9 TV Shows Better Than The Books They’re Based On

Adapting books for television is common, and usually, the book is better. Many TV adaptations fall short of the original story – shows like The Secret Circle and Hemlock Grove are prime examples of adaptations that didn’t quite work. Even when a book is already flawed, like in the case of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, the TV adaptation can sometimes make things even worse. However, these ten shows are exceptions; they actually surpass the quality of the books they’re based on.

Sometimes, a TV show comes along that really breaks the mold. Against all expectations, these shows offer captivating stories, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking ideas. They’re so good, they actually end up being better than the books or movies they’re based on.

Dexter

Although the novels become predictable, the Dexter television series stays engaging by offering more diverse plots and better-developed supporting characters. Michael C. Hall delivers such a convincing performance as Dexter that he feels incredibly lifelike. Importantly, the show wisely avoids some of the less effective elements from the books – specifically, it doesn’t give Dexter’s violent urges a supernatural explanation, which made him less compelling as a character in the novel version.

The books handle Harry’s internal moral code more consistently than the TV adaptation, which sometimes simplifies it. While this is an important element of the story, it’s a minor flaw overall, and the Dexter TV show remains superior to the books.

The 100

While both based on the same idea and featuring a handful of the same characters, the books and TV show ‘The 100’ are very distinct experiences. The TV series is much more successful than the books, which are inconsistent in quality. The show transforms the story from a teen romance within a dystopian setting into a harsh and gritty survival drama. Unfortunately, the books often seem to underestimate how smart their young adult readers are.

The books tend to resolve plotlines too fast and simply. However, the TV adaptation does a better job creating a consistently dark and frightening atmosphere of war and despair. What the books do better is focus on the romantic relationship between Bellamy and Clarke, and offer more social commentary.

Interview With The Vampire

One potentially divisive pick is Interview with the Vampire. While I enjoy both the original novels and the TV adaptation, the series improves on some outdated parts of the story. Specifically, the AMC+ show openly portrays the romantic relationship between Louis and Lestat as gay right away, instead of just hinting at it.

The new Interview with the Vampire series moves the story to the 20th century. A challenge for the show is making audiences sympathize with characters like Lestat and Louis, especially given their history of owning and feeding on enslaved people. Moving the setting to the 1920s actually fixes a potential problem that could have ruined the show. One of the biggest changes is Claudia’s age, but this was originally done by Anne Rice herself in the movie adaptation. Making Claudia 14 years old allows her to be more involved in the plot, which ultimately strengthens the story.

The Queen’s Gambit

The Netflix miniseries and the book it’s based on are nearly identical in terms of characters and what they say. However, the show, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, is arguably better for a few reasons. The book isn’t always easy to follow, especially if you don’t know chess. As someone who loves the game, I could picture the matches as they were described. But for viewers who aren’t familiar with chess, the show’s visuals make it much easier to understand.

Beth Harmon is a flawed and sometimes difficult character, both in the book and the show. While she can be challenging to like, Anya Taylor-Joy’s acting makes you want to follow her journey. The show also fleshes out the supporting characters more fully. One choice that didn’t quite work was having the men from her past cheer her on at the finale, but overall, the TV adaptation is much stronger than its weaknesses.

The Handmaid’s Tale

While “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a powerful novel, it’s somewhat limited because the story is told almost entirely through Offred’s eyes. This makes other characters feel underdeveloped, like symbols rather than fully realized people. Fortunately, the television adaptation improves on the book by showing events from multiple viewpoints, creating a richer and more compelling experience.

The Hulu series delves into the lives of numerous women living in Gilead. This broader perspective helps viewers truly grasp how terrifying this society is. Seeing oppression through the eyes of many different women – not just one character – makes it feel much more impactful. Plus, expanding the show allows us to witness the real results of those who fight back. Overall, experiencing the story as a TV series makes it feel incredibly real and relatable.

The Magicians

Many readers find the Magicians books hard to start because the main character, Quentin, is unlikeable and consistently makes poor choices. However, the TV show feels more like a team effort, with characters like Julia, Margo, and Penny being much better developed. While everyone is flawed and makes mistakes, the characters are still endearing. The cast has amazing chemistry, making their relationships as compelling as the individual stories. Plus, like many fantasy shows, the magic feels more believable on screen – Fillory seems more real, and the spells appear more intricate.

Bridgerton

Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are popular and well-loved, but many viewers find the Netflix series even more engaging. The show does a better job of portraying the Bridgerton family as a close-knit unit, while the books feel somewhat self-contained. Because of increased screen time, the characters in the TV adaptation are more fully developed and complex. In fact, some of the male characters are unlikeable in the books, but much more appealing on screen.

As a fan, I think the Netflix series really captures something special that the books only hinted at – it feels truly magical! The way they film everything, those gorgeous costumes, and the music all create this dreamy atmosphere. While Julia Quinn’s stories are fantastic to begin with, the show definitely takes the romance and elevates it to a whole new level. It’s just breathtaking!

You

Okay, let’s talk about Joe Goldberg – he’s awful, both on screen and in the books, no question! But honestly, reading the books is a whole other level of difficult. They really lean into the disturbing stuff, especially the sexual content, to an extent that felt way too much for me. It’s just…constant internal monologues about his inappropriate thoughts, and it’s deeply misogynistic and frankly gross. I know some people might actually prefer how extreme the books are, but I found it really upsetting. It already bothered me how easily viewers started romanticizing Joe in the Netflix series ‘You’, and the books just amplify that problem.

To be honest, I have no interest in watching a TV show centered around the character of Joe. I struggled to finish the books themselves. The show actually improved things by making Joe less unlikeable, which allowed them to create more compelling characters and plots that weren’t in the original novels. I found their version of Love Quinn much more engaging, and the later seasons of the show are significantly better stories than anything in the books.

The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries became a hugely popular series, launching two spin-offs with more potentially on the way. But it likely wouldn’t have reached this level of success if it had closely followed the original books – while interesting, they just weren’t as captivating. The TV show significantly improved many characters; for example, Elena Gilbert is much more likable on screen than in the books, where she comes across as unkind and superficial. Similarly, Caroline transforms from a bully in the novels into a beloved, supportive friend in the series.

The TV show explains its backstory much more clearly than the books, which often feel disjointed and confusing when it comes to its history. The original vampire family also isn’t as central in the books, but they became fan favorites and ended up starring in their own, even more successful, spin-off series than the original show.

2026-06-16 07:05