The Dark Tower’s Most Overlooked Villain Is the Reason Roland Became a Tragic Hero

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Summary

  • Rhea of the Coos is a pivotal character in Roland’s life, marked by great loss and tragedy.
  • Rhea’s connection to the Crimson King and her impact on Roland’s evolution as a gunslinger are crucial.
  • Mike Flanagan’s live-action adaptation of The Dark Tower series needs to include Rhea for Roland’s story to feel complete.

In most TV series, particularly those focused on specific genres, certain characters are instantly recognizable as troublemakers to viewers. Characters like Benjamin Linus from Lost or Eobard Thawne from The Flash, for instance, embody evil in a way that’s crucial to their roles. As shows often feature characters with complex moralities that straddle good and evil, having these powerful embodiments of malevolence is increasingly essential to crafting compelling narratives. In the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, one character who significantly affected protagonist Roland Deschain’s life is Rhea of Coos.

As a passionate film buff delving into the intricate tapestry of The Dark Tower series, I can’t help but marvel at the enigmatic figure of Rhea of the Coos. This witch, deeply intertwined with Roland Deschain’s past, has been instrumental in orchestrating some of the heart-wrenching tragedies that transformed Roland into the legendary Gunslinger we know today. As a malevolent force increasingly entangled in the dark sorcery that defines Roland’s world, Rhea is not just a villain – she’s a harbinger of the very darkness that shapes this universe.

To ensure that the series maintains its gripping momentum and continues to captivate audiences, it’s crucial to develop Rhea as a character with equal impact on Roland’s journey ahead. Indeed, Rhea of the Coos stands as one of the most indispensable characters in The Dark Tower series.

The Dark Tower’s Rhea Of The Coos, EXPLAINED

Born as Rhea Dubativo from a small town, Rhea’s lifespan outlived that of her hometown due to an extraordinary event: a fragment of a potent artifact called The Laughing Glass lodged in her eye, revealing the magic hidden within the world to her. Adopting a survival-of-the-fittest mindset, Rhea wandered from one town to another, employing spells and curses to impose hardships on those she healed. As age approached her demise, she pleaded with the Crimson King for an extension of her life, which he granted, relocating her to Hambry and instructing her to await further commands. It was in this town that she would encounter Roland Deschain.

Eldred Jonas, head of the Big Coffin Hunters, handed over Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, an intriguing artifact, to Rhea. Enchanted by the sphere’s power and fueled by her dislike for Susan Delgado, a local town girl, Rhea embarked on a mission to harm Susan and monopolize the grapefruit’s power. To start, she cast a spell, instructing Susan to cut her long hair once she was no longer “pure.” After Susan spent a night with Roland, she almost carried out the spell, but Roland intervened, figuring out that it was Rhea who had influenced Susan to do so.

In simpler terms, Roland confronts Rhea, threatening her to keep away from Susan and showing one of his special animals when she calls it to attack him. Previously, Eldred Jonas was instructed by the Man in Black to separate Rhea from the Grapefruit, which made Rhea angry and reveal Susan’s whereabouts as she attempted to leave town. With the intention of being with Roland, Susan was targeted by a mob led by Rhea who wanted her burned on a festival pyre. Later, under the influence of the Grapefruit, Roland had a vision that Rhea, the witch, had invaded his home, Gilead. However, upon defeating Rhea, he learned it was a deception, and he had actually killed his own mother, fulfilling her long-held revenge against Roland for meddling in her affairs.

Including Rhea Of The Coos In The Dark Tower Show Is Pretty Much Required

It’s clear that Rhea of the Coos significantly shaped Roland Deschain’s youth, as she was deeply involved with the Crimson King and Red, devoting her existence to promoting the chaos championed by the former. The life story of Roland Deschain is one marred by sadness, primarily due to immense loss. This odyssey towards the Dark Tower and the hardships he would face started with Rhea of the Coos, who not only stole Susan Delgado, the love of his life away from him but also brought about the demise of his own mother using her as an instrument.

This crucial path of loss significantly shapes Roland’s character development in the story, making it essential for the live-action series being created by Mike Flanagan to reflect this aspect as well. Grasping the depth of Roland’s grief and despair illuminates the journey that led him to construct the formidable defenses around his heart, transforming him into the deadly gunslinger who stands alone among his people. The Dark Tower series serves not only as a narrative about reaching the Dark Tower but also as a portrayal of Roland’s odyssey and the families he was born into and formed throughout it.

Rhea plays a pivotal role in Roland’s journey, shaping the path he ultimately takes. Her brutal betrayal of Roland’s first love and her ties to the Crimson King and his larger schemes significantly influenced the course of events that led Roland to where he is now. The pain from these losses propelled him towards battles such as Jericho Hill, Tull, and his encounter with the Man in Black, which eventually set him on the road to the Dark Tower itself. To fully realize Roland’s transformation into a compelling protagonist in the adaptation, it’s important to delve into Rhea’s character as an antagonist, incorporating her presence through flashbacks.

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2025-05-02 18:04