Stephen King’s Time-Travel Series 11.22.63 Remains a Top Sci-Fi Pick on Streaming

A decade ago, Netflix quietly released one of its biggest hits of all time: Stranger Things. Eldritch horror, a coming-of-age story and the presence of Winona Ryder helped cement the show’s place in pop culture. So did its nods to 1980s pop culture, including the works of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. The lovable child cast and the growing mysteries of the Upside Down kept audiences hooked until the end, even if quality dipped over the last few seasons.

Another series based on King’s work is streaming on Netflix, and it tops Stranger Things with a distinctive science fiction idea.

11.22.63 is a direct adaptation of King’s 2011 novel of the same name. The series premiered on Hulu in 2016. It follows schoolteacher Jake Epping (James Franco), whose longtime friend Al Templeton (Chris Cooper) comes to him with a request. Al is slowly dying of cancer. He reveals that a portal in his diner leads to the 1960s, and he begs Jake to go back to November 22, 1963. History buffs will recognize that date as the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Jake agrees to grant his friend’s dying wish, then learns that changing time is harder than he expected.

‘11.22.63’ takes a unique approach to time travel

Time travel is often called one of the trickiest subgenres of science fiction because it has no set rules. In The Terminator, Kyle Reese travels back in time to stop the rise of Skynet, but he also fathers John Connor, humanity’s last hope. Back to the Future begins with Marty McFly ruining his parents’ fateful meeting, yet his meddling ends up improving their present lives.

11.22.63 goes the other way. Jake’s attempts to change time bring deadly consequences. When he tries to contact his father, a car slams into the phone booth where he’s standing and almost kills him.

The danger gives 11.22.63 stakes that are rare for the genre. It also makes the series a story only Stephen King could write. King has written about eldritch abominations, killer clowns and possessed vehicles, so a tale about a man trying to avoid being undone by time fits his body of work.

The show also has a strong emotional hook. Jake falls for schoolteacher Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon). Naturally, she gets pulled into his scheme to change the past, and she carries her own baggage in the form of an abusive, possessive ex-husband. It all builds to a finale that could melt even the hardest of hearts.

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

Bridget Carpenter, best known for her production work on Friday Night Lights, brought 11.22.63 to life. The name that drew in viewers, though, was J.J. Abrams. He was on top of the world in 2016. He had revived the Star Wars brand with Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, and he was wrapping up the final season of Person of Interest, which he produced. 11.22.63 was another success. Critics praised it, and it won a Saturn Award.

Abrams also helped shape Stranger Things, which makes the connection ironic. 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. 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 suits fans who want a time travel story outside the box, readers of Stephen King, and anyone disappointed by the Stranger Things finale. Whichever group a viewer falls into, Netflix has picked up a hidden gem.

Source: Polygon