But this is Literary Hub, after all, and so as the weather gets cooler, we’ll be hunkering down with some long form literary adaptations. The only question is: which ones? Earlier this year, we asked for your help determining the best modern literary film adaptation, and now we’re back to consider the best literary adaptations* ever to grace the small screen, through what is obviously the most scientific and objective method of selection: a bracket.
We separated our favorite TV adaptations into four loose quadrants, as the format requires: Carnage, where you’ll find shows that trade in violence, brutality, and horror; Carnal, where we put the shows that foreground sensual, sumptuous pleasures of the body (like sex, but also food, and also gossip, and also sports); Cerebral, where you’ll find the shows you have to actually watch instead of looking at your phone; and Cozy, which is just what it says on the tin. (There is some overlap, as you might imagine; we’ve made judgement calls as necessary.) As always, we offer a disclaimer: These initial draft picks are based on the tastes and interests of the Lit Hub staff. We’re very sorry if your favorite show isn’t here, but not really, because you’re probably wrong. So what are you waiting for?
Voting is open now, and will continue throughout the week as the field narrows. Yes, we’ll be here a while; might as well pop something in the microwave. But first, pick your favorites below. *Anything adapted from a book, graphic novel, or short story counts here; the original text doesn’t have to be fiction, or “literary” in the generic sense.
It’s simple: for every match-up, pick your favorite. We’re looking for the best show, not necessarily the most faithful adaptation—though that may factor into your thinking. In short, go with your gut.
We’ll tabulate up the results using our best liberal arts major math, and bring you the results tomorrow. → Round of 64: Voting open now until tonight at 7:00 PM EST Round of 32: Voting open Tuesday, November 10th from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST Round of 16: Voting open Wednesday, November 11th from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST Round of 8: Voting open Thursday, November 12th from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST The Quarter Finals: Voting open Friday, November 13th from 10:00 AM, until Sunday November 15th at 7:00 PM EST The Finals: Voting open Monday, November 16th from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST And the winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 17th! There are little voting forms at the bottom of each match-up. Simply click and move along, like changing the channel on your TV.
Weiss changed the game with their adaptation of George R.R. (for Really Really Slow At Finishing the Next Book) Martin’s already popular books, bringing the swords, dragons, morally complex characters, and unrepentant violence to life with big budget visuals and great performances. The books’ soap-opera-dense political intrigue and “kill ‘em all” approach to character development felt remarkably fresh in 2011—you never knew who was going to die, or have sex!—and it’s hard to overstate the show’s popularity: For years of Sundays, everyone you knew was going to a Game of Thrones watch party. Some of the shine came off when the show’s plot outran the books—and the writers couldn’t stick the landing—but when there are real children in the real world named Daenerys, it’s hard to deny the GoT legacy. –JF How I Built My Own Game of Thrones Iron Throne • The 50 Best Fictional Dragons, Ranked • In Praise of Remixing Shakespeare This Mike Flanagan–helmed miniseries loosely adapts Shirley Jackson’s masterpiece of horror, alternating between the past and present as five adult siblings continue to be haunted by what they experienced as children while living at Hill House.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
