The fun thing about Hulu’s “Castle Rock” is that it feels like a Stephen King story that King never actually wrote, as it’s an original tale set within King’s fictional town of Castle Rock. The town, located in King’s own version of Maine, has been featured in countless King stories over the years, which means that the J.J. Abrams produced series brushes up against King’s most iconic tales in some pretty fun and interesting ways. One of the lead characters, for example, is Alan Pangborn, the sheriff from both The Dark Half and Needful Things.
Hell, much of this season’s story is set within the iconic Shawshank prison!
Each episode has its own ties (both direct and obtuse) to well known King stories, and this week’s “The Box” (Episode 4) tied into Stand By Me by letting us know the fate of a character who appeared in both King’s novella (The Body) and the 1986 film adaptation. Stand By Me is indeed set within the town of Castle Rock, and the second episode of Hulu’s series had made mention of a boy’s body that had been found by the train tracks years prior; an obvious callback to the coming-of-age tale. That connection was further explored in Episode 4.
Researching into his own past, Henry Deaver’s investigation this week led him to the home of Vince Desjardins, who Henry thought had been questioned as a potential suspect following his mysterious disappearance as a young boy. At the Desjardins home, however, Deaver learns that Vince is long gone and the dilapidated house he owned is occupied by his brother, Joseph Desjardins. As it turns out, it was Joseph who always lived at the house and had been questioned years prior; he was never charged with anything but it sure seems, based on what we know thus far, that he played a big part in whatever happened to Henry as a child.
A Desjardins involved in the disappearance of a young boy. Checks out, eh?
If the name Vince Desjardins sounds familiar to you, that’s because the character is from the 1950’s-set novella The Body and subsequent film adaptation Stand By Me, played by actor Jason Oliver in Rob Reiner’s film. Vince Desjardins, as a youngster, was a member of John “Ace” Merrill’s gang, and we learned from “Castle Rock” this week that he remained a delinquent throughout his life; Joseph explains that Vince had at some point cut off two of his fingers to collect insurance money, which got him arrested on a felony charge.
“He moved south when his sentence was commuted,” Joseph tells Henry. Joseph adds that he kept his brother’s severed thumb and forefinger in a jar, because he’s creepy like that.
It’s worth noting that the similar last name Desjardin pops up in Stephen King’s Carrie. Miss Dejardin, likely unrelated, is the physical education teacher at Ewen High School.
