The Stand is an American post-apocalyptic fantasy television miniseries based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Stephen King. 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 series received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its dark tone, performances of the cast and production values, but some criticized its lengthy runtime, slow pacing and writing.
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.