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Stephen King might be considered the “King of Horror,” but as much as I enjoy his chilling novels like “Carrie” and “IT,” it’s actually his 2011 time-travel mystery “11/22/63” that ranks as my top King tome of all time. And like so much of the best-selling author's work, it was quickly adapted for the screen back in 2016; the result is an engaging eight-episode sci-fi thriller miniseries.
Airing on Hulu upon its original release, “11.22.63” has just switched sides in the streaming space and resurfaced on Netflix. Combining espionage-style thrills and an exciting time-travel trip to a turning point in United States history, this miniseries is the perfect binge-watch over a single weekend. And even better, it comes full circle, giving you a definitive conclusion by the end. There’s no unsatisfying, unfulfilled tease for a second season here, just a great series.
“11.22.63” both as a novel and as a television adaptation, never quite received the widespread recognition that some of King’s most iconic works have enjoyed over the years, which is a real shame in my book. Here’s why its arrival on Netflix is the perfect time to catch up on what you may have missed.
What is ‘11.22.63’ about?
Jake Epping (James Franco) is an ordinary high school teacher in Lisbon, Maine, given the chance to change the course of U.S. history. Long-time friend Al Templeton (Chris Cooper) reveals he’s discovered a time-travel portal that transports the user back to a very precise date, October 21, 1960. AI then asks Jake to take on a mission of great importance: travel back in time and prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Stepping back into the 1960s, Jake becomes attached to his new life in the past, but as he attempts to balance his growing feelings for school teacher Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), he’s also quietly observing the complex Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber). And as the day in question nears, Jake discovers that the past doesn’t want to be changed and will fight back.
You should binge-watch ‘11.22.63’ on Netflix this weekend
“11.22.63” is quite an impressive mesh of genres. At its core, you have a highly compelling time travel thriller. Jake’s trip through the 1960s is engaging because while he’s armed with a degree of future foresight, there’s still plenty of mystery to untangle as the events of November 22, 1963, approach. The miniseries plays on this expertly. It slowly builds up the stakes as Jake tries to put together a plan to prevent JFK’s assassination and “save” the future.
However, for as much as I enjoy the thrilling “change history” aspect, it’s actually the, on paper, more mundane portion of the story that truly got its hooks into me. Jake opts to settle in the small (fictional) town of Jodie, Texas, and it’s here that he meets Sadie Green, falls in love, and starts wondering whether he would be better served letting history play out as it did.
Their love story is tender, with just the right amount of inevitable heartbreak, because after all, Jake is a man out of time (in more ways than one). I rarely recommend a thriller series more for its romance subplot than its gripping twists, but “11.22.63” is one such example. On page and on screen, I found myself deeply invested in Jake and Sadie’s budding relationship.
Book readers will likely notice that the miniseries makes several changes from the original novel. While I’m regularly critical of adaptations that stray too far from their source material, the core of “11/22/63” remains very intact, and the noticeable changes feel appropriate for the medium. It’s a TV show that should satisfy novel readers and newcomers alike, which is no small feat.
‘11.22.63’ is already proving popular on Netflix
“11.22.63” was warmly received by critics when it debuted on Hulu a decade ago. It holds a strong 83% score on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, with the site’s ‘Critics Consensus’ reading “Though the execution feels almost as dated as the period it represents, 11.22.63 gradually reveals a compelling, well-performed series of events.”
Meanwhile, viewers score it even higher at 88%, and within just a couple of days of landing on Netflix, the series is already making quite the impression. “11.22.63” was added to Netflix’s library on Wednesday (Jan. 7), and has already claimed a high position in the platform’s top 10 most-watched list, currently ranked at No. 3. Perhaps it’ll go the distance and dethrone Harlan Coben’s “Run Away” to become the latest show to score a No. 1.
So, if you’re looking for a compelling show that you can polish off over the course of a single weekend, “11.22.63” fits the bill to a tee. It’s very much in the mold of streaming shows that will have you clicking that “play next episode” button each time the credits start rolling, and as somebody who’s loved King’s time-travel masterwork for years, I’m thrilled to see its TV adaptation getting some attention. Hopefully, it also inspires a few viewers to pick up the book.
However, if you’re not totally sold on “11.22.63,” then here’s a guide to everything new on Netflix this week, which includes plenty of alternative picks. Or if you’re more in the mood for a movie, sun-soaked rom-com “People We Meet on Vacation” just landed on the streamer (though I'm not a fan).
Watch "11.22.63" on Netflix now
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