Young Texas-based lawyer Henry Deaver returns to the New England town of Castle Rock years after a mysterious event caused him to leave, and now finds himself representing a strange man found in the deserted wing of the Shawshank state penitentiary.

Hulu’s 10-part series is set in the Stephen King Expanded Universe, insofar as it references settings and characters from the writer’s works while not directly adapting his pre-written stories. Its closest relative would be the Fargo TV show, which takes an established locale and series of events and creates new characters and storylines around it. But unlike Fargo, this isn’t based on one film, rather a series of novels and short stories.

King first wrote about the Maine town in 1979’s The Dead Zone, Derry and Jerusalem’s Lot being his other favoured haunts, and it’s clear from this opening episode that former events in the town will be echoed through the run. Reference is made to the former governor of the prison (The Shawshank Redemption), and a young Sheriff Pangborn (The Dark Half, Needful Things) appears in the opening scene.

But while this all might sound like they’re playing fast and loose with their multitude of references in a form of Stephen King bingo (Kingo?) they aren’t explicitly lingering on these points in a ‘see what we did there?’ way, instead offering little nods and Easter eggs for those in the know. And that’s before I mention the connections between some of the actors and King movies and shows – Sissy Spaceck (Carrie), Bill Skarsgård (IT), Frances Conroy (The Mist) – though considering how many King adaptations there have been, there will inevitably be this connection in most shows.

Andre Holland (Moonlight) is convincing as Deaver, fulfilling that popular King role of someone returning to their childhood home against their better judgement and to finally face a terror, currently unknown to us. Lost’s Terry O’Quinn makes a woefully-short appearance as the departing governor, and one hopes he’ll be back in some capacity, flashback or otherwise.

Verdict: An intriguing opener to this King-based drama that has the potential to deliver thrills and intrigue authentic to the work of the Maine man. Aficionados will chuckle at the peppering of literary references in the teleplay, while those unfamiliar with the works can just sit back and enjoy the quality drama. 8/10

Nick Joy