Stephen King’s Unexpected Obsession: Why the Horror Master Loves ‘Revenge’
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A surprising guilty pleasure for the acclaimed author,Stephen King’s fervent recognition for the ABC drama Revenge reveals a fondness for over-the-top television that might surprise his fans. King,known for crafting some of the most chilling horror stories ever written,has publicly championed the soapy drama,even placing it above critically acclaimed series like The Walking Dead.
From Horror Icon to Hamptons Drama Devotee
King is known for being vocal about his entertainment preferences,whether he’s captivated by shows like Prison break or admitting to enjoying the work of Taylor Sheridan despite himself. This openness extends to his admiration for Mike Kelley’s Revenge, currently available for streaming on hulu. The series, inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, follows Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) as she infiltrates the wealthy community of the Hamptons, seeking retribution against those who wronged her father.
The show’s dramatic elements promptly captivated the author. In a 2011 op-ed for Entertainment Weekly, King described Revenge as: “guilty-pleasure TV, thy name is ‘Revenge.’ There hasn’t been a nighttime soap opera this cool since the early days of ‘Dallas…’ Watching Emily – a steel fist inside a velvet designer evening dress – face off against ice queen Victoria Grayson (the marvelous Madeleine Stowe) is the most fun you can have with a bowl of popcorn in your lap.Special kudos to Ashton Holmes as the creepiest Best Friend in the World.”
A Ranking Above the Undead
King’s enthusiasm wasn’t merely casual. He listed Revenge among his favorite pop culture releases of 2011, ranking it higher than the than-popular zombie series, The Walking Dead, and other prominent hits. This continued into 2012, when he again included the show on his entertainment Weekly list of the best television series of the year.
As the show embraced increasingly dramatic storylines and heightened aesthetics, King’s enjoyment only grew. He remarked in 2012, “Increasingly ridiculous, but ah, those clothes! And Queen Victoria, back on her French Script throne! Yow! If I was bad, I wonder if she’d… never mind.”
‘Revenge’ Sets a High Bar – Even for ‘Mad Men’
The author’s devotion to Revenge even impacted his viewing of other critically lauded shows. Speaking to Parade in 2013, King confessed that he wasn’t a fan of Mad Men, stating that Matthew Weiner’s acclaimed period drama simply couldn’t compete with the “wild, gaudy soap opera” that was Revenge. While others lauded Mad Men, King remained a proud advocate for the ABC series.
It’s an unexpected preference for a horror icon, but King has arguably become Revenge’s most prominent celebrity fan.Revenge remains available to strea
