Stephen King’s Dark Tower series is more than just a collection of books—it’s a phenomenon that has captivated readers for decades. But here’s where it gets controversial: one of the most polarizing moments in the entire series is the agonizing cliffhanger at the end of The Waste Lands, the third installment. Fans were left hanging—literally—as the main characters found themselves trapped in a sentient, malevolent train named Blaine, forced to outwit it in a game of riddles to survive. The catch? King didn’t reveal the outcome until the next book, Wizard and Glass, released a whopping six years later. Fans were furious, and for the first time, King’s laid-back approach to sequels felt less charming and more frustrating.
What makes The Dark Tower so unique is King’s deeply personal connection to it. He often described the series as something that flowed through him in mysterious, almost effortless ways—a stark contrast to his other works. He even attributed the series to Ka, a concept from the Gilead High Speech meaning 'fate,' as if the story wrote itself. And this is the part most people miss: King’s spiritual approach led to some bold storytelling choices, like the 500-page flashback in the fourth book, Wizard and Glass. While it might seem like a writing no-no, King insisted it was Ka’s doing—not his. But it’s the cliffhanger in The Waste Lands that remains the most debated, leaving readers wondering if King truly had control over his own narrative.
The backlash was real. Fans bombarded King with angry letters, one even including a chilling Polaroid of a teddy bear in chains, accompanied by a ransom note: 'Release the next Dark Tower book at once or the bear dies.' King, however, stood by his decision initially, claiming in his author’s note that he was as surprised by the cliffhanger as readers were. 'Books that write themselves must also be allowed to end themselves,' he wrote. But years later, after a near-fatal accident in 1999, King’s perspective shifted. He committed to finishing the series swiftly, even incorporating a meta storyline in the final books where the characters confront him directly, urging him to write faster. It’s as close to an apology as fans got.
Now, with the upcoming TV adaptation of The Dark Tower, showrunner Mike Flanagan has a golden opportunity to rewrite history. Will he resolve the Blaine the Train cliffhanger in a single season finale, sparing viewers the agony of a six-year wait? Or will he stay true to King’s original pacing, risking fan frustration all over again? Here’s the real question: Should adaptations smooth over an author’s controversial choices, or honor them—even if they’re divisive? Let’s debate in the comments—do you think King’s cliffhanger was a stroke of genius or a misstep? And more importantly, how do you think the TV show should handle it?
