The finale of Carrie left fans reeling with a revelation that redefines everything we thought we knew about Margaret White. In an exclusive chat, stars Summer H. Howell (Carrie) and Samantha Sloyan (Margaret) opened up about that shocking twist, the unexpected humor in their scenes, and what they'd love to see if the show returns for a second season.
Sloyan, a frequent collaborator with horror maestro Mike Flanagan, steps into the iconic role of the religious zealot Margaret—a part previously played by Piper Laurie, Patricia Clarkson, and Julianne Moore. It's a daunting legacy, but Sloyan makes it her own, blending terrifying intensity with a surprising comedic touch. "I think the comedy is brought about by her being taken out of her world and put in this world," she explains. "This kind of 'stranger in a strange place' is going to spark some [comedy], especially when it's interactions we're so familiar with, to see it through somebody else's eyes and her complete horror at it all."
Howell, who's no stranger to the genre (her first feature was Curse of Chucky), brings a raw vulnerability to Carrie, balanced with a simmering rage. One of her favorite days on set was the training montage in Episode 5, where Carrie's powers go full throttle. "It was really fun," she says. "That day had a mix of some visual effects, but mainly practical, so it was fun to time all the bottles and make sure the team was doing it at the right time, and then the car explosion and running away like we're superheroes."
The finale's big twist—that Margaret herself has powers, which she's suppressed since childhood—changes the entire dynamic of the story. Sloyan sees it as the key to understanding Margaret's terror. "If you rewound your mind back to the beginning, when she's sitting in the chair and everybody's in her house, you understand the terror that she has," she says. "For me, the turning point was when all the rocks were falling on the house. I think she really believes and understands it's her daughter who's doing this. This whole time, so much of her is in this heightened state because she knows what her daughter is capable of and how dangerous that makes her for the world—not just in what she might do to them, but what it might do to her. And that's why she's so desperate to keep her safe."
That revelation also reframes Margaret's actions throughout the series. She wasn't just a controlling, abusive mother; she was a woman terrified of the power she saw in her daughter because she recognized it in herself. It's a nuanced take that adds layers to a character often played as a one-note villain.
Looking ahead, both actresses have clear hopes for a potential Season 2. Howell would love to explore Carrie's growth and her relationship with her powers now that she's free from her mother's shadow. Sloyan, meanwhile, is intrigued by the idea of Margaret's past—how she discovered her abilities and what made her suppress them so violently. "Margaret is going to fight a war on Carrie's behalf, and that's where it starts," she teases.
With Flanagan's track record for weaving deep character studies into horror, a second season could dive even deeper into the mythology. Fans are already buzzing about the possibilities, especially after the showrunner hinted at key book changes and Season 2 hints in a recent interview.
For now, Carrie stands as a bold reimagining that honors the source material while carving its own path. The finale's twist doesn't just change the ending—it changes how we view the entire story, making a rewatch essential. And if the stars have their way, there's plenty more to come.
