Prime Video’s new adaptation of Stephen King’s “Carrie” introduces Adelaide, a character created specifically for the series rather than drawn directly from King’s source material. The character, portrayed by Kate Siegel, serves as a narrator conducting interviews with survivors of the prom night massacre throughout the first seven episodes before appearing on screen in the season finale. Adelaide presents herself as the headmistress of a home for gifted young women and conducts filmed interviews as she searches for information about Carrie White and her accomplice Emaline.
Siegel drew inspiration for the character from various King works, including “The Institute,” “Firestarter,” and the original “Carrie” novel, identifying common character archetypes within King’s writing. Series creator Mike Flanagan deliberately withheld details about Adelaide’s background and ultimate purpose, leaving Siegel to piece together the character’s motivations and trajectory. The mysterious nature of Adelaide’s intentions remains a central question for viewers, with Siegel hinting that understanding why Adelaide films her interviews and whom she intends to show them to becomes crucial to comprehending her role in the larger narrative.
A pivotal moment occurs when Adelaide encounters Margaret White, Carrie’s mother, who survives the prom night destruction through her own repressed telekinetic abilities. When Margaret declines to explore her newly awakened psychic powers, Adelaide uses telepathy to force Margaret’s heart to stop, demonstrating her own formidable gifts and a willingness to exercise them in judgment. Siegel carefully crafted Adelaide’s on-screen presence, drawing from unconventional sources such as the therapeutic approach seen in the television program “Couples Therapy,” creating a measured and calculating demeanor that shifts when Adelaide moves from casual questioning to decisive action.
A notable detail occurs when Adelaide uses the word “shine” when speaking with Margaret, a reference to psychic abilities featured throughout King’s expanded universe, despite the term not appearing in the original “Carrie” novel. Siegel characterizes Adelaide as operating from a position of “chaotic neutral,” indifferent to moral distinctions while pursuing what appears to be a specific objective related to identifying women with latent psychic potential.
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