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If You Can’t Wait For From Season 4, Watch This 12-Year-Old Stephen King Mystery Horror Show
While waiting for From season 4 to arrive and solve more of the frightening curiosities about the Township, there’s a similar mystery sci-fi TV show based on a Stephen King novel that can help bide the time. Shortly before From season 3’s ending in November 2024, it was confirmed that the series would be getting another 10-episode season. However, fans of the hit horror show will have quite a bit of time on their hands before Boyd and the other residents return to the small screen, as From season 4 isn’t expected to premiere until early 2026.
Executive produced by Lost’s Jack Bender and Jeff Pinkner, MGM+’s From has grown to become one of the most compelling and thrilling horror shows on TV, with each season expanding on the mysteries and history behind the undisclosed location in which unsuspecting travelers inexplicably become trapped. In addition to earning comparisons to its spiritual predecessor, Lost, From’s horror story has drawn similarities to some iconic Stephen King premises and characters. That includes one of King’s more sci-fi mystery-focused horror stories from 2009, which was adapted into an underrated three-season TV show in 2013.
Residents Are Trapped In Their Town That They Mysteriously Can’t Escape
A popular Stephen King story with a similar premise to From is the 2013 series Under the Dome. Based on King’s novel from 2009, the story follows residents of a fictional town who inexplicably become trapped when a mysterious transparent, unbreakable dome separates the citizens from the world around them. While the basis of what traps them – From’s characters suddenly coming upon a tree and becoming stuck in an inescapable town, while Under the Dome’s characters suddenly become stuck within an impenetrable dome – are different, many of the core conflicts and themes of the entrapment tales overlap.
From is also arguably at an advantage over Under the Dome by not having a praised source material to be compared to.
Like in From, Under the Dome’s residents are forced to contend with more existential and conspiratorial questions about what the dome is, why it trapped them where it did, and how and when they’ll be able to reach the outside world again. Stuck in close quarters with high tensions due to the uncertainty of their predicament, both shows also contend with the residents arguing over resources, law and order, regulations, and how to deal with the unknown supernatural forces they’re trapped with.
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Under the Dome Season # |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|
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1 |
83% |
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2 |
61% |
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3 |
60% |
Under the Dome ended up receiving three seasons on CBS, with the finale airing in September 2015. While the first season had largely positive reviews, the Stephen King adaptation had less favorable critical reception in its second and third outings. Among the most prevalent criticisms of Under the Dome season 3 was the story’s departure from Stephen King’s novel, with certain twists, including the ultimate explanation for the dome’s origins, being unrecognizable from King’s version, and culminating in a less satisfying payoff.
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That said, Under the Dome season 1 remains a fascinating and thrilling sci-fi horror TV outing, which provides many of From’s same appeals. Under the Dome may even serve as a cautionary tale for the types of outlandish twists for From to avoid as it journeys deeper into Township’s mysteries, especially after the series-changing reveals about Tabitha and Jade’s past life identities, the origins of the “Anghkooey” children, and the Man in Yellow in season 3. Of course, From is also arguably at an advantage over Under the Dome by not having a praised source material to be compared to.
Why Under The Dome Season 4 Never Happened
The Season 3 Finale Left Open Room For More
Though season 3’s ending left room for future story potential, Under the Dome season 4 never happened at CBS. There was no official reason given for CBS canceling Under the Dome, but the decision was most likely influenced by the series’ declining ratings and worsening reviews. Under the Dome season 3 averaged only 4.9 million viewers by the time CBS pulled the plug on the series, a sharp decline from the 11.2 million average of its inaugural season (via Variety).
Considering the divisive direction in which Under the Dome’s later seasons went, it seems like canceling the series may have been the best move unless there had been a creative overhaul. That still doesn’t take away from the entertainment value of rewatching the show, even if there are certain plot threads that ultimately weren’t tied up neatly in the season 3 finale. In an interview with TVLine, showrunner Neal Baer even stated that making Under the Dome season 4 “would have been a real challenge,” as it would essentially mean rehashing the plot of the first three outings.
From Already Feels Like A Very Stephen King-Like Story
From’s Story Has Parallels To Some Iconic Stephen King Novels
Though Under the Dome has been off the air for a decade, From feels like a spiritual successor to the series due to its trapped town premise and Stephen King-like tone. From’s characters, themes, and mysteries feel like they come from a classic Stephen King-style story, with certain details harking back to his novels like The Stand, The Shining, ‘Salem’s Lot, The Talisman, The Mist, and even more recent stories such as The Outsider.
Of course, it’s difficult not to acknowledge the strong influence that Stephen King has on the horror mystery genre as a whole. Even Pinkner and Bender’s show Lost took plenty of inspiration from Stephen King’s work, so it’s hard to believe that wasn’t also the case for From. The claustrophobic setting of The Mist, the reality-bending, cyclical, and supernatural setting of The Shining, and the destined gathering of post-apocalyptic survivors from various backgrounds in The Stand all feel like inspirations for From’s eerie tone and storytelling.
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Not to mention, From season 3 introduces stronger references to Maine when it’s revealed that Tabitha was transported there after falling from the lighthouse. As a Maine native, Stephen King often uses real and fictional towns and locations from the state in his novels, becoming a character in itself throughout his novel universe. If there weren’t any intentional nods to Stephen King beforehand, that seemed to seal the deal.
Stephen King Has Praised From’s Horrow Show
King Called The Show A “Wonderful Concept, Beautifully Handled”
While From also boasts a 96% overall Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, some of the highest and most impressive praise for the series came from Stephen King himself. During the airing of season 2 in May 2023, King celebrated From in a glowing review on Twitter/X after watching the outing’s first three episodes:
“FROM: I’m three episodes in. Wonderful concept, beautifully handled. Is it possible these people are dead and don’t know it? That spike through the head… holy cow.”
Getting the seal of approval for your horror elements from none other than Stephen King is one of the highest accomplishments a series can receive, and the author’s celebrations for From season 2 didn’t stop there. In June 2023, King tweeted yet again, “If you’re a horror fan and not watching FROM, you should get with it. Scary sh*t.” While King didn’t draw comparisons to his own stories, like Under the Dome, ‘Salem’s Lot, or The Stand, in those posts, his repeated praise for From highlights just how impressively the series captures the essence of King-like horror.
8/10
- Release Date
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February 20, 2022
- Network
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Epix, MGM+
- Directors
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Jack Bender, Brad Turner, Alexandra La Roche, Bruce McDonald, Jeff Renfroe
- Writers
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Vivian Lee, Kristen Layden, Brigitte Hales
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Harold Perrineau
Boyd Stevens
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Catalina Sandino Moreno
Tabitha Matthews
