Local Color 

The past catches up with Molly Strand.

Director:

Daniel Attias (as Dan Attias)

Writers:

Stephen King (based on characters and settings by), Sam Shaw (created by)

Stars:

André Holland, Melanie Lynskey, Bill Skarsgård

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
André Holland	...	Henry Deaver
Melanie Lynskey	...	Molly Strand
Bill Skarsgård	...	The Kid
Jane Levy	...	Jackie Torrance
Sissy Spacek	...	Ruth Deaver (credit only)
Noel Fisher	...	Dennis Zalewski
Ann Cusack	...	Warden Porter
Adam Rothenberg	...	Reverend Matthew Deaver
Chris Coy	...	Boyd
Caleel Harris	...	Young Henry Deaver
Charlie Tahan	...	Dean Merrill
Cassady McClincy	...	Young Molly Strand
Russell Posner	...	Derek
Burke Moses	...	Local Color Host
Mark Zeisler	...	Cal

Storyline

In a flashback, young Molly sneaks into the Deaver house. Henry is still missing and his father is on life support. Molly pulls Matthew Deaver's ventilator and watches him die. Henry goes to see Adult Molly, asking her to help him put his mother's house on the market. but she declines. In a flashback, Molly tells Henry she knows what he does in his room, she can hear what he's thinking and feeling. Zalewski meets with Henry, who asks him to befriend The Kid. Molly has a flashback to the night Henry disappeared and sees Henry in the woods with his father, who asks, "Do you hear it?" before Henry runs away. Molly's dealer is out so she goes to a house looking for "Derek," with she is negotiating a price when the cops show up. Henry bails her out. She tells him that being around him throws her off balance. When he finds out about her meeting for a TV show, he rushes her to the taping. She struggles to get through the interview, and suddenly announces live about The Kid being kept in the ...

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Plot Keywords:

episode title spoken by character | parallel universe | lawyer | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

Daniel Attias, the director of this episode directed Silver Bullet, a film adapted from a Stephen King novel, also featuring Terry O'Quinn.

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Connections

References The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

User Reviews

Good if unexceptional entertainment.

This third episode of the series focuses on character Molly Strand (Melanie Lynskey), who's addicted to pills that help suppress her natural, overwhelming "empath" qualities. It shows her at work as a real estate developer who has big plans for the hamlet of Castle Rock. While 'Local Color' has her and Henry officially re-unite, it shows flashbacks to their childhood, especially when she'd crept into the Deaver house one cold winter night. And Henry starts the process of standing up for the mysterious Kid, and his treatment at the hands of the late Warden Lacy.

Although little of importance happens during this episode, what appeals to this viewer is the sombre, serious quality of the storytelling. (Not that there isn't some room left for humour.) The cast all wear appropriately grim expressions on their faces as they move through the story. Much of the story concentrates on the connection between Molly and Henry, showing it in subtle ways, even to the point that she can pick up on his thoughts and actually voices them during an appearance on a cable-access local program. We also learn more and more little details about Lacy as the series goes on.

The good thing for this viewer is that 'Local Color' helped start establishing Molly as a more interesting and compelling character, and the under-rated Lynskey just knocks it out of the park with her sensitive portrayal. Kudos, too, to the two appealing child actors playing Molly and Henry as children.

There is an intriguing, creepy sequence with a bunch of neglected kids playing some sort of courtroom "game". And there is a good suspense finale, with Molly having to confront a possible intruder in her home.

'Local Color' was directed by Dan Attias, who is no stranger to Stephen King material having directed the feature film "Silver Bullet" 33 years previously.

Seven out of 10.

Details

Release Date:

25 July 2018 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Tewksbury, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Olive Avenue Productions, Bad Robot, Old Curiosity Shop

Technical Specs

Runtime:

49 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color