The 10 Best HBO Series Based on Books, Rotten Tomatoes

8 “Game of Thrones” (2011-2019)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 88%

Adapted from Song of Ice and Firefantasy novel series George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones Set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and the continent of Essos, it follows several storylines. One tells of the conflict between the rival candidates for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, the second tells of the actions taken by the exiled offspring to reclaim the kingdom, and the third describes the threat the impending winter poses.

Game of Thrones is a grandiose political epic in which the nature of power and authority is repeatedly questioned, and the viewer is given the opportunity to come up with their own disturbing answers. It’s also one of the few shows that gets more unexpected after each episode, keeping viewers on their toes all the time.

7 “Big Little Lies” (2017-)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89%

Based on the 2014 novel of the same name. Liana Moriarty, Big little lies starts when a single motherShailene Woodley) moves to a beautiful California seaside town, the seemingly perfect life of upper-class mothers in a competitive elementary school begins to fall apart, eventually leading to murder.

Big little lies There may be a fast-paced soap opera vibe at first, but by the last episode, it has turned into a twisted lament over the actual injustice women face. In addition, it is a harmoniously complex and surprisingly addictive drama that deftly crosses the line between mysticism and melodrama, backed up by the remarkable outstanding performances of the leading female cast.

6 “Remains” (2014-2017)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%

Based Tom Perrotta2011 novel of the same name Remains The action takes place three years after the “Sudden Departure”, a global catastrophe that resulted in the disappearance of 2% of the world’s population. In a fictional depiction of the city of Mapleton, New York, the show focuses on the Garvey family and their friends.

RemainsThere are sometimes moments of overwhelming beauty in the portrayal of mass sadness, despite an all-consuming sense of futility. While its dark tone and self-importance can be depressing to watch, the show is a masterfully crafted drama that aims high, often hits its mark, and transposes its source material to perfection.

5 “Underground Empire” (2010-2014)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%

Inspired by a 2002 non-fiction book. Underground Empire: Birth, Better Times, and the Corruption of Atlantic City To Nelson Johnson, Boardwalk Empire focuses on Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a politician who rises to prominence and leads Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition era in the 1920s and 1930s.

The show is characterized by extraordinary depth and scope, brutality, thought provoking and rich historical background, in which everyone will find something for themselves. Also, instead of being just a gangster show, Boardwalk Empire it is a historical drama that depicts a nation at a decisive moment in its history, drawing on the spellbinding performances of the actors, especially Buscemi.

4 “Sharp Objects” (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%

Based on the 2006 debut novel of the same name. Gillian Flynn,sharp objects follows Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), an alcoholic crime reporter recently released from a psychiatric hospital after several years of self-harm, returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate the death of two girls.

sharp objects it’s all about misogyny and agony, but it never feels exploitative as the plot is so sympathetic to female points of view. What’s more, thanks to a faithful adaptation of Flynn’s book, the series introduces a rarely seen on TV female antihero like Camille, whose faults are literally written all over her body. The show also offers a different perspective on what we’ve seen before about female rage.

3 “House of the Dragon” (2022-)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%

Based in part on a book by George R. R. Martin. Fire and blood, Dragon House serves as both a sequel and a prequel to Game of Thrones and takes place approximately 100 years after the Targaryen conquest unifying the Seven Kingdoms. The “Dance of the Dragons,” or the devastating war of succession that preceded the start of House Targaryen’s decline, is the main focus of the show.

fans Game of Thrones probably find Dragon House a suitable replacement, despite being slightly slower and at times harder to follow due to numerous time jumps and rework. The beauty of the program, beyond its strong writing, lies in the way its creator interprets every event in the original novel, told from unreliable sources, to present a coherent and engaging story.

2 ‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%

Based Elizabeth Strout2008 novel of the same name Olive Kitteridge follows the main character being played Frances McDormand, a well-intentioned anti-social and stern retired teacher based in the fictional seaside village of Crosby, Maine. The show depicts Olive’s difficult relationship with her husband Henry (Richard Jenkins), as well as the effects of mental illness and everyday life in a coastal city.

Some viewers may be disappointed by the slow pace and unconventional structure, but McDormand is great and the characters are adorable. It’s also one of the best television portrayals of clinical depression, especially how mental illness is passed down from generation to generation.

1 ‘Watchmen’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%

Based on the 1986 DC comic series of the same name. watchman The action takes place 34 years after the events of the comic and in an alternate world where masked vigilantes are considered criminals. The show follows Detective Angela Abar (Regina King) as she investigates the resurgence of a white supremacist terrorist organization inspired by the long-dead moral absolutist Rorschach.

watchman it’s a master class in storytelling because the components of the show and the comic work well together. What’s more, with this show, a nearly four-year-old comic book series was quickly pushed into the 2020s, posing problems with memory, tragedy, race, and power in America.