“It was ok, but the book was definitely better.”
How often do we say this? It’s almost always true.
We think that somehow this time will be different. This will be the time that the show or the movie just blows us away.
And oftentimes, we are left with, “Meh...it was good, I guess…”
I’ve watched the first few episodes of the CBS All Access miniseries The Stand.
The book is better.
What is it that draws us back to watching adaptations on TV, when we know they will likely disappoint?
I truly do not know.
In the past year, Abbie and I have gotten into listening to audiobooks on Audible. I can’t help but think we are tapping into something deeply ingrained in us by listening to stories. Until recently, in the history of the world, stories were passed down orally. There is something to that.
Whether reading or listening, I think we all see something different in our mind’s eye. The medium allows for such detail.
Maybe it’s that the medium is just different. You can get more detail of what a character is thinking, their motivations. At the same time, one establishing shot can cover 4 pages of description.
But this gets to a deeper question - why do we continue doing something that we are almost certain will disappoint?
The first 4 episodes of The Stand have been nothing special. Why am I still planning on watching the final 5?
I don’t know.
I loved the audiobook of 11.22.63. The Hulu series was nothing special. Yet, I watched the entire thing.
Why?
Through books and audiobooks, I have been transported to the world of The Wheel of Time, Middle Earth, and followed Mitch Rapp’s adventures around the world. It’s great.
I’m sure I will be disappointed, but I will also likely watch The Wheel of Time show when it comes out on Amazon, whenever that is.
The Terminal List, too.
And I probably won’t wait for others to say it’s good.
Does it come down to a serious case of FOMO? I watch The Stand, because maybe this will be the episode where it becomes awesome.
Maybe this post is a long way of saying nothing. Maybe I’m thinking deep down that I need to watch less TV and read more. Reading and audiobooks are always more satisfying.
How many more books and stories could I experience if I wasn’t wasting my time on disappointing TV and movie adaptations of the books and stories that I love? Even when they’re good, the book is almost always still better.
Just something to think about.