Let's get this part out of the way - if you've read a Stephen King book or twenty (like me) then you know that endings are not his forte. And like most King stories the finale here is perhaps the weakest piece of this effort. Not terrible, but not really the show's zenith either.

Where this series does get it right, however, is every single other aspect.

The casting, plot, characters, writing, performances but most of all atmosphere are all top notch. This show is dripping with eerie gloom and a constant sense of unease.

From the show's dreary color-palate to Mendelsohn's dour (and remarkably well suited) portrayal of a grieving cop - this is as far from cheer as television gets.

But there are also sprinklings of charm and wit and many character interactions possess a verisimilitude that most series these days simply lack.

So don't get too hung up on the finale. A road trip isn't defined by how it ends.