The Stand is an American post-apocalyptic fantasy television miniseries. The plot centers on a pandemic resulting from a mishap at a military biological research facility, which allows the escape of a lethal strain of influenza. After the pandemic kills almost the entire world population, the few survivors are drawn to one of two figures, Randall Flagg and Mother Abagail, setting up a final good-vs-evil confrontation. The adaptation alters details (gender, ethnicity, age, age) of some main characters, moves the setting to the modern-day 21st century, and features a new ending in the final episode co-written by Stephen King with his son Owen King. The series received mixed reviews.
The Stand is described in CBS publicity as "King's apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague" The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors.