In our view, the 2020 adaptation of "The Stand" places significant emphasis on identity politics, often introducing diverse casting choices and altered character backgrounds that feel more ideologically driven than faithful to the source material. Some character arcs seem thin, with traits like race and sexuality taking precedence over organic development, which arguably distracts from the story’s stakes.

Traditional values do not get much of a fair shake. Masculine traits, faith, and the institution of family are often portrayed as outdated. Key symbols, especially religious and masculine ones, are undermined or reinterpreted through a modern lens, which some viewers may interpret as diminishing the cultural themes of King’s original work.

The series doesn’t give much breathing room for alternative perspectives. Dissenters or traditionalist characters are often painted as ignorant, villainous, or intolerant, while the story champions a very uniform modern progressive outlook. Genuine debate or worldview diversity is almost nonexistent.