The latest episode of The Stand pumps up the absurdity to enjoyable levels over in New Vegas, while our survivors in Boulder grapple with real conflict.
The latest episode of The Stand gives us a better look at the world Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgard) has build in the wake of Captain Trips, and if you don’t take the show too seriously, it’s starting to get super fun.
The new episode starts off where we left off, with the survivors in Boulder sending out spies to Vegas — or “New Vegas,” as Flagg calls it — to see what the Dark Man is up to. Dayna Jurgens (Natalie Martinez) is deep undercover when she meets up with Julie Lawry (Katherine McNamara) and Lloyd Henreid (Nat Wolff), who is part of Flagg’s inner circle. Dayne is trying to find out information about Flagg, but doesn’t realize that he’s been watching her for days.
As Dayna explores New Vegas, we see just how absurd and exaggerated the place is. There’s a fighting ring where people are beaten to death, drug use seems to be legal, and people are openly having sex in every other corner. As theatrical as it is, it also kind of works, as it shows how chaotic life under Flagg’s rule can be. While I’m sure this place, especially in comparison to Boulder, is supposed to be intimidating, it’s really not for the viewer. However, that doesn’t take away from how amusing it is to watch.
Dayna finally meets with Flagg towards the end of the episode, and stabs him with a pair of scissors to the neck. Then we confirm what we kind of all already suspected: Randall Flagg cannot be killed. Not by a normal person, anyway. Instead, he demands to know who the final spy from Boulder is, having discovered Judge Harris (Gabrielle Rose) but unable to identify Tom Cullen (Brad William Henke). Dayna decides then that her only way out of this is to kill herself, which she does with a broken beer bottle.
I’ve compared Skarsgard’s portrayal of Flagg to his work as Eric Northman on True Blood, and this week’s episode only underlines it. Although it might not be the freshest take on a villain, it’s definitely entertaining, and Flagg’s New Vegas has taken us so far out of reality that we can just sit back and enjoy it.
Elsewhere in the episode, Harold (Owen Teague) is struggling to trust Nadine (Amber Heard), while Nadine herself is struggling with her faith in Flagg. As all the craziness is happening in New Vegas, the stakes are higher back in Boulder, especially when Harold has dinner with Frannie (Odessa Young) and Stu (James Marsden).
Starting to get suspicious, Frannie asks Larry (Jovan Adepo) to search Harold’s house while she and Stu host dinner. We get a pretty suspenseful scene where Harold is looking through Fran’s house while Larry is looking through Harold’s. To be honest, this might’ve been the first time I was actually on the edge of my seat while watching The Stand. Although there’s murder and unchecked hedonism going on in New Vegas, Boulder is where the characters with complex conflicts are living.
As the episode comes to a close, we find out that Mother Abigail has decided to flee Boulder, leaving the leaders with questions and confusion over what will happen next. Now that Flagg knows they sent spies to watch over him in Vegas, there’s certainly more danger ahead for our survivors.
“Suspicious Minds” is an enjoyable episode with some strong performances, and I’m excited to see what Flagg’s next move will be.
Episode Grade: B+
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