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11.22.63 |OT| James Franco in Stephen King's JFK Time-Travel Miniseries
- Thread starter Ape Gone Insane
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Yeah, it's a great show that's been wasted on Hulu.
Seasoned Badger
Member
Yeah, I agree. The way it is right now, she can cover it up with her hair. I almost didn't notice it the first time she was on screen.
I haven't watched the last two episodes, but having read the book, the source material is probably even worse about this - pretty much the entire middle third is about life in Jodie.
Baconsaurus Rex
Member
So how faithful to the book is it? Should I read it after this show has wrapped up?
Keyser Soze
Member
I will put this in spoilers incase anyone totally wants to avoid book details. I only mention stuff from the book that we've seen (or should have seen) at the current point the TV show has reached.
There are little changes and big changes. There is small stuff, like the act of time travel feeling more aggressive in the book. The show shows it as popping in and out of the past, but the book description felt more like Jake was punching through time to me. It took effort, The show is also dipping in and out of the book's plot as it goes. The book's narrative was more consistent and had less jumps. The show is cutting out the lulls and getting to the big story beats much quicker. Jake had far more interactions with his class in the book for example. The book was 800+ plus pages (a 32 hour audiobook), so this had to happen. Even if this was a 16 Episode series it would have needed some cuts.
Bill is not the same character in the book. He plays a much lesser role, and is not Jake's partner. Sadie seems much closer to the book character, but has changes too. The biggest change to the book however is that Jake returned to the present many times after he made changes/mistakes in the past so he could see the effects and reset the past and do it all over again. I believe the book used the Harry Dunning storyline to hammer home its idea of time travel. The show tries to get the same point across with an etching on a tree in episode one. In doing so it condenses about 150 pages into 5 minutes of TV.
If you were going to read the book after the show you are going to get an elongated version of what you've already seen on TV, but with a few various different story beats. At the point the show has now reached (6 episodes in), it is pretty divergent from the book in many areas. Many of the characters are in different places than I would expect them to be, and they have different knowledge gained than their book counterparts. Regardless, it still feels very familiar to the book. As a fan of the book I dont feel the TV characters are doing anything wrong, they are just doing them differently. Where they go with the last two episodes should be interesting, as I dont think they can match the book's ending from the current TV situation.
Bill is not the same character in the book. He plays a much lesser role, and is not Jake's partner. Sadie seems much closer to the book character, but has changes too. The biggest change to the book however is that Jake returned to the present many times after he made changes/mistakes in the past so he could see the effects and reset the past and do it all over again. I believe the book used the Harry Dunning storyline to hammer home its idea of time travel. The show tries to get the same point across with an etching on a tree in episode one. In doing so it condenses about 150 pages into 5 minutes of TV.
If you were going to read the book after the show you are going to get an elongated version of what you've already seen on TV, but with a few various different story beats. At the point the show has now reached (6 episodes in), it is pretty divergent from the book in many areas. Many of the characters are in different places than I would expect them to be, and they have different knowledge gained than their book counterparts. Regardless, it still feels very familiar to the book. As a fan of the book I dont feel the TV characters are doing anything wrong, they are just doing them differently. Where they go with the last two episodes should be interesting, as I dont think they can match the book's ending from the current TV situation.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
Fucking Bill. He is making a mess out of everything. I'm only halfway through this newest episode, but he is making my blood boil. And Sadie would still be the most beautiful woman in the room with the scar.
There are so many changes at this point, I honestly have no idea what direction they're going to take this.
Book Spoilers
There are so many changes at this point, I honestly have no idea what direction they're going to take this.
Book Spoilers
I'm starting to wonder if he'll be involved in the JFK shooting now. Might be ridiculous since the shootings is only 2 months away. But I figured they would write away for Bill not to be there on the big day since Sadie is the one who helps Jake in the book. Definitely feels like they're building up a heel turn for Bill. Would be a HUGE change from the book, since that settled on Lee being the only shooter.
Woody Invincible
Banned
I came into the thread to bitch about Bill, and this page looks like a declassified X-file. I have the book. I think I'm going to read it before I watch the last two episodes.
joeyjoejoeshabadoo
Member
The way it's been going, it'll cover the whole book.
Keyser Soze
Member
There is a possible way to make this show multiple seasons (at least two), but it would be the biggest cop out in the history of televised entertainment...
Having Jake fuck up everything so bad in Episode 8 that he is forced to reset by exiting and reentering. Season 2 would start again in 1960 and he gets to try again. Groundhog day this shit!
Setzer
Member
Yeah, I've actually thought about that scenario and it would be a cop out but depending how differently things played out I may not mind it so much.
Pollux
Member
I would actually be ok with this lol
This is exactly how I feel.
Joyful
Member
VisceralBowl
Member
Caught up with the show.
A lot has changed from the book but I'm still enjoying it for the most part.
A lot has changed from the book but I'm still enjoying it for the most part.
Haven't read the book so I can only judge from what you said & the TV show...but the movie Somewhere in Time is pretty much what you said. Guy goes back to the 1920s and falls in love and tries to make a life there, with very little emphasis placed about the logistics of time travel and such. It's an excellent movie starring Christopher Reeve and I highly recommend it.
The ending will break your heart.
I wanted to watch the mini series first because, being a Stephen King story, I was worried about the ending...and I've never actually read a King novel before, but I love time travel and conspiracies so much I was sorta tempted to try the book until I found out the same day they were making this show, lol. The comments in this thread are making me think I'll check out the book after this show is over. Maybe read it over summer holiday.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
I have a feeling we're going to see some major changes from the book, they've been hinting at it, especially with the latest episode.
Book Spoilers
Only two more episodes left. I'm going to be on pins and needles during the finale, I just know it.
Book Spoilers
In the book, Jake seem more interested in staying in the 1960s and making a life there with Sadie. Which makes sense since the book has a heavy emphasis on his life there teaching the kids and being with Sadie. But the show mentioned Jake wanting to take Sadie to 2016, which sorta makes sense given the direction the show has gone. Jake in the book experiments more with changing the past and seeing how it impacts the future. Show Jake hasn't done that at all. So I'm guessing that Bill is the one who dies along with Oswald, and Jake takes Sadie to 2016. The show is setting up more of a one way thing because he still hasn't even seen the impact saving the janitor's family has had in the future.
Only two more episodes left. I'm going to be on pins and needles during the finale, I just know it.
Haven't read the book, but regarding the time travel:
What would happen if Jake took Sadie with him to the future and, for whatever reason, tried to take her back to the past again?
Would that be even possible? Would there be 2 Sadies or would the past just go out of control and kill one of them?
What would happen if Jake took Sadie with him to the future and, for whatever reason, tried to take her back to the past again?
Would that be even possible? Would there be 2 Sadies or would the past just go out of control and kill one of them?
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
No idea. I think the Sadie that is with Jake would be fine the more I think about it. For example, Al was going into the past and buying cheap hamburger meat and bringing it with him to the present to serve in his diner, and he did that for years over and over again. So maybe it's possible. Which would lead to two Sadies existing in the 1960s if they went to the present and then back to the 60s. The other possibility is since everything resets when he goes through the rabbit hole, the Sadie accompanying him would disappear and be wiped clean along with everything else since she is a result of his previous trip to the past.
The past would also push back very hard to him bringing Sadie into the present. The book has Jake doing a few more trips and experimenting, so the lengths that the timeline will go to self correct is a bit more evident. The restaurant scene a few episodes back was a good example of the show trying to convey that.
The show, probably, won't answer it either, but it's fun speculating.
The end of the latest episode gave me the impression that Jake's injuries might jeopardize his mission, so it looks like it might be a race against time for him to get well and execute his goal. Let's see how that'll go.
The end of the latest episode gave me the impression that Jake's injuries might jeopardize his mission, so it looks like it might be a race against time for him to get well and execute his goal. Let's see how that'll go.
Woody Invincible
Banned
Welp, here we are gentlemen. Oswald is getting ready to take the shot. Who knows who else has the same intention as he...
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
Bill!
Outtrigger888
Member
jake getting pissed at him and putting him in the institution pissed me off, really made me hate jake
Right? Bill
got treated dirty with that. Everyone knows those places were fucking terrible back then. Jake could've tried talking to him again or something. He literally ruined Bill's life ): And as usual with these sort of things the story will completely gloss over that fact and we'll never speak of Bill ever again. I know there's only one episode left, but still.
Also from the last episode
did the memory problems happen in the book at all or was that show adding suspense?
Macadinho94
Member
Yeah in the book he was nearly killed by the mobsters (like much worse than they showed in the show) and sustained memory loss. It took him longer get his memories back as well.
But that wasn't Jake's intention at all. He was only supposed to be in the hospital for a few days tops, Jake put him there to make sure he couldn't interfere. He was going to murder Lee and then get Bill out. It was only because he ended up in the coma that he never got Bill out and Bill was transferred to the psych facility because they couldn't find Jake.
Don Draper's Hat
Member
How on earth did it take me 7 episodes to realise Oswald's mum is President Taylor?!
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
First time checking into the thread and I'm laughing at the Bill defenders. Fuck Bill. Stupid piece of shit. My girlfriend and I cheered when that stupid cunt of a never-ending filler device finally splatter his stupid fucking brains all over the pavement.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Should I rather read the book? Haven't watched the show yet.
you liking the show in general?
Show is rather different from the book. Just pick one and if you like the setting read/watch the other. Not much of a time investment either way.
Napoleonthechimp
Member
I completely forgot about this show.
I know he didn't intend to leave the guy in there for a while, but still, having him committed to the hospital is pretty ridiculous. It also doesn't matter what his intentions were because he still ended up ruining Bill's life. Even if it was a mistake, he still screwed up as a consequence of messing with the timeline.
And lol I don't even mean to "defend Bill", though I did like the idea of Bill. In execution though he was a pretty ridiculous, foolish character, yeah. I was sort of hoping he would stop being so stupid before he and Jake had the fight, lol. Still like the idea of someone from the past helping Jake out, so at least we still got Sadie.
And lol I don't even mean to "defend Bill", though I did like the idea of Bill. In execution though he was a pretty ridiculous, foolish character, yeah. I was sort of hoping he would stop being so stupid before he and Jake had the fight, lol. Still like the idea of someone from the past helping Jake out, so at least we still got Sadie.
obin_gam
Member
Guessing how the show is gonna end / Book spoilers:
Is this renewed for a second season yet? That kinda determines how it's gonna end. My guess is he'll stop Oswald the last minute, takes Sadie with him to the future and sees it's an apocalyptic wasteland -> cut to black -> credits.
But that's what's so good about the book. It's a sci-fi/timetravel story that is actually a love story in disguise.
I was quite surprised about this direction when I read the book and I really liked it.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Not really. The writing is REALLY lazy a lot of the time. For a miniseries, there sure is a lot of padding.
Robdraggoo
Member
Ending spoiler from the book
when jake goes back to the present and everything is shitty. Hillary clinton is president. Will they change it to Trump? lol
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