Hey, guys!
Welcome to another entry for Thursday Movie Picks.
It’s a series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves, so if you want to join the party, head over to her blog! It’s pretty easy: check out each week’s topic and come up with 3 to 5 movies that fit the theme.
It’s the last Thursday of the month which means we’re doing TV instead of films. Specifically, today we’re talking about TV shows that are based on books!
#1 Good Omens
Let’s start with Good Omens. By now, I’ve read a couple Neil Gaiman books and watched their adaptations. Most of the time I really appreciate the idea but I don’t love the execution in written form. It was the same with Good Omens. The adaptation, though is amazing. They took all the bits I loved from the book and made them perfect. Also, David Tennant and Michael Sheen (!!!).
#2 The Umbrella Academy
I’m in a similar boat with this one. I read the comics and found them a bit confusing but I loved the idea. Netflix really nailed it with this adaptation. The two season we have are amazing, I love the soundtrack of both but was especially excited about the setting and costumes of the second one.
#3 Watchmen
Another brilliant one. While the movie was slightly misguided the Watchmen TV show is amazing. Strictly speaking, it’s not a direct adaptation of the comics but rather picks up after them. I still wanted to include it in this list, though, as it’s just soooo good!
What’s your favorite TV show based on a book? Let me know in the comments!
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin‘, Tumblr, Goodreads, Letterboxd or Instagram!
The Punk Theory 
Watchmen was so good! I loved what they did with that. I’ve never heard of your first pick, and couldn’t get into The Umbrella Academy unfortunately.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Watchmen really blew me away, especially after the mess that was the movie adaptation. 😂
LikeLike
I’ve been obsessed with a discovery of witches lately. I love the show, just finished the second season, and am off to read the book now. I think both the books and the series are amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have that one on my to-watch/to-read list! My main problem is that I always want to read the book first but you know the struggle – so many books so little time 😂
LikeLike
The Umbrella Academy is the only one I watched but I stopped after the first season because I didn’t enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear that! The second season was 100% my thing just for the costumes and the music alone. 😂
LikeLike
I haven’t seen any of these yet though Good Omens is on my watchlist because of Michael Sheen. I HATED the film version of Watchmen so even if I had a chance I’ll never watch the show. The Umbrella Academy is new to me but I don’t have Netflix so chances of seeing it are slim.
Lots of ways to go with this so….It’s a theme within the theme this week; all biographical adaptations starring Lee Remick, a huge favorite of mine. A major film star in the 60’s (The Days of Wine and Roses, Anatomy of a Murder) she moved between film (The Omen, The Europeans) and TV in the 70’s then focused almost exclusively on television in the 80’s becoming one of the queens of the miniseries genre until her 1991 death from cancer at only 55. She was Emmy nominated for this trio.
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974)-Seven-part miniseries adaptation of the Ralph G. Martin biography of the same name. Following the life of American heiress Jennie Jerome (Lee) from her first teenage meeting with British aristocrat Randolph Churchill, their often rocky marriage, her rise in political circles both as Randolph’s wife and later the strong influence she exerted over son Winston while living a colorful and complicated life of her own.
Haywire (1980)-Based on eldest daughter Brooke’s memoir this two-part miniseries details the complex, troubled and dysfunctional marriage and home life of stage and film star Margaret Sullavan (Lee) and super-agent Leland Hayward (Jason Robards Jr.) and their three children. Powerfully told but not a happy tale-between the couple they had 9 marriages (ironically Leland’s last wife (of 5) was the ex-wife of Winston Churchill’s son.) Margaret Sullavan and her two younger children died by their own hand. Henry Fonda was Maggie Sullavan’s first husband and the pair (and their children) remained close throughout her life-actress Bridget Fonda is named in memory of youngest daughter Bridget Hayward who was romantically involved with Peter Fonda at the time of her death.
Nutcracker: Money, Murder, Madness (1987)-Three-part miniseries adapted from Shana Alexander’s true crime book about Frances Schreuder (Lee), an amoral and rapacious New York socialite who manipulated and dominated her sons, ultimately pushing one into madness and the other to murder her own father, multi-millionaire industrialist Franklin Bradshaw, for financial gain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, the Watchmen movie. Let’s just pretend it doesn’t exist, ok? 😂 I don’t think I know any of your picks but the Nutcracker one sounds especially intriguing to me!
LikeLike
Watchmen is a great pick! I love Good Omens (the novel) and keep meaning to watch the series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed the show tremendously. But then again nothing with Sheen *and* Tennant in it could ever be a failure to me. 😂
LikeLike
I have watched The Umbrella Academy and Good Omens, but I have only read the first one. I also found it confusing and I actually didn’t vibe with the comics that much, but I love watching the show!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wanted to like the comics, but you put it perfectly – we didn’t vibe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Wrapping it up for July | The Punk Theory
Watchmen is indeed amazing. Thanks for including it, here. I’ve seen The Umbrella Academy here & there when I see my daughter watching. I enjoyed what I’ve watched, but haven’t decided to go all in, yet. Just so many shows and movies to watch. Haven’t seen any of your first pick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Good Omens and the 2 stars have great chemistry together. It was so well done and I love the animated beginning with that great music. Did you hear they are making a sequel? I will look forward to it. I haven’t seen the other 2.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I heard! I’m very excited about that. 😀
LikeLike