'Nightmares & Dreamscapes' Retro Recap: 'You Know They Got a Hell of a Band'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

We when look back upon our lives at any particular age, it's easy to pinpoint moments in our personal history where a creative person in the entertainment industry touched our souls on an intimate level and moved us in some particular way. These are the artists we immediately follow and pour over their work and if we are fortunate enough, perhaps meet them or celebrate their new work when it is completed and available to the masses.

For those artists that have passed on however, we dig into their work a little more obsessively when when we truly fall in love with it. We listen to every note, watch every film, catalogue anything and everything they ever did to not only understand their legacy, but who they were as a person and often find ourselves wondering what it would be like to meet our favorite in person and ask them everything we ever wanted to know. But alas, we know such an act is simply impossible, unless of course you're traveling through the world of Nightmares & Dreamscapes, where one couple ran into all of their musical heroes...with interesting results in 'You Know They Got a Hell of a Band'.

Clark and Mary Rivingham are enjoying a scenic drive through the Oregon woods on their way to Clark's new job, but neither seems to be having that good of a time for one simple reason...they are completely and utterly lost. Their destination is nowhere in sight and Clark has missed every opportunity to get them back on the right roads. But, there is luck in the air when they run into a small town named Rock and Roll Heaven, meaning they have a chance to get back on track. However, Clark sees this isolated town as a chance to stretch their legs before hitting the road once again and instantly, the couple is taken aback by the beauty of this picturesque community. But Mary feels as though something is amiss and while at the local diner her suspicions only grow stronger at the sight of what appears to be Rock and Roll's finest and deceased minds walking about and working there. It doesn't take long after that for the couple to realize that this place is indeed some kind of strange sanctuary for these musical legends, and unfortunately for them, Rock and Roll Heaven must remain a secret, which means Clark and Mary...can never leave...

Truly, what a fascinating way to wrap up this incredible miniseries. Sure, it's not exactly the scariest plot line to work with, but it's a fun one to say the least. This is just a good old fashioned 'what if' scenario that plays out over the hour and if you are absolutely in need of a scare in this tale, there are a couple of genuinely creepy moments. Outside of that, this episode can be declared a success based upon one simple thing, it completely and utterly brings forth a sense of wonder once you join Clark and Mary on their voyage into Rock and Roll Heaven, Oregon. After all, the town is about as Americana as you can get, filled with vibrant colors, Norman Rockwell-esque settings and of course, just about every single big name music legend that you can think of. 

Yet it also serves as a cautionary tale, specifically playing on the notion of 'be careful what you wish for' since at first it does seem awesome to be in a town surrounded by living legends, that is until we learn about the fact that this poor couple can't leave the town, effectively trapping them in a place stuck in time, where they simply don't belong and where they will have to endure too much of a good thing for who knows how long. But, I for one applaud the folks behind the scenes for ending the mini series with this story. It's certainly the most lighthearted of the bunch and it's a fine reminder that Stephen King is a ridiculously talented writer than can make any concept interesting or creepy and this was a wonderful celebration of his work and truly a watermark for how his stories should be adapted. Either way, it's been fun recapping these tales with you, and with our journey through these stories now complete, part of me hopes that TNT or another network will do another round of fascinating adaptations from one of America's most prolific writers. 

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