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Carrie (2026): Is this still the story you know?

Carrie (2026)


Carrie is one of Stephen King's most famous stories, and you've surely seen at least one film adaptation. Strangely, that doesn't make this new format any less interesting. 

Whether you're watching out of nostalgia or to compare versions, Carrie remains a timeless story that always grabs attention.

Modern Carrie

In this 2026 series, we see a modernized take on King's story, with active-shooter drills and cellphones making their presence felt from the first scenes.

We already know this story is about bullying and humiliation, so you may feel a bit of discomfort... With social media and cyberbullying, things have certainly escalated. The attacks are online, anonymous, and cowardly; they go in all directions, with (they think) zero consequences.

One major difference is that Carrie (Summer H. Howell) is more assertive and realizes (well, with some help) her powers and tries to explore them way before the iconic prom scene, which immediately gives a different vibe to the story.

More Nuances

The kids, the school, and the parents get a different approach too. They are less like caricatures and more human. They have issues and, sure, sometimes it feels like they're making excuses for their behavior, but I don't think the show is doing that. It gives the characters more depth and develops their stories beyond Carrie.

Some of them are quite annoying, and knowing more about their backgrounds only makes you hate them more! Others, however... well, Carrie actually seems to make some friends. There are good kids there.

Getting a closer look at the teacher's perspective also enriches the story.

What I think is a poorer choice, however, is the change in Carrie's mother (Samantha Sloyan). She is still a horrible person, but in a different way. Her attitude is less authoritarian, and she seems more capable of having an actual relationship with Carrie. They can talk, and there are moments when you almost believe she genuinely cares about her daughter. 

That's what makes the whole relationship even more disturbing. Her behavior is less predictable, and the line between affection and manipulation becomes harder to see. I miss some of the original character's terrifying certainty, though. There was something particularly frightening about a mother who made no effort to hide how much she despised what her daughter represented.

Curiosities or ... agenda?

At the beginning of most episodes, we're given a glimpse into the lives of people who supposedly had special powers.

Some of these stories were actually quite interesting, but I initially felt a bit disconnected from them. Eventually, I realized they were trying to introduce us to a whole new world within Carrie's story.

On top of that, I feel streaming platforms want to be so modern and socially aware that they're all making the same mistake: trying to be more than entertainment. Making everything about being a woman, how mean the world is to women, and how different their lives would have been if they weren't women is becoming tiring.

We know the world we live in; we know the issues. We don't come here looking for a lecture; we just want good old entertainment.

Wait... More people with power?

Since the beginning, you'll ask yourself if Carrie's neighbor, Stella (Naika Toussaint), is somehow special. Can she feel Carrie? What does that mean? And suddenly, a whole new world emerges in the middle of a story that, at this point, is a classic.

From my point of view, this is where things start to go downhill. Not that I hated it, but... There was something powerful about Carrie and her unique powers, and then other people appearing with powers, Emaline (Thalia Dudek) encouraging her... that's not Carrie. Carrie was alone, scared, and full of anger.

The show seems interested in building a universe, but in doing so, it risks losing the original story's intimate, isolated nature. That isolation was Carrie's true impact; the scariest part.

Different, not Worse

I've seen the 2013 version and liked it, but I'm inclined to say I liked this series better.

Despite everything I found annoying, a series gives more room for detail, character development, and individual scenes to breathe. Not necessarily because it's better, but because it gives you more screen time and more context.

Carrie (2026) is more psychologically complex and less horror-focused. It focuses more on exploring abilities and their impact on people's lives rather than delivering outright terror.

The ending was different too. Carrie isn't alone and has more moments of clarity. In my opinion, a second season is the wrong way to go. Not every story needs a bigger universe. Sometimes, being alone is precisely what makes a character unforgettable.

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