Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is a Page to Screen Freebie — meaning we come up with our own topic related to book adaptations. And here we go — ten TV adaptations that I’ve loved.
1) Outlander: Big surprise, right? I love the books, but I’m finding that I’m really loving the TV version too, even when it veers away from the plot and character details in the books. Great cast, gorgeous costumes and sets, overall excellent production! Four season in, this show is going strong.
2) A Discovery of Witches: Granted, this show hasn’t even finished its first season yet (in the US), but it’s really growing on me. Once again, great cast and gorgeous settings help a lot, but also the plotting and dialogue are really well conveyed in the TV version. I didn’t expect to like this as much as I do!
3) The Expanse: I’ve loved the books in the series (up to #3, which is as far as I’ve gotten), and think the TV adaptation is fantastic. So happy that’s it been picked up by Amazon for another season!
4) iZombie: Did you know that this CW series was based on a comic series? To be honest, I didn’t love the first book, but the TV version is great. I’m just sad that the current season will be the last.
5) The Walking Dead: I started watching the show before I read the books, but now I’m completely up to date on both. Call me crazy, but I’m still enjoying the show, despite a LOT of major bumps in the road lately. I’m hooked — too late to give it up now.
6) Big Little Lies: I think the HBO series was a great adaptation, and can’t wait to see what they do with it in the 2nd season, now that they’ll be off-book.
7) The Magicians: I hate to say it, but as much as I liked the books, I think I like the TV show even more. Despite the plot often being mind-boggling and impossible to follow, I just love the cast. and will watch them in whatever crazy situation comes their way. Bonus points for the random musical episodes.
8) Pride and Prejudice (BBC version): Well, of course! This is an oldie, but it sure stands the test of time. I feel the need to pull out my DVD set and rewatch every couple of years.
9) Game of Thrones: I hesitate to include this one, not that it’s not spectacular, but because my feelings about this final season are really conflicted, and I’m so worried about how the storylines will wrap up in the very last episode — this coming Sunday!
10) NOS4A2: Okay this one hasn’t aired yet, but it’s coming soon, and looks absolutely terrifying!
What are your favorite TV versions of beloved books? If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
The Walking Dead has had some great seasons! How do you think it will end?
My TTT.
So hard to say, especially since the network has said things like it could go another 10 years! Plus, there are supposed to be those Rick Grimes movies (which I can’t wait for).
Great list! There are so many here I want to watch, but I need to read the books first – I really want to give A Discovery of Witches another try before I watch the show, and I need to read NOS4R2 (it’s funny – in the UK it’s written with an ‘R’ rather than an ‘A’) before the show comes out because I think I’ll really like it. 🙂
Oh right, I’d seen that the title changes from US to UK — I wonder why? I really loved A Discovery of Witches (the book) when it came out as well as the rest of the books in the trilogy. Definitely recommended!
I think it’s maybe a pronunciation thing? NOS4R2 looks ‘right’ to me, whereas I’d want to pronounce it Nos-for-ay-too if I saw it with an A.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it, I’ll have to check it out soon! 😀
Ha ha, I guess we each think the other sounds funny.
I need to watch Big Little Lies. I can’t believe I haven’t!
They did such a good job with it! Amazing cast.
Yay!!! That adaptation of P&P is the best ❤ And I am currently watching GOT and I am loving it!
I tend to love most Austen adaptations. 🙂 I even loved Price & Prejudice & Zombies!
The Expanse is so good! I’m so glad Amazon rescued it. I can’t wait for the next season.
Me too! And I hope there will be more to come after that. Now I need to keep going with the books!
I had Game of Thrones, NOS4A2 and Outlander on my list, but also loved Big Little Lies, iZombie, Discovery of Witches and The Walking Dead
There are so many great book adaptations on TV right now!
I want to still read Big Little Lies and then watch it. (Also the Slap–similar type book).Good choices.
The TV show and the book are both worthwhile!
Great list! I absolutely love the adaptation of discovery of witches and the bbc version of pride and prejudice is my favourite (and definitely stands the test of time). And I hear you about GOT.
A Discovery of Witches (the series) has really grown on me — I was iffy after watching the first episode, but it really is good!
I recently listened to a podcast featuring an interview with Diana Gabaldon so now I’d like to try the Outlander books & TV show.
I love the Magicians TV show too! And yep, for the cast. Haven’t read the books but I’ve heard they are different.
Yeah, the books of The Magicians are really different. Not bad, but I’m just so in love with some of the TV characters that the book versions seem kind of flat by comparison. Definitely give Outlander a try! Such wonderful books.
Oh which characters from the TV show are your favorite? Mine are Margo, Eliot, Josh, Dean Fogg, Poppy, and the Sloth animal.
Elliot is my absolute favorite! I also love Margo and Penny, and lately Fen has really grown on me. And absolutely yes for the sloth (Agatha?) and all the rabbits.
Oh yes, Fen and the rabbits! I love the show’s quirkiness. Penny is slowly growing on me.
What you think of Penny + Julia? I wasn’t expecting that at all. I was hoping for Penny + Margo and didn’t expect Josh to factor in with her.
I’m not a fan of Penny & Julia, but I am getting a kick out of Margo and Josh!
lol! Same about Josh & Margo!