Stephen King Time Travel Thriller 11.22.63 Is a Top Streaming Sci Fi Series

A decade ago, Netflix delivered what would become one of its first major hits: Stranger Things. The combination of eldritch horror, coming-of-age narratives, and a stacked cast that included Winona Ryder helped cement Stranger Things‘ place in pop culture. So did the series’ various nods to 1980s pop culture, including the works of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. Another series based on King’s work recently hit Netflix, and it surpasses Stranger Things with a unique science fiction concept.

That series is 11.22.63, based on King’s novel of the same name. 11.22.63 follows schoolteacher Jake Epping (James Franco), who is approached by his longtime friend, Al Templeton (Chris Cooper). Al is slowly dying of cancer and reveals to Jake that there is a portal in his diner that teleports the user to the 1960s. Al begs Jake to go back to November 22, 1963, which history buffs will remember is the same day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Jake decides to fulfill his friend’s dying wish, only to learn that changing time isn’t as easy as he might think.

‘11.22.63’ takes a unique approach to time travel

Time travel is often said to be one of the trickiest subgenres of science fiction because there are no set rules. The Terminator has Kyle Reese traveling back in time to stop the rise of Skynet, but also gives humanity its last hope when he fathers John Connor. Back to the Future kicks off with Marty McFly messing up his parents’ fateful meeting, but his meddling in time also makes their present lives better. 11.22.63 smartly avoids this by showcasing that Jake’s attempts to change time result in deadly consequences. Case in point: when he attempts to contact his father, a car slams into the phone booth where he is standing, almost killing him.

This gives 11.22.63 stakes that are rare for the time travel genre. It also cements the series as a story only Stephen King could write. King has written about eldritch abominations, killer clowns, and possessed vehicles, so a story about a man trying to avoid being undone by time fits his oeuvre. 11.22.63 also has a strong emotional hook, as Jake finds himself falling for schoolteacher Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon). Naturally, this means that she is eventually pulled into his scheme to change the past, and she has her own baggage in the form of an abusive, possessive ex-husband. It all leads to a finale that melts even the hardest of hearts.

An ‘11.22.63’ producer had a major impact on ‘Stranger Things’

11.22.63 was brought to life courtesy of Bridget Carpenter, who is best known for her production work on Friday Night Lights. The name that drew in viewers, though, was J.J. Abrams. Abrams was on top of the world in 2016. Not only did he revive the Star Wars brand with Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, but he was also wrapping up the final season of Person of Interest, which he produced. 11.22.63 was another success, earning praise from critics and winning a Saturn Award.

Ironically, Abrams also helped influence the creation of Stranger Things. During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer said Abrams’ sci-fi thriller Super 8 was a major inspiration for the series, as they wanted to capture the same storytelling style.

“We wanted to bring back that more not ironic, sincere, adventure, family storytelling that just seemed to have gone [away] – with the exception of ‘Super 8’, nobody was doing [it].”

11.22.63 is the perfect watch for fans who want a time travel story that is outside the box, fans of Stephen King’s work, or anyone who was disappointed by Stranger Things‘ finale. Whatever camp viewers fall into, Netflix clearly scooped up a hidden gem.

Source: Polygon