Bridget Carpenter blogs ‘The Kill Floor’
Spoiler alert: This post contains details from11.22.63episode The Kill Floor.
Read at your own risk.
Who better to break down the adventures of Jake Epping than the woman behind it all, right?
Credit: Russ Martin/Hulu
Thats why Bridget Carpenter, the showrunner of Hulus11.22.63, is writing weekly blogs.
Dear Constant Viewer,
Do you remember your first job?
In middle school, I babysat for kids in the neighborhood.
Quinton Peeples
Quinton Peeples, the writer of this episode?
Quintons first job was hosing down the kill floor in Abilene, Texas.
You could say the man knows his way around a meatpacking plant.
Quinton Peeples
I dont like Halloween no more.
Saving Harrys family how hard could that be?
Maybe harder than youd think.
Quinton Peeples
The Past doesnt need fistfights, falling light fixtures, or fire to push back.
You listened to Al Templeton, didnt you?
Sometimes events feel … random.
Quinton Peeples
Sometimes … the past may give you a migraine.
Something as mundane as a flat tire.
Or maybe Frank Dunning appears at your door, eager to offer you your chapter 1.
Quinton Peeples
Jakes writing a book, remember?
Constant Viewer, I sense a faint whiff of indignation.
Dont talk to me about the Past.
Quinton Peeples
WHY is this episode set in Holden, Kentucky?
Why isnt it set in Derry, like it is in SKs g.d. book?
Lady, have you been paying attention?
Dont you know anything about anything didnt you see Ritchie and Bevvie doing the lindy hop in11/22/63?
And you CUT that?!?!
MY GOD, HAVE YOU NO SENSE OF DECENCY?
You love the book.
This world provided something else.
Jake goes to Holden with every intention of leaving once he saves Harrys family.
But after everything Jake goes through he does change the past and suddenly he knows … this can work.
Its possible to make a difference.
Its not easy, but it can be done.
Once you know that the Past can be changed, how do you not try?
And then theres Bill Turcotte.
Hell have something to say about that.
This episode was elegantly directed by Fred Toye.
When I texted Fred on the set, I bragged that I was a great mom.
(Id given my kids a chocolate R2-D2 for breakfast.)
Fred texted me back a photo of the Jabba the Hutt pancakes he had made for HIS kids.
This costume remains the most frightening thing I have ever seen, and Im including Pennywise.
Are you watching carefully, Constant Viewer?
Did you spy the Yellow Card Man anywhere?
And what about our title sequence… did you note any shifts, changes, warps?
Nothing can stay the same.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Well, maybe not equal.
And maybe not opposite.
But in Halloweentown indeed, in the world of11.22.63 actions do have consequences.
As Frank Dunning says, a price must be paid.
The last thing you’re able to say about killing a man is that its brave.
See you next week, Constant Viewer.
Bridget
For more insight, follow Bridget on Twitter@BridgetCarpen12.
