The success of a newStephen KingTV adaptation proves thatanother forgotten 9-year-old sci-fi show based on the author’s novel deserves more attention. AlthoughStephen King TV adaptationsare often hit or miss, both shows in question have established that the author’s stories can work well on the small screen if executed with the right vision.
While many movie adaptations ofStephen King’s bookshave performed fairly well among viewers and critics in recent times, TV shows based on his works are still catching up. As many would recall, 2020’sThe Outsiderwas perhaps the last Stephen King show that managed to earn rave reviews from critics.
Since then, other adaptations, like2020’sThe Standand 2021’sLisey’s Story, have struggled to leave their mark, even though television’s relatively longer storytelling format allows for a more faithful exploration of King’s stories. Fortunately, a newStephen King TV shownot only breaks this trend but reminds viewers that another compelling TV adaptation exists.
The Institute Is The Best Stephen King Sci-Fi Show Since 11.22.63
There Have Only Been A Few Good Non-Horror TV Adaptations Of Stephen King’s Works
Arguably, Stephen King’s stories have performed far better on the big screens than on television, regardless of whether they fully fall into the horror genre or venture more into drama, sci-fi, or fantasy. The first Stephen King TV adaptation, which was 1979’sSalem’s Lot, is still considered one of the better takes on the author’s works.
Unfortunately, since then, only a handful of Stephen King TV shows have managed to achieve a similar level of acclaim or perform better.MGM+’s ongoing adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Instituteundoubtedly ranks among the better television takeson Stephen King’s works.
LikeThe Institute,11.22.63is more sci-fi than horror and dabbles with intriguing concepts surrounding alternate timelines and the butterfly effect.
While it inclines more towards sci-fi than mainstream horror, it seems to perfectly capture the unsettling atmosphere and slow narrative build-ups that make Stephen King’s stories captivating. The show also riffs on the “children with supernatural abilities” trope, which commonly emerges in some of the greatest Stephen King books, likeThe ShiningandFirestarter.
The Instituteoften lurks in a familiar domain when it comes to the thematic elements of its story. However, it still manages to be compelling enough to make viewers care about its characters and root for them to escape their dark circumstances. Long beforeThe Institute,Hulu’s take on Stephen King’s11.22.63achieved something similar.
LikeThe Institute,11.22.63is more sci-fi than horrorand dabbles with intriguing concepts surrounding alternate timelines and the butterfly effect. While its exploration of time travel is never overly complex, it is packed with enough twists and turns and winning performances to keep viewers hooked.
11.22.63 Is One Of Stephen King’s Most Underrated Recent Adaptations
The Show Never Got Mainstream Attention
Even though most Stephen King TV adaptations have struggled to land in critics' good books,11.22.63seemingly defied the norm by earningan 83% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its 88% Popcornmeter score proves that most viewers enjoyed watching it even more than the critics. Despite the acclaim, however,11.22.63remains quite obscure.
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The Kill Floor
Unlike the more mainstream adaptations, like 1990’sItand 2013’sUnder the Dome,11.22.63 is still often overlooked. Considering the growing interest surrounding parallel worlds and alternate timelines in mainstream cinema, it seems like a good time for the underappreciatedStephen Kingshow to garner a new wave of attention and admiration for its exploration of sci-fi and alternate history.
The Institute
A kidnapped prodigy with special abilities, Luke, ends up at The Institute, while Tim, a former cop, seeks a new life in a nearby town. Their fates are inevitably linked.
11.22.63
Cast
A teacher travels back in time to prevent the Kennedy assassination but grows emotionally tied to his new life in the past.
