Summary

King praised "The Stranger" as an excellent and addictive Netflix thriller.
The series has complex characters, a captivating plot, and a satisfying conclusion.
Harlan Coben may not create a second season unless a better idea surfaces for the show's storyline.

Stephen King tells it like it is, whether sharing his thoughts on a terrifying horror movie or admitting when he doesn't love an adaptation of his own work. While he doesn't want people to say The Life of Chuck is "corny," he's praised the emotional Mike Flanagan movie, and he seems pleased with The Long Walk, which will arrive in theaters in September 2025, too. Fans love hearing what horror storytelling King thinks is top-notch since he's crafted so many excellent stories over his career.

Since summer is a particularly great time to get wrapped up in a thriller, it's fun to hear King's recommendation about a series on Netflix that captured his interest. It has all the hallmarks of a genuinely creepy and memorable series: great characters, a captivating premise, and a thought-provoking ending.

'Heard The Projectionist Sobbing' Stephen King Loves This Devastating Post-Apocalyptic Movie (And Here's Where You Can Stream It)

Stephen King once praise a movie set in a terrifying and sad post-apocalyptic world, and it's available on a streaming service.

Posts

By Aya Tsintziras

Stephen King Loved The Netflix Thriller Based On Harlan Coben's The Stranger

In March 2020, Stephen King praised The Stranger, the Netflix thriller adapted from the book by Harlan Coben. He called it an "excellent mystery" and "addictive."

The fascinating thriller series has an impressive 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and tells the story of Adam Price (Richard Armitage), who is told by a woman that his wife Corrine (Dervla Kirwan) lied to him about something important. When Adam's wife goes missing, he's swept up in a big mystery. The Stranger also stars Anthony Head, who played Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, along with Ella-Rae Smith, Jacob Dudman, Paul Kaye, Kadiff Kirwan, Jennifer Saunders, and Siobhán Finnera.

The woman who talks to Adam is known as The Stranger (Hannah John-Kamen), and she's a fascinating character. She's one reason why this series works so well. Instead of being another run-of-the-mill tale about a missing spouse, or another story that feels like a carbon copy of Gillian Flynn's beloved novel Gone Girl, viewers wonder what happened to Corrine along with who The Stranger is. This double mystery keeps everyone invested.

If any author knows what makes a horror or thriller story work, it's definitely King, whose memorable thriller book Billy Summers will be adapted into a movie. While not every King adaptation has a solid ending, The Stranger has a smart conclusion that answers every big question fans have. After all, a thriller is only as clever as its ending. No one wants to feel that they watched eight episodes and didn't get the answers they wanted and needed.

In a 2020 interview with Variety, Harlan Coben answered a question about whether fans were binge-watching The Stranger, and he shared his thoughts on the difference between a streaming adaptation and a network drama. He said:

"I think when you have the freedom a streaming service gives you, you don’t have to make 22 episodes. It’s sort of like a novel. Each episode is like a chapter, you have cliffhangers, and you don’t want to put it down. Some people may take a week or two to finish it, some people will take a day. It actually has more in common with the novel than any format we’ve had before."

Could There Be A Season 2 Of The Stranger?

While sometimes a thriller story works better as a miniseries or limited series, like Netflix's Sirens which has six episodes, it can be tough not to hope to see these beloved characters again. Although The Stranger has a satisfying ending, some wondered if a second season would happen.

What other Harlan Coben TV adaptations are on Netflix?

Stay Close (2021)
Hold Tight (2022)
The Innocent (2021)
Caught (2025)
Just One Look (2025)
Missing You (2024)
The Woods (2020)
Safe (2018)
Fool Me Once (2024)

In his 2020 Variety interview, Harlan Coben said he thought that the show told a complete story. He said:

"My guess is I won’t want to do that, unless I can come up with an idea that’s equally good or better. Part of the deal I make with the viewer is you get all the answers — it’s a full novel. But I never say never."

Like Stephen King's many TV adaptations, fans are always eager to see new TV shows based on Coben's work. Next up is I Will Find You, which tells the story of a father who was jailed for killing his son... But whose son is possibly alive. It stars Milo Ventimiglia, Britt Lower, Chi McBride, and Sam Worthington.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image