Castle Rock: Severance

"Severance" is the first episode of season one of the supernatural drama series Castle Rock, which is based on the literary works of famed horror novelist Stephen King. It was directed by Michael Uppendahl with a script written by series creators Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason. It first premiered on Hulu on Wednesday, July 25th, 2018.

Notes & Trivia

 * Castle Rock is based on characters and settings developed by author Stephen King.


 * This episode is rated TV-MA. It contains violence and strong language.


 * Actor Scott Glenn is given a "Special Guest Star" credit in this episode.


 * Flashback scenes in this episode take place in December, 1991.


 * Young Alan Pangborn is the first character seen in this episode.


 * Actress Schuyler Fisk, who plays young Ruth Deaver in this episode is the daughter of Sissy Spacek, who plays older Ruth Deaver.

Allusions

 * The title of the show is named after the town in which the stories take place. This is Castle Rock, Maine, which first appeared in The Dead Zone in 1979.


 * The title of this episode could have multiple meanings. The most visceral of which involves Dale Lacy severing his own head after committing suicide.


 * Shawshank Prison first appeared in the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, which was adapted into a movie called The Shawshank Redemption in 1994.


 * The character of Alan Pangborn appeared in both novel and film versions of Needful Things and The Dark Half. In Needful Things, he was played by actor Ed Harris (who also appeared in Stephen King's Creepshow). In The Dark Half he was played by actor Michael Rooker. In the TV series, he is played by Scott Glenn.