An embodiment of a method of requesting and receiving a media stream can include, as performed by a computing device, responsive to a control input to control an enhanced playback mode for a media stream, determining a video frame to display in the enhanced playback mode of the media stream; requesting the determined frame from a media source over at least one connection between the computing device and the media source; predicting a second video frame for the enhanced playback mode; and requesting the predicted second frame from the media source over the at least one connection before receiving the determined video frame over the at least one connection.