The Stand gets super-theatrical in Suspicious Minds, and it works – Winter is Coming

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 dont take the show too seriously, its 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) andLloyd Henreid (Nat Wolff), who is part of Flaggs inner circle. Dayne is trying to find out information about Flagg, but doesnt realize that hes been watching her for days.

As Dayna explores New Vegas, we see just how absurd and exaggerated the place is. Theres 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 Flaggs rule can be. While Im sure this place, especially in comparison to Boulder, is supposed to be intimidating, its really not for the viewer. However, that doesnt 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 discoveredJudge 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.

Ive compared Skarsgards portrayal of Flagg to his work as Eric Northman on True Blood, and this weeks episodeonly underlines it. Although it might not be the freshest take on a villain, its definitely entertaining, and Flaggs New Vegas has taken us so far out of reality that we can just sit back and enjoy it.

Ep#105 Pictured: Alexander Skarsgrd as Randall Flagg of the CBS All Access series THE STAND. Photo Cr: Robert Falconoer/CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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 Harolds house while she and Stu host dinner. We get a pretty suspenseful scene where Harold is looking through Frans house while Larry is looking through Harolds. To be honest, this mightve been the first time I was actually on the edge of my seat while watching The Stand. Although theres 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, theres certainly more danger ahead for our survivors.

Suspicious Minds is an enjoyable episode with some strong performances, and Im excited to see what Flaggs next move will be.

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The Stand gets super-theatrical in Suspicious Minds, and it works - Winter is Coming