Fans of Stephen King would likely know how long the fictional town of Castle Rock stood in his novels. Hulu’s Castle Rock weaves two original tales based on what is known about this strange, strange town, with the first season centered on a mysterious inmate and the second centered on a mentally ill nurse. While it does get confusing at times, the series is able to weave in a taste of King’s mystery horror elements, with the terrifying abuses of America’s modern day institutions. While Hulu’s attempt at a multiverse can occasionally get a bit shaky, Castle Rock nonetheless creates an interesting reinterpretation of the King of Horror’s Maine town.

The performances. Even as the writing gets into confusing territory, the performances are so compelling to watch, and the leads of their respective seasons, André Holland and Lizzy Kaplan, carry their stories with ease.