Here's why #ShadowAndBone is one of the best book to tv show adaptations ever:

This is what we, the "pushy, annoying book fans" mean by good adaptation. It's not about every line of dialogue resembling the book word for word, it's not about every character doing exactly what they did in the book, or every event taking place in the exact order that it did

in the book. It's about the feel, the atmosphere, the themes.
The three crows' story-line doesn't even exist in the books. Yet, what they do here never feels uncharacteristic. It doesn't go against their future or current character arcs, and it even adds to it beautifully.

Same with all the changes that were made with the rest of the characters.
The show is different from the books in many ways, hence, surprising for many fans. But this is not at the expense of changing the whole theme of what the Grishaverse is about.

Time and time again I have heard showrunners, creators, and producers of fantasy adaptations say:"oh well, the books were like that, but we're not making this for the book fans, so we decided to go down this other path instead. we're making our own show... also it happens to have

the exact same name as the books..." And most of the time they only do it just for the sake of "being different" without having the artistic vision to realize how damaging those changes can sometimes be. But unlike those, Shadow and Bone doesn't disrespect the book fans.

It doesn't change the basis of the characters, or the logic of the world yet it introduces them well enough, and without any boring and lazy exposition, for newcomers too. It has many foreshadowings of the stories yet to come, for those watching keenly, while being subtle enough

not to arouse any suspicion from those who are experiencing the story for the first time.
THAT'S how you respect your fans, THAT'S how you change the story while adapting, THAT is art.
I am so happy that there is finally a young adult fantasy show that I can recommend

to my friends without it being a little bit ironic, without it being just a guilty pleasure for all of us to laugh at and indulge; and instead having a competent show that actually makes you feel and care about things.

And all that is just about what a good adaptation it is, and not at all mentioning what a good story, character building, world building, and acting it has. Everyone should watch this show and I hope it gets renewed for more seasons.
End of thread.
#ShadowAndBone