Best TV shows based on books

Like feature-length adaptations, long-form adaptations made for television need not strictly adhere to every single beat of the source material, as long as it captures the essence. Following is a list of the finest.

Shōgun (JioHotstar)

Originally announced as a limited series, the instantly successful 'Shōgun' garnered attention for its aesthetic, thematic, and narrative strengths, facilitating plans for launching a second and third season.

Ripley (Netflix)

Arguably the best adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's bestselling 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. Dripping with class from first frame to last, it's replete with complex characters, stunning locations, and Robert Elswit's gorgeous black-and-white photography.

The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)

From writer/director Scott Frank, the acclaimed limited series about a chess prodigy in the 1950s handled heavy themes. Author Walter Tevis, who wrote three acclaimed movie adaptations, drew from real-life inspirations.

Mindhunter (Netflix)

The non-fiction book 'Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit' provided the basis for two outstanding seasons bolstered by exceptional directing contributions from mainstream filmmakers David Fincher, Carl Franklin, and Andrew Dominik.

Dopesick (JioHotstar)

This gripping and informative Michael Keaton-fronted limited series was based on the non-fiction book 'Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America', a chilling account of the opioid epidemic and its aftermath.

The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)

Based on multiple Edgar Allan Poe works, the limited horror series helmed by Mike Flanagan has a corrupt businessman being forced to revisit chapters from his dark past when the day of reckoning finally arrives.

Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

Mick Herron's 'Slough House' novels gave us Sir Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb, the wry yet endearing, and irascible head of a ragtag group of MI5 agents—essayed by other memorable actors—nicknamed the “slow horses”.

Game of Thrones (JioHotstar)

Although the show strayed from story pathways envisioned originally by George R.R. Martin, and despite the rough edges and not-so-great finale, the show's immense popularity is a testament to its pulling power.