Summary
When adapting books or video games into a television show or film, key moments always need to find their moment. This has occurred many times, from the Red Wedding inGame of Thronesto thelatest shocking moment in season 2 ofThe Last of Us, and so much more. For the upcoming adaptation ofStephen King’sThe Dark Tower, bringing to life the events of the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, means visiting one of the dark moments of the protagonist’s journey: The Battle of Tull.
The Battle of Tull was a brutal and visceral attack spurred on by the man in black as he sought to escape from the Gunslinger. Roland, the series' hero, shows his battle prowess and gritty nature through this battle, and establishes the harsh tone this universe is known for. In theupcoming series from legendary creator Mike Flanagan, there needs to be time and a sense of gravitas added to make this moment a standout episode, one that will stay with viewers long after the episode airs. That is why the Battle of Tull must become decisive in the first season ofThe Dark Tower.
The Dark Tower’s Battle Of Tull, EXPLAINED
First introduced in Stephen King’s first book in the series,The Gunslinger, and later expanded upon in the comic book adaptations, the Battle of Tull was the first major fight. Told as a memory from Rolandto a farmer he took shelterwith in the desert, Tull was a small town just before the great expanse of the desert that Roland finds himself in, having traced the Man in Black there. Arriving in the city, he meets a woman named Allie, and comes into contact with a man from his past as a young boy, where fans first glimpse the tragedy of his love story with the girl, Susan Delgado.
Spending a night with Allie, he learns from her that the man in black rode into town not long before him,having brought back a dead mannamed Nort. Telling Allie that Nort holds the answer to what lies beyond death, the man in black tells her he will reveal the answer when she tells Nort Nineteen, a common theme in the series. Roland suspects the man in black has left a trap for Roland, but goes to see a local preacher named Sylvia, who is preaching about his world’s version of the Antichrist, whom they call The Interloper.
Believing Roland to be the Interloper and the man in black to be connected to God, or in this world known as The Man Jesus. Sylvia, now carrying the man in Black’sdemonic child for him,turns out to be the catalyst for the man in Black’s trap, and as Roland tries to leave town, she leads the entire city against Roland. Trying to dissuade the village from being deceived, Nort brings Allie to Roland, who has gone mad after succumbing to the man in black’s trap for her and having asked Nort what lies beyond death.
Knowing he has no choice, Roland ends Allie’s life to spare her, and once the rest of the town attacks him, he goes into battle. Using his supernatural speed with his weapons and years of training, he takes out the townspeople, who refuse to listen to reason, and ends their attacks. Sylvia continuously throws the town at Roland until he can finally put her and the entire village down. In the end, not a single soul is left standing, and Roland finds their bodies have disappeared the next morning, leaving Roland to enter the desert andcontinue his chase for the man in black once again.
The Battle Of Tull Could Be A Powerful Moment in the Show
This is one of the show’s first chances to show the gritty fusion of supernatural horror, science fiction, fantasy, and westerns that this series is known for. The Battle of Tull not only gives readers a glimpse into the world Roland hails from, but also the overwhelming odds stacked against Roland as he faces the man in black. The monstrous actions the man in black takes against the people of Tull are equally matchedby the horrors Roland is forced to unleashto defend himself and stop the brainwashed people of the town.
It is a moment that will make a lasting impression on audiences, especially if tackled early in the show. The mysterious, sinister nature of the man in black, only teased in memories by Allie and Sylvia and relayed to Roland,gives the show’s first and major villain of the seriesa proper introduction. The haunting battle that ensues shows Roland’s deadly skills and steely determination to take on his mission full throttle and find the man in black at any cost, which will play into the first season greatly as other characters are introduced. That is why the Battle of Tull needs to be one of the show’s most powerful moments of the first season ofThe Dark Towerseries.
