5 Underrated Shows That Were Books First

 

    What do you first think of when you think of a show that was a book first? Goosebumps, Father Brown, Grey's Anatomy, there are so many. With a lot of novel stories coming out to us this year in the form of shows, here's my list of underrated shows that people should see. Most of the shows that I'm talking about in this list can be found on HBO Max, Netflix, and Hulu. If you don't have those, sorry. 

5: The Last Kingdom

    Based on Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories, The Last Kingdom follows Uhtred, a Saxon who is raised as a Dane, and his journey from becoming an outcast to being the King of Northumbria's sword and shield and his dream of getting the lands he lost as a boy. This show is amazing! Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred is spectacular. The way they portray 9th-century England before it was formed is really cool. The writing in this show is so good. I recommend it for those who love the show Vikings and thought Vikings Valhalla needed an upgrade. The show ended a year ago but it has a movie that I also recommend but not before watching the show. If you watch the movie before the show you will be utterly lost. You can find the show and the movie on Netflix.

4: Boardwalk Empire

    Based on the true crime novel of the same name by Nelson Johnson, Boardwalk Empire follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson and his journey from Atlantic City treasurer to Mafia boss during Prohibition. Though this show earned many Emmys during its run on HBO in 2010, the people talking about this show have died down. Maybe it's because everyone who wanted to see this show has seen it, but I think people who, like me, were too young to watch it when it was new and popular should visit this show to see what it's all about. If you like Peaky Blinders, you'll like this show. Steve Buscemi as Nucky does literal Emmy award-winning work, and I wish this had bolstered his career in drama. I can't talk about this show enough. Please give it some more love. You can find it on HBO Max.

3: The Fall of the House of Usher

Authors note: My sister wrote this portion of the list. She really wanted to gush about this show. 

    If one is a fan of the macabre then this is the show to watch. Following a sequence of stories surrounding the Usher family which yes, the titular story does come into play in this show in the greatest way, The Fall of the House of Usher is an episodic greatness. Trying to unravel the mystery of what is going on with this family while watching various Edgar Allen Poe stories come to life was truly enjoyable. Each episode shares a title and elements from each Poe story while one specific not related to the title story subtly weaves its way through each episode (if you know you know), and it was really cool to see. Even if one is not familiar with the works of Poe, there are still aspects to appreciate such as the creepy atmosphere, the music choices (especially in a massive scene in episode 2), and the beautifully nightmarish set design. Many viewers on Rotten Tomatoes agree that this show is a masterpiece. It definitely left an impression on this Poe fan. You can find it on Netflix.

2: Shogun

    Based on the book of the same name by James Clavell, Shogun is set in 1600 Japan and follows Lord Toranaga and his fight to keep himself alive after the council of regents turns against him, and an English ship navigator who is captured. I will admit, I'd never heard of Shogun before the Hulu adaptation, but I think more people should watch it. The actors who play Toranaga and Blackthorn (or Anjin as he's referred to most in the show), Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis, respectively, crush it in their roles. But the stand out that everyone praises as they should is Anna Sawai as Mariko. Some people may recognize her as a J-Pop singer but her acting in this show is Emmy-Nomination worthy. The way tensions are created and raised is amazing. The character arcs, writing, and deaths are awesome, and I'm so glad they're continuing the show with more seasons instead of leaving it as a miniseries like they were going to. As mentioned before, you can find this show on Hulu.

1: Alice In Borderland

    Based on the manga series of the same name, Alice In Borderland follows Arisu, a video-game-obsessed young man with high intelligence, and his friends as they're accidentally transported to an alternate version of Tokyo, Japan. But the world they were transported to isn’t the world they lived in. It's all death games that are activated by cards, and if someone survives a game, they're given extra visas to live and play again. This show is trippy, my peeps. It's wild. All the games are strategic and tension-filled. The characters are so genuine and real that it makes you connect to all of the characters, especially the ones that don't make it instantly. Two seasons are out now, and the third and possibly last will premiere in December. I hate we have to wait so long, but the Christmas season will be bloody for me this year for I will be tuning in. If you haven't seen it yet check it out. You can find it on Netflix.

And that is all everyone! Let me know what your underrated shows that were books first are!