one of his many forms is laying there dead on the ground. Sometimes first instincts are better, and a little mystery is good rather than answering everything. I would've preferred Flagg to still be alive at the end of DT7, tempting Roland one last time at the base of the Tower, before Roland climbs it alone, than what ended up happening.

But that's me, and this post is really long. Apologies.:smile2:

[Srbo]

Nada.

It`s all make believe anyway, so it`s my choice whether I believe it or not...or create my own fantasy reasons why this or that happened in his books.:smile2:

[Sweet One]

I thought that Mordred was one of the few beings powerful enough to take out Flagg, so it wasn't that much of a surprise.

But even with Flagg dead, is that really the end of him? Might not his ghost, or another incarnation of him still be around to cause havoc? After all, Roland's ka-tet survived, at least is incarnations of their former selves, so what about Flagg? Does anyone really think he's dead?

[Cognac]

i dont think mr. king has ever let me down, he gives it his best shot everytime. but i didnt think the quick confrontation made any sense.

[DelvianBlue]

I'm probably going to get a little burnt on this one, but my biggest letdown was about the last third of the final Dark Tower book. Right after a certain someone was shot down in the street, it seemed like the whole book fell apart. The characters started acting in ways that didn't seem true to them, and when I got to the end, all I could think of was that this is just like a retelling of An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce. I've seen it so many times in so many other stories, that it really annoyed me to see it here. I thought Mr. King had something better and more original in mind. I was about as disappointed with that ending as I've ever been with any story, particularly because up to that point the series was one of the best I've ever read.

[sam peebles]

WARNING SPOILERS BELOW
DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE DARK TOWER SERIES


A lot of it seemed like a cop out to me. Patrick Danville was the deus ex machina, a writer's method I hoped King was too good for, and certainly assumed he wouldn't use it for the end battle of the Dark Tower series between Roland and the Crimson King. What is the defense for this parlor trick?

And while saying King killed Flagg off easily to show the folly of his ego and how the world moved on may be true, I think in reality sai King had backed himself into a corner years before. How do you kill a character that transcends so many novels and genres, has survived so many times in the face of death and destruction? Well, we found out, and woe is me for it. Flagg could have been killed off more dramatically (or not at all) while still demonstrating his arrogance. Even Roland's guns did not work against him, and yet for some reason his spawn has no difficulty accomplishing what the last Gunslinger of Gilead, line of the Eld, was unable to. Maybe Thomas and Dennis from Eyes of the Dragon could've made an appearance as hinted at in Wizard and Glass. This would've pleased me much more.

Up until Wolves of the Calla, the Dark Tower was my favorite series (the final battle in that book against the wolves was also a huge disappointment). But the fifth book ruined the series for me, and the sixth and seventh did little to repair my faith.

And why, all of the sudden, did everyone start talking with the "Thee's" and the "Thou's"? Roland never spoke this way before, or at least kept it at a bare minimum. Can someone explain the appearance of these archaic words? Even Tolkien shies away from these a bit.

Finally, the very ending to the Dark Tower. I'm satisfied with it, though I would've liked a little more closure. I understand its a symbol for ka, and ka is a wheel and so cyclical, but did I really just go through this seven-book trek for this? I know its more about the journey then the destination, so on that note I'll say that I wished it had ended with Wizard and Glass, and we never saw Thunder Clap, or Discordia, or Mia, or Mordred, or the Dark Tower.

Just my feelings on the last three books.

[Bryan James]

Even during the third read of "Cujo" (Jeez, how does 20 years slide by so quickly), I still ***spoiler***(don't know how to make that nifty button thingy) wanted Tad to survive.

I think King did too. Tad turned into Jake.

BJS

[SutterCane??]

The ending was a bit of a let down yeah, but the thought he has put in is amazing.. just like the beams of the tower each one going through certain parts of his work...the tower is the pivotal point to the DT series and the journey it takes to reach it. it was just a shame it did reach a conclusion.

[Moderator]

I still ***spoiler***(don't know how to make that nifty button thingy).


The easiest way to do this is to type your spoiler, highlight it, and then click the red/white button http://stephenking.com/forums/images/editor/spoiler_icon.gif which shows up in the Go Advanced mode.

[Countrygirl_sass]

You can't please all the fans all of the time, but here's my #1 moment that I felt Stephen King really let all of us down:

The resolution of the Randall Flagg character in The Dark Tower. I mean, this is THE bad guy that King has built up over the entire DT series, as well as in other books. He is THE character that holds his whole universe together. And he gets offed real quick-like by Mordred, Roland's spider-child, and it just kind of happens for no point in The Dark Tower. No real struggle. No real fight. And then, when I was sure that Stephen King was going to link "It" to The Dark Tower - that Mordred the spider-monster was going to be the monster in It - the only thing that would salvage killing off King's coolest character in Randall Flagg so quickly and easily - that didn't happen either.

Man what a total letdown.

I can understand, I felt the same way. But Flagg had an exciting run there for a while, and over several different stories. He had to die some way. I guess you can compare it to when Dorothy killed the wicked witch. Death by bucket of water.....who would have guessed?

[mae_west]

tommyknockers.

[Dylan Roberts]

I also wanted to chime in about the version of Kingdom Hospital. IMHO, in comparison to the original, SK's "made for TV" version was utter crap- not probably all his fault, really, most likely had something to do with the hollywood aspect and american audiences.

But check out the originals, y'all. Guarantee they'll creep you right out- especially if you watch 'em late at night.

Dylan

[skimom]

There have been scenes and, yes, entire books that I haven't liked as much as others, but I can't say that SK has ever let me down. Sometimes a character does what the character wants to do, and when the writer tries to force what his/her plan was, the scene can turn to crap. Sometimes what the character demands isn't the most satisfying or obvious for the reader, but I've never seen SK ever write one of his characters doing something OOC. Even if I didn't like it, the genesis of the action is clear. Ultimately, the story is what it is.

To give full disclosure of where I'm coming from, I can't think of another writer who is better at dialogue and characterization than SK.

[johnny39]

I was 100% fine with Flagg's death. It was very gruesome, and he deserved a humiliating death.

What I was disappointed with was The Crimson King's death. I mean... really? A kid just erases this nearly all-powerful being? Also, the description of him left me thinking of a crazy old cartoon mountain dweller prospecting for gold. I was hoping for a better confrontation.

[JohnDalglish]

What I was disappointed with was The Crimson King's death. I mean... really? A kid just erases this nearly all-powerful being? Also, the description of him left me thinking of a crazy old cartoon mountain dweller prospecting for gold. I was hoping for a better confrontation.

Hi,

I disagree, I think the fact that he was brought down by a young, mute artist armed with no more than a pencil, a rubber and a sheet or paper was particularly apt.

The pen is mightier than the sword kinda thing, mad dictators can be brought down by the power of the pencil.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Moderator]

Ummm....that would be an eraser for those of us in the States. A rubber has a whole other meaning! :blush:

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Ooops, sorry.

Two nations divided by a common language yet again.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Moderator]

:biggrin2:

[johnny39]

Hi,

I disagree, I think the fact that he was brought down by a young, mute artist armed with no more than a pencil, a rubber and a sheet or paper was particularly apt.

The pen is mightier than the sword kinda thing, mad dictators can be brought down by the power of the pencil.

Long days and pleasant nights

I get it. Especially after reading Insomnia. I was just hoping for something a little more dramatic. I mean, this is a being who nearly destroys existence, and he's just an insane old guy who gets quickly and easily removed from the story.

LMAO @ "rubber". :D

[boogerb53]

Ummm....that would be an eraser for those of us in the States. A rubber has a whole other meaning! :blush:

Ha! :rofl::blush: I think that is the funniest thing I've heard in a while!

[tillyn]

Eventually he had to kill off Flag that guy or evil incarnate was in one to many stories. We need a new bad guy.:biggrin2:

[gclark]

You can't please all the fans all of the time, but here's my #1 moment that I felt Stephen King really let all of us down:

The resolution of the Randall Flagg character in The Dark Tower. I mean, this is THE bad guy that King has built up over the entire DT series, as well as in other books. He is THE character that holds his whole universe together. And he gets offed real quick-like by Mordred, Roland's spider-child, and it just kind of happens for no point in The Dark Tower. No real struggle. No real fight. And then, when I was sure that Stephen King was going to link "It" to The Dark Tower - that Mordred the spider-monster was going to be the monster in It - the only thing that would salvage killing off King's coolest character in Randall Flagg so quickly and easily - that didn't happen either.

Man what a total letdown.


I can see why you would feel this way. but if you actually think about it, it makes sense.

mordred offing flagg so easily goes a long way to show the constant readers just how powerful a being he really is, being the son of both roland and the crimson king. it also shows us just how insignificant flagg was in the whole that was rolands quest for the dark tower, and how his adversaries far surpass what we originally thought possible.

I firmly believe that the only letdowns sai king is capable of is allowing some of these films to be put out to the public. I doubt he can stop it, but some of them are just awful!

[Tooley]

Autopsy Room Four (short story within the short collection Everything's Eventual) was pretty boring in my opinion.

[mercop14]

For me it was definetly The battle with the crimson king at the end. I wish Roland had a bigger part in It. Also the crimson king didn't seem to have any powers.

[karend3]

The entire novel From a Buick 8

[SharonC]

THE biggest let down for me occured in the movie Dreamcatcher. When Duddits turned into a stupid alien I almost flipped my lid! That was the maddest I have ever been at a movie! It was like the doorbell rang and they said Oh, lets finish this first *type, type,type* and were done. It had absoulutely NOTHING to do with ANYTHING in the book and was a big ole copout as far as I'm concerned! I will NEVER NEVER NEVER watch that movie again1

That was no fault of Mr. King. If you buy the DVD of Dreamcatcher you will find a more satisfying alternate ending on the special features. Much better, believe me.

[SharonC]

Ummm....that would be an eraser for those of us in the States. A rubber has a whole other meaning! :blush:

When I was a kid, way back when in grade school, how many times did I hear, "Hey, lend me your rubber. Mine's all used up". Now that's not something you hear today, is it?

[wendymartt]

I dont personally have a let down, i feel like you cant have a let down ..when u made the book..."the Mist"

[Doc Wilson]

When you're working with addicts there is this concept of "euphoric memory". When a smoker gets a craving, he doesn't think about the crappy tasting butt he rubbed out five minutes ago that burned his throat. He's thinking of that great cigarette he had 5 years ago right after thanksgiving turkey, the one that hit all the right notes in his pleasure receptors and left him feeling immensely satisfied. Similarly, a junkie chases the memory of the best high he's ever experienced, the one that hooked him.

I think a similar thing goes on with SK junkies. We rush out and buy every new book, we're in our heart of hearts thinking about that one book where SK hit all the right notes and seemed to pull directly from our own psychology to create this masterpiece, this greatest experience fiction can offer. We compare every book to the Stand or It or The Talisman and so it is inevitable that some of them can't quite hit that mark. I can't be mad at him for not being able top his own masterpieces every single time he picks up his pen.

[fushingfeef]

I don't know if I'd call it a let-down, but the first time I read "Insomnia" it seemed like Stephen King was making a deliberate attempt to make a Clive Barker-esque universe. It's a good book (I think I have read it 3 times) but for the first time I felt as if King was chasing after another writer or something.

[Snaggletooth]

The biggest letdown for me was when the DT series ended; perhaps not a letdown, but "tower withdrawl". I thought that DT7 was a great ending to the series and I try not to second-guess the author's choices. They're his books, not mine. That's why I'm glad he's returning with Wind Through the Keyhole (if indeed that remains the official title).

[rjt65]

FF-- have you read the DT series? I was lost a little with the "universe thing" and did not enjoy insomnia as I read it before i read the DT series After reading the DT series you will understand and (maybe like me) probably enjoy Insomnia more.

cheers

[TPG555]

I hated the demise of the Crimson King. He was the ultimate bad guy, laid waste to castle, nearly destroyed all of the universes and how does he die? He locks himself on a balcony and is erased by a character that was never part of the series with the ability to draw things that come to life...deus ex machina. All the while, the CK is throwing Harry Potter bombs screaming "EEEEEE!!!". Probably the worst ending to any bad guy I've ever read.

With that being said, I loved Roland's ultimate fate. His climbing the tower and ending back in the apotheosis of all deserts with his mind erased was the perfect ending and greatly redeemed the series after the last 1/2 of book 5, all of book 6 and all but the end of 7.