OMG this criticism needs to be framed.

If they had done the story in a linear way it might make sense to do it around episode 5, and have the guys walk to Vegas starting episode 7. But the flashback method puts the story in a weird place because we're not anchored to anything or anyone. Stuff just keeps happening, the story completely drives the characters.

I'm amused that the 9th episode is a bonus prologue written by King to show us what happened to these characters, considering that by then we won't be any closer to caring who any of these people are.