User reviews

Jake Epping, a high school teacher, travels back in time by a time portal, revealed to him from his friend, Cafe owner Al Templeton, the portal are in the cafe backroom closet, and makes it possible to time travel, but only from the present day and back to the 1960s — specifically, October 21st. Dying of cancer, Al asks Jake to travel back to the 1960s and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Time travel stories can be a tricky thing, but 11.22.63 sets up the rules clearly and immediately. By the end of the opening episode, viewers should be fairly well acquainted with what Jake needs to do, why Al can't do it anymore, and the steps needed to get there. It all sounds completely ridiculous ("go back in time and stop the assassination of JFK!"), but 11.22.63 finds the right balance in Jake between disbelief and an earnest desire to try it anyway. The time travel isn't the mystery — not yet. Instead, the show pivots immediately into a glossy 1960s thriller, peppered with some of King's trademark horror.

I only bad thing to say about this series are that I want more I did not want it to end, it is simply a fantastic series.

It has been a long time I have seen James Franco look so promising in a role. Last time when I saw him so good was in 127 Hours. He has done complete justice to the character in the premiere of this show and seems to be in his comfort zone.

As for the show, it does not waste any time to get into action. Franco plays role of Jake Epping, a High School Teacher, who unwillingly has to take up the task of traveling to the past and avoid assassination of JFK. Show is fast paced and keeps you engrossed all the time. You just keep wondering how the story will unfold and will Jake be able to prevent the assassination.

For the premiere, you do not see much of the acting of others as it revolves only around Franco and Cooper. But they both take you to a ride which should not end. Episode was 80mins long but I did not realize when the time flew by. Direction and screenplay is of high standards along with story which is very well thought of.

I personally recommend you to watch the show and guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Now that's a series with superb acting on top of a very original story and script!

The intricacies are very well woven and as soon as the first 15 minutes, viewers are immersed in its world. The script does not disappoint a bit and the mood is awesomely and believably set with the bright cinematography.

The above being said, one of the decisive weight in its favor and deserved success is the presence and acting of Sarah Gadon, whose mesmerizing beauty and dazzling smile shine out and utmostly captivate.

A somewhat underrated and little known limited series, which comes highly recommended and leaves its viewers satisfied and in awe.

Wow. I never thought i could enjoy this TV show very much. The cast were perfect and believe me, last episode will touch your heart.

It would be difficult to review 11.22.63 without spoiling it at every turn, so I won't. Instead, let me just say then that it has an excellent pedigree - a Stephen King novel - is well written and well acted. I'm a crusty oldish (emphasis on ish) curmudgeon and an amateur writer myself who thinks he has seen everything and is beyond every surprise and every tear jerk. Well, I was wrong. Once my teenage son suggested it to me, this series grabbed me by the throat, first minute, and never let go. Every cliché applies including "riveting" and "edge of seat." The bottom line though is that it is interesting, exciting and engrossing. Watch it. Now.

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, however his movies and TV stints have left a lot to be desired with a few exceptions (Shawshank, Green Mile). I have to say, this is his best work yet, and it's not even a movie. I get to enjoy this for a while to come and am very excited to do so.

11.22.63 is about a man who has time traveled to the 60's. And what would you do if you could time travel to the 60's? Well save JFK of course! I won't go into any detail as you have to watch it yourself.

The acting, production, direction, scenery, everything is absolutely perfect. It is one of the few shows I could not find one single flaw in, and I'm 3 episodes in!

If you have a chance, see this gem, you will be pleased.

10/10

Watched the show, then read the book and rewatched. At first I thought it was awesome, so I decided to read the book. Now that I've read the book and rewatched the first episode, it's crazy to see how much is changed. To get full effect of this story, definitely read the book. Still a fun show but the whole story is almost backwards

I am a fan of the book 11.22.63, and I was pretty excited to hear about an adaptation being made into a mini-series. My excitement only continued to grow when I learned that JJ Abrams and James Franco were attached. That being said, when I sat down to watch it, I had some high hopes going in. At first, my hopes were kind of dwindled. Upon starting the show, I thought that maybe Franco was not the best choice to play Jake Epping. As I continued watching, I noticed that it wasn't Franco, but rather that the show itself felt rushed during the beginning. However, to my viewing pleasure, once Franco totally commits to going back to the 60s (and he shaves that ridiculous goatee) the show really starts to come together. I guess the writers were just not as focused on the beginning of the show because it is such a good turnaround when he gets into the 60s (the beginning is not awful, just not great like the latter half). Also, the show does not follow the book 100% which is fine by me. I like when shows/movies try to create there own ideas, but still stay true to the basics of the book. Without spoiling the show for anyone, I believe 11.22.63 is going to be a great show when it is all said and done. Besides the beginning, Franco does a fantastic job as Epping as he showcases his dramatic (with comedy thrown in) work by dealing with the emotions of a present day guy traveling back to the 60s. Franco was the right choice for Epping! Overall, the show kept me thoroughly entertained for an hour and twenty minutes. So, if you can sit through about 10 minutes of a rushed plot, then I would definitely recommend giving this show a shot. King, Abrams, and Franco... How could it go wrong?!

It certainly could have been a lot shorter - it definitely drags along there in the middle, and I liked the ending... but again it really didn't do nearly what it could have, IMO.

Franco's character is a big problem with the series. I didn't read the book so I'm not sure if he's supposed to be this kinda part dimwit part dickhead but that's really how it played... for me.

In retrospect I guess maybe 7 is a bit high, but I did like the ending. To be honest I mostly had it on in the background but I feel like if I'd payed closer attention I'd have been more disappointed.

A really thourough look into the Kennedy assassination would have to be a whole mini-series, and while some of that is approached in this series it is mostly window dressing to move the plot along - it would have been more interesting to have it be front and center and ask some of the really tough questions - which it fails to do....

Still, it was entertaining, I'd give it a 6.5 rounded up to 7...

There are so many good things about this limited series. But, episode after episode I never felt that the audience is given a satisfying explanation about why Jake actually pursues the mission of changing the past. There is nothing urgent nor personal so I only see him doing what he does because the script calls him to.

That's the best thing i have ever seen Everyone was amazing and of course the wonderful one James Franco ,and the stunning actor Sarah Gadon

A really wonderful series, I loved every minute of it. When I read the plot I was scared I would get confused, but it was just perfect. I wish it wasn't just a mini series

James Franco exercises his full acting range in this adaptation of Stephen King's taut, time-travel thriller. Early on, it's very true to the plot, style, and tone of King's book, so fans of the novel should be pleased if it continues in the same way. At the same time, those unfamiliar with the book are thrown into an engaging world with its own quirks and rules. Franco navigates moments of surprising pathos and surprising humor with ease, pulling the viewer into Epping's experiences and showing us his thoughts and feelings, even when dialogue is sparse.

11.22.63 is intelligent, thoughtful television that belongs in the current streamed-TV and specialized-content landscape that contains shows like The Man in the High Castle, Fargo, and the (dearly-departed) Hannibal. It's not an easy show to watch when you're half asleep or cleaning the house. If you're willing to give it your full attention, however, it's more than worth the time.

I expected a little more with Stephen King and JJ Abrams being involved, but this adaptation just didn't wow me. It's a decent story and is fairly watchable, but I anticipated things to have a little more punch. The story lags in spots and gets a little too wrapped up in the personal drama of the characters. Had it delivered more on the sci-fi/time travel and political thriller themes, it would have had the muscle needed to make it a great production.

Technical Rating

Plot and Story: 33/35 Cinematography: 21/25 All Editing: 10/15 Acting: 13/15 Script: 6/7 Musical Score and Soundtrack: 3/3

Total: 86/100

I'm not usually the type to keep up with a television series week to week, but after watching the first episode of 11.22.63, I was absolutely hooked. The one season, Hulu mini-series drops a big "what if" in the premiere, and then proceeds to answer it in the remaining seven episodes. "If you could alter the outcome of one major event in history, which would it be?"

Now, 11.22.63 travels in a much more narrow direction, sending Jake Epping (James Franco) to the year 1960 with one goal in mind, to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. History books tell us that Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible for his death, but nobody is certain whether Oswald was acting alone, or if he is even the one who pulled the trigger. Stephen King, whose novel the show is adapted from, puts this historical hypothesis into question, while bringing to light other theories about what really happened on that day.

Perfectly cast and cleverly directed, 11.22.63 is the show of the year, and it would be getting the true attention that it deserves if it weren't for Hulu's monopoly on its release. Mooch off your friend, use your dad's credit card, or do whatever else you can to get access to a Hulu Plus account, because this series is worth all the effort.

Technically speaking, the show is brilliant. If Stephen King's byline isn't enough to sell you, J.J. Abrams, producer and writer of the highest grossing film of 2015, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) made the whole thing happen. In addition, nearly every episode is directed by a different critically acclaimed director, making each week even more unique and exciting. Franco even directed one episode himself, continuing to show how he very well may be "the most interesting man in the world" (read his feature in Rolling Stone if you're not convinced).

Franco is joined on-screen by Canadian actress and rising star Sarah Gadon (Sadie Dunhill) as Jake Epping's love interest, whom I've been a huge fan of since seeing her in Enemy (2013), one of my all-time favorite movies that I probably talk about way too much. Gadon plays her role perfectly, showcasing a peachy Southern accent that could make any guy fall in love with her. Matched with a script that leaves a lasting impression on you, Franco and Gadon make the 60s look sublime, except for the racism, medical practices, phone booth struggles, and many other time-travel challenges that the show comments on as well.

Regarding my specific movie preferences, I'm a sucker for thoughtful films with beautiful women and well-dressed gentlemen, so 11.22.63 takes the cake and lands a spot among The Newsroom, House of Cards, True Detective, and Entourage as what I consider one of my favorite television shows of all time. My pick for the best of the series is episode 3, but nothing takes your breath away quite like the finale. Go check it out before I spoil it for you. I'd love to have someone else to discuss it with.

I've rarely left reviews for TV shows, but this has me hooked with it's premise. The ability to change history, for the better. But each time you go back, history resets itself to the original timeline. And regardless of how long you stay in the past, when you come back...only 2 minutes will have passed in the present! Saving John F. Kennedy is the primary motive for "Mr Amberson" (Played impeccably by Franco). Yet will it result in a better world should he succeed? Massive questions and plenty of unpredictability. Franco is beset by a number of moral dilemma's, trying to make sense of doing a bad acts which will benefit the greater good. But the moment he comes close to changing the future, time itself pushes back in emphatic fashion.

Stephen King's fingerprints are all over this, a good thing. The usual King cliché's of it being set in Maine, centred around a divorcée/loner/Average Joe and some rather humorous dialogue apply, but only for a while as there is an underlying sense of unknown that draws the viewer in.

My fear with this series is that it will only be a 1 season run, because the amount of narrative, plot and sheer depth of potential needs to be exploited fully over a number of seasons. But from the early going, 9.5/10.

Damn good miniseries. The story is very intriguing had you hooked on the first episode. The worst thing about it is James Franco. Not the character just the actor but he did a pretty good job. Just not a fan of him. I liked the book but the mini series was great. It give me a different outlook on the book. If you're looking for a good storyline interesting characters this is the miniseries you would like to watch.

Its hard to do a movie or series about time travel and alternate realities so that we dont say thats silly or not possible and turn it off. Stephen like all of us plays what ifs In his mind and has translated it to book and tv series to perfection. The Kennedy assassination was a world wide event that every person knew about and as a young teenager it blasted my mind and what i was doing when i heard about it is the clearest memory i have to this day. ,Stephen has written this book to give us a fabulous what if. james Franco is terrific and everyone else is also totally invested in their parts. Its a great mini series that kept me involved start to finish. A great binge watch.