Stephen King's "The Institute" eight-episode miniseries released July 13th 2025

The Institute Season 1 Trailer:

I'll be watching. The Institute ended up being one of my fave King books. It's a great story,

I’d like to watch it but I don’t have MGM+. It’s frustrating to have to buy an add-on subscription to watch.

Still not sure why King didn’t just call it “The Shop” as it’s basically the same type of organization as in “Firestarter”.

Benny Boy let a photographer take a picture of him and his secret girlfriend at the after party.

Stephen King is still alive???

New Nepo Baby alert!

Joe Freeman, who plays the lead character, Luke, is the son of English actors Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington. He’s not as cute as our other recent Nepo, Sam Nivola. Pity.

Eh -- I barely made it through the trailer.

I'm tired of watching the same shit told in slightly different ways over and over again.

I'm tired of him. LOVED his early work but he's just chewing the edges now.

There was a novel written in the 70s that had the same premise . They had the children somehow channeling great artists of the past . I wish I could remember more but it was a book I read untold decades ago .

Down a dark hall by Lois Duncan ! I found it because I remembered a poem in it and was able to find the source .

Looks like Xmen meets Firestarter

Will it reach the artistic level of the Langoliers?

R4 - “The Shop” style themes have featured in many of his books. The secret governmental baddies theme is a well-used favorite of his.

I think the troll should spam this thread as well, so then anytime Ben has a project or new music that he wants talked about or something positive no one will bother because the troll just spams out the thread. Then Benny boy will be completely irrelevant, not just the little bit that he is now. He already has lost so many views and numbers, let that troll really make him obsolete.

To anyone new Aubrey Cleland, Bens girlfriend of a year, has been trolling these threads and just completely spammed the last one so it closed. Julianne Hough, his last secret lover, didn’t even stoop to that level. She really wants to be the number one, even if it costs Ben the attention he so desperately needs right now for his failing career.

No one is going to watch this show, most people in the states don’t even watch MGM+

For her to do this at the end of gay pride! On a gay man’s forum, never in all the years of threads about Mr. Barnes has this ever happened. One thread about his religious, probably Republican, girlfriend and the gays have lost their voice.

Fuck MGM+. I'll watch it when NBC runs out of quality shows and then programs it for 9:00 on Monday nights.

I read the book awhile back. The most interesting part to me was how the kid escaped. It was very detailed like it had been thoroughly researched. Very Jack Reacher-esque. Not just, “he climbed a fence, stole a car and drove to the police station”.

No one picked up news of the institute premiere, not even Just Jared or Entertainment tonight. This show can’t even get press. People are tired of the nepo baby’s and the stranger things remakes. Ben Barnes had some appeal, but the shadow and bone older man amongst the children is already played out.

Sounds like the original Village Of The Damned.

Your wish is my command

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

Jesus Fuck! What was that?

R101 Ben Barnes girlfriend is spamming the chats because she didn’t like the last one where people talked about her. Even though she is completely irrelevant and using Ben Barnes fan base to make money when she has failed at almost every job she has ever had. Aubrey Cleland is her name and she fucking sucks.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

She's at it again. Had to block the bee lady!

R7 - Wow! That's Martin and Amanda's son? Loved them as John and Mary in "Sherlock," and was sorry to read that the long-term couple had broken up. Have they reconciled?

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

She's at it again. Ten more dadaist posts.

This series is so slow. Bender knows better. You have to hook the viewer who has a short attention span quickly Jack. We are spending two episodes with just pure exposition and zero action. I would have cut that exposition to just a half of episode. And Barnes you haven’t worked in how long could you have tried a little bit more? He acts like he has many projects coming with an empty IMDb. Joe Freeman is just weird looking almost animal like. Mary Louise Parker seems to be phoning it in. I hope they explore the character self destructive behavior in further episodes. You know what’s good? The minor minor characters like the homeless woman and the hotel manager who are like King character staples. Seems like no one wanted to be in Nova Scotia. And that remake of Shout that opens the episode is pure junk. I see cheap all over this. First and only season I predict.

I'm signing up for a 7 day MGM+ trial on Amazon to watch it.

Meh, I like it. I'm intrigued by the crazy lady and her connection and the self-mutilation of Parker's character. Also, what's the smoke from the other building? It's ominous and I get very WWII Nazi vibes.

R140 i dont thing there is a season dump. we only got 2 episodes the other day.

Ben Barnes is still gorgeous.

[143] yes he is. But, will it carry this series? You do get your shirtless scene here. The following is on episode 3. So we still are moving at a record breaking slow pace at episode 3. There were some things that came to light in this episode. My criticism of the character Tim is they let things happen to him instead of letting character make decisions to move the plot through. We will see if Barnes can convey effectively the inner turmoil Tim experiences in the book about not getting involved but his conflicting guilt of his past leading him to finally get involved. However, I am intrigued by the duality of the Parker character. She thinks she is in control but really isn’t and does things to try to get a balance to control things in her life. Still enjoying the minor characters who have the quirkiness of King characters. Right now, I am still thinking the filmmakers may have missed the entire theme or point of the book. Or could it be that the book’s theme runs very close to what is happening today with current events and they were afraid to show it? Still fast forwarding the opening credits. God they are awful. Viewer warning. This series is very dark. Meaning most of it takes place in the dead of the night Even the indoor and outdoor scenes during the day look very dark. See you next week for episode 4.

Barnes was in the trailer for like five seconds, even though he's supposed to be the lead. Does he feature more prominently in the show itself?

When Mary-Louise Parker said, "We're not monsters," I snorted.

Barnes plays one of the main characters.

In the book, Barnes's character (Tim Jamieson) is in the story at the very beginning and then not in it again until the end f the book. I have no idea why he has top billing in the series. Mary-Louise Parker has a much larger part.

he is the townie anchor in this series.

I'm actually going to start the book tonight.

Episode 4 review I understood the assignment of this thread. Finally after 3 weeks some action. If you look at the series as a whole in acts , we should be well into act II. This series started with a slow act I and a slow beginning of act II. Some stuff in the first 3 episodes should have been cut or sped up in favor of episodes like this. It is like the writers finally got the hang of it and got into a rhythm. The dialogue is still weak though and kind of hokey. However, there is a lot things that just happen to the characters without any character motivation. One example is the Tim character. The established in episode I Tim was a brilliant officer. The writers should have shown that at work. Some scenes the lighting looks cheap and inconsistent. The relationship between two characters seems a little force and definitely comes out of nowhere. It was definetly not an organic forming of a relationship. It is almost like the writers just stuck it in. So see you next week for episode 5.

If you want some spoilers just let me know.

is this any good?

r19, didn't the Shawshank Redemption have an elaborate escape?

R152 no.

I’d wait and binge all 8 episodes once they’re released if you want to watch it rather than go week by week.

[R152] Not really. It is not entirely good or entirely bad. 5 out of 10. Because of the pacing issues of the series, I would suggest waiting until all 8 are out and watch it that way. The episodes drag and this might help with the slow pacing instead watching weekly where there is a lot more spacing between episodes.

Episode 5 review I think this is the better of all the episodes but not by that much. This relationship the writers are showing with Tim and Wendy is very forced. With all that unnecessary exposition in the first three episodes this relationship should have been expounded. I am now in the camp that the writers did exposition on the wrong things. The pieces of the puzzle are not coming together as they should. I do see what they were trying to do with the Tim character by spreading and stretching his character throughout the series instead of being in the first and final parts like it is in the book. It was probably why the actor was attracted to it because who wants to be in the first episodes and then the last episodes? Ego crush and I get it. And I know they wanted to tone down the harm to the children by aging them up and putting more focus on Tim but I think the handling of the Tim character wasn’t the wisest of choices. Someone mentioned in another thread Barnes seems a little wooden with his acting. I am not going to put full blame on the actor. The writing is very wooden and he is an okay actor but not skilled enough to overcome the clunky and corny writing. He is former Boston PD he shouldn’t be this corny. Part of the problem is what some of us who had criticisms about the book and its dialog. Like the kids talking as if they are from the 1960’s and the way Tim talks. There is no way a person born in 1982 having their mother nicknamed them Sport after Sporting Life from Porgy and Bess which was first performed in the 1935. Also the writers are getting better of letting the Tim character’s motivations to move the plot instead of things happening to him. Barnes needed this as a calling card due his infrequent work to signal what he is willing to do to Hollywood and it falls very flat. Parker is not as chilling as the character is in the book. She just seems like the nice Parker we have come to know with a little attitude. I do like how she knows the Luke character is getting the best of her and it bothers the sh!t out of her. I have grown more attached to the Avery and other child characters than Luke. He is supposed to be the mastermind of this and it just lacks. This series should have stayed in development hell a little longer. I can see why David E. Kelley may have left the production. **an aside-** I know Barnes’ fans will be pissed with this review as they were with the mid range to bad range reviews on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes . It is what it is and they need to consider practicing adulting because this is NOT the best series ever written as I have seen on sites or a 10 out 10 or throwing the actor in Emmy consideration. Maybe he will get that part one day but it isn’t this. Next week episode 6

Ever wonder what happens when you coveted a type of role for so long and failed? This is what happened to Ben Barnes and him seeking a good guy role. A very uneasy trip with awkward parts. Welcome to the episode 6 review. Finally we have some action and pacing change that should have happened a few episodes ago. Now everything that happens from here on out will appear rushed when it didn’t have to. But this is an awkward change of pace. There is a hug that really comes out of nowhere and is against a character’s type . iIt felt really weird and out of place. Some characters like the reporter were not too fleshed out for the fate of the character. Something that happened in episode one of the series was not paid off with today’s episode. Question is why was it there in the first place. Sardonic humour was introduced for the first time in episode six. So it felt weird when we haven’t seen humour in the previous episodes. It also caused me along with the actors’ choices for some of the magic to be lost with certain characters making me unintentionally uncomfortably laughing at the whole scene. Humor shouldn’t be a one off thing either introduce it earlier or not. As for performances Mary Louise Parker is a bit iffy. I think she is trying to but is boxed in from the clunky screenwriting. We appreciated the Sigsby character’s smarts but then you are saying to the screen “why are you acting so dumb?” She also comes off as having her best girl moments which is out of pace and place. Ben Barnes as Tim the performance felt weird especially since this episode only concentrated on a few characters so it was more intimate so you would think this was the time for Tim to shine but nope. Problem with Barnes he is a cautious actor. As a director, you should take note about what kind of actor you are dealing with so make the performance right. The right direction for Barnes are the directors who push him out of his comfort zone no matter how hard he may hold onto his security blanket I have seen this before in the actor’s performance both good and bad. Those Westworld and Punisher directors pushed him into uncharted territory. So yes he comes off as weak here which is a shame because he so wanted to play the good guy even though one would argue that happened in the movie The Critic. Overall this is so clunky for the actors. Like riding on a road and hitting a speed bump. I expected better for this book. I expected better from Jack Bender. Off to episode 7 next week. *a certain actor’s fans please get a grip and understand if we are talking critically and this performance is not it.

Imagine writing a book about writing that was widely acclaimed giving writers proper tips and insight then someone adapts one of your revered recent fiction books only for them to create a clumsy story not heeding any of the rules mentioned in the writing book. This is Stephen King’s On Writing and the fiction book is called the Institute adapted into a tangled mess airing on MGM +. Welcome to my episode 7 review. Disclaimer: First off my reviews appear of various platforms(sometimes I change the wording) so I have seen a certain cast member’s fan base lecturing me about what I’m saying in my reviews about them I looked into their fan base (because they are pissing me off) and the endless threads here(OMG I never saw so many on any actor that wasn’t A List) and holy shit crackers this is one nut of a fan base. The one who said I will be sorry once that actor gets their EGOT almost made me choke. News flash I won’t because they won’t ever win any of them. They can act but sometimes it can be unremarkable but the nice thing to say is I do see improvement just they don’t lost in the role and i found myself winching at line reading choice. I seen them surprise people in a role before. Here their heart isn’t in it. So there. End of rant. I won’t mention them by name because I guess it’s triggering. For someone who is as intelligent and allegedly kick ass in her agency Mrs. Sigsby always manages to get her ass kicked by these kids. You didn’t see that kid was planning roughing you up? This is silly. Mary Louise Parker is doing the best she can with this clumsy script. I swear the screenwriting 101’s wrote this for cheap. Joe Freeman is coming in his own with the role but that can be said of all the actors. My question is we had to wait until episode 7 for this. The kid who plays Avery is the high point of the episode especially how he developed as an intricate part of solving this puzzle. Avery is a minor important character but the performance outshines Joe Freeman’s. There are still the a lot of plot holes. One thing in particular was cool how it put the viewer as a voyeur into a situation. However, don’t think about it too much because if you do I promise it will exceed logic. As always the thing about world building you have to stay consistent within the walls you have created. Ideas looked good on paper but haven’t translate to screen. The action was like riding in the car with someone who can’t drive. You are going smoothly then abruptly stopping over and over again. King gave you all a manual on writing but you just threw it out the window. See you next week for the conclusion because I will be surprised to see a second season.

I'm loving your posts R156, R157 & R158! I agree with almost everything you say and will be back tomorrow to write more after watching episode 7.

this series' big reveal is lame

Renewed.

Just saw Jack Bender on an old episode of Room 222.

Sipping conspicuous amounts of alcohol to finish a series but ended up surprised. Well, not that surprise. Episode 8 here we go.

And this is everything we know and love about King. The creep factor, the scare factor, and the suspense . OMG itt was like a different series. Now why the hell it took us to episode 8 to get this? Why were minors characters more interesting than the mains? First 7 episodes were done by amateur hour but they brought the big guns for episode 8. Did I say they had pacing and action ? It had pacing and action that I ended singing Martha Wash’s Finally. Damn, I got lost in the story today. Ended up pissed that a certain situation that happened in the book also happened in the series. I was hoping for something with those scenes.

And all were in happy land until… I talked about the acting

Whatever, MLP was smoking to get through her scenes please give me some. Like she had some leftovers from set of Weeds. I would thought Sigsby would be a tightly wound individual especially of several self harm behaviors .(that never paid off). This character is suppose be so sinister(villain shit) and the performance is far from it.is like having a stoner as a villain.

They who shall not be name because of their fans may be triggered was actually good with today’s episode. Yes, the link on the other thread is bad scene and yes they do have shifty eye moment along with poor expressions of anger but they finally took the role of the leader of this gang. Before their character was so passive in the series so I was impressed with today’s episode. I would like them to come into a role full of hunger and determination like they did when they were two strong roles on two different series

Joe Freeman is weird. Okay next. . I always loved the portrayals of the other “children”(25 years old). The stand out is the kid who plays Avery They got that book accurate because this kid had an arc that eventually lead him to leader). The Doctor and Stackhouse ended up being like Scooby Doo Villains. They both even look like the villains . But none of these characters in the series were ever fleshed out. Shame cause MLP and that person wanted to take on roles that were the opposite of what they normally play.

Look out there is a cameo from someone who is very connected. You think about it, very Easter eggiish all around. As for this second season debacle, no it shouldn’t have been renewed. There were many mistakes and just wrong shit in the first 7 episodes With the pedigree they knew better. But MGM+ is a bottom tired streamer with less than a handful of shows maybe they are using the show to build their brand. It is not even putting a blip amongst the lot of streaming services and shows. The show is top tier on the network and it aired during the slow summer months. But it would never hold its on an anything airing in the fall where climate is fierce and overly competitive

I would hope when series comes back that they start fresh I can talk spoilers late if you want.

I watched the first episode free on Prime. I wasn’t intrigued enough to subscribe to MGM, but sounds like all the episodes have aired so I might do a week trial and watch it all.

R163 is that dreck typing so supposed to be charming?

R161 THAT's what I wanted to hear. I'm tired of getting invested, and it only lasts a season.

R158 sounds unhinged and should get a blog and stop using sock puppet accounts to praise himself over his “awesome” reviews.

Seriously R158, calm down and get out for some fresh air and post your ranting diatribes on Rotten Tomatoes.

[R165] heck yeah, drunk as hell typing. Blame it on the theme song because that was when I consumed the most. Did I like they who shall not be mentioned in this series? Hard no. I am disappointed they wanted this good person role and they should have came to this role with vigor and excitement. It fell flat.

not a flat as your atrocious typing.