Summary
- The short story ‘The Little Sisters of Eluria’ is vital for developing the Dark Tower series lore.
- The story introduces unique vampire elements and establishes key relationships for Roland.
- The chilling imagery and narrative aspects make it a pivotal episode candidate for Mike Flanagan.
When it comes to the upcoming adaption of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series by horror legend Mike Flanagan, the universe that the horror author has crafted is so vast and has so much lore attached to it that determining what to include in the show’s first season is crucial to the direction that the series will take. Many fans of the books know that the first book begins with the line, “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” Yet when his hunt for the man in black first began, he had another adventure that came before the first book’s events, found in the short story The Little Sisters of Eluria.
The short story focuses on Roland’s journey to find the man in black right after the Battle of Jericho Hill, which claimed the lives of his remaining allies and made him the last standing Gunslinger. The story focuses on new creatures, a nefarious plot, and a possible chance for romance that Roland hadn’t felt since he lost Susan as a young man. These elements all make it apparent that Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower series needs to base one of its episodes on this short story.
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The Little Sisters of Eluria, EXPLAINED
At this point in Roland’s journey, he has just begun his hunt for Walter O’Dim, the Man in Black. With only a horse as his companion, he travels through the deserted village of Eluria, where he discovers a lone dog with a cross shape in its fur, feasting on a corpse. After scaring the dog away, Roland is ambushed by slow mutants and is rendered unconscious. When he wakes up, he is in a hospital tent being cared for by the Little Sisters.
The nurses use tiny, bug-like creatures they call “doctors” to heal the wounds of their patients. Soon, it becomes clear to Roland that the nurses are not what they seem; instead, they are vampires who heal injured travelers and feast on them. However, Roland remains protected as he heals from his injuries thanks to a medallion Roland had taken from the corpse he found in town, which keeps the vampire nuns away from him. He soon heals but remains a prisoner thanks to potions being used to keep him weak.
One of the nurses there, Sister Jenna, works in secret with Roland to help him escape, revealing she was made one of the sisters against her will, and she’s sought someone to help her escape for years. She gives him a unique herb to strengthen him against the potions the sisters are giving him, allowing him to get the strength to make their escape. However, before they can do that, the sisters bring a slow mutant to the tent to remove Roland and another patient’s medallions. However, the mutant knows what will happen to it when he completes his task, so after removing the other patient’s medallion, he uses the chaos that occurs when the sisters feed on the patient to make their escape, leaving Roland protected.
The next night, Roland and Jenna escape, and when the nurses try to stop them, Jenna uses a unique ability to command the little doctors to stop the sisters in their tracks. The head of the sisters, Great Sister Mary, catches up to them, but the dog with the cross in its fur attacks her, ending her threat once and for all. Roland and Jenna make it out and share their growing love for one another. Yet, like most relationships in Roland’s life, this love is not meant to be, as Jenna reverts to her natural state when they fall asleep, which was the little doctors, leaving Roland alone with his quest once more.
The Little Sisters of Eluria in Live Action
This short story unquestionably brings the horror aspect of this series to the forefront while adding more depth to Roland as a character. It shows the early years of his isolation and journey to the Dark Tower, how he operates independently, and the types of threats he faces now that he is alone in the world. The bond between him and Jenna, especially if the show either touches upon or fully shows his relationship with Susan Delgado as a teenager, would bring heart to Roland’s story.
The best part is the Little Sisters themselves, who are a unique type of vampire. Mike Flanagan knows how to create unique and chilling vampire lore, as evidenced in the acclaimed Midnight Mass series. The show could uniquely bring that type of horror to life thanks to the inclusion of the little doctors and the fantasy setting, making this a unique opportunity. The tents the Little Sisters operate out of and the little doctors make appearances in the Dark Tower series and in Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub, with the protagonist of that book, Jack Sawyer, discovering it when he teleports to the territories.
The Little Sisters of Eluria is crucial not only to Roland’s story but also to the more profound lore that Mike Flanagan needs to develop to make the Dark Tower series what it needs to be successful. The chilling imagery of the Little Sisters and the little doctors’ importance throughout the series make this short story pivotal to developing the Dark Tower series.
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Stephen King
Stephen King is one of the most prolific living authors. A master of horror, King’s classic works include The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, It, and the Dark Tower series. Many of his books and short stories have been adapted to film and television, including The Shawshank Redemption, Lisey’s Story, 1408, Secret Window, and The Stand.
Birthdate
September 21, 1947
Birthplace
Portland, Maine
Notable Projects
The Shining
, Cujo
, The Shawshank Redemption
, It
, Carrie
Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Trend
