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Issue #73 |
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Last Update May 20, 2013 |
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New York Stringer is published by NYStringer.com. For all communications, contact David Katz, Editor and Publisher, at david@nystringer.com |
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Mystery Series – Books vs TV by David Katz May 20, 2015 Two series of mystery books have been converted into TV mystery series, with very different results: Bones, and Miss Fisher's Murders. Bones is based on series by Kathy Reichs, about a forensic anthropologist that solves murders using the clues provided by the murder victims' skeletons. Miss Fishers' Murders take place in 1920's Australia, with the heroine being a socialite who rose from abject poverty to wealth when several of her English relatives died (of natural causes), making her father the heir to a baronetcy and great wealth. The Miss Fisher TV show adheres pretty closely to the books. A few changes are apparent: in the books, inspector Robinson is non-descript in appearance and happily married; in the TV show he is dishy, separated from his wife, and there is sexual tension between him and Miss Fisher. The Bones TV show merely uses the concept of a forensic anthropologist working with the police. The characters and venues are all different from the novels. It is Miss Fisher that is most successful, on the page and on the screen. The quality of acting is superb, and, following closely to the excellently written books, the writing of the TV series is also excellent. The acting for Bones TV is also superb, with each of the character's quirks well-portrayed. The TV writing is terrific, humorous and insightful. Angela's father is a genius concept; Stephen Frye as Booth's shrink after Booth shoots a truck-mounted clown head is a delight, and Sweets, Daisy, the various interns and Cam are all interesting and fun (and well-acted). The writing of the books, however, is disappointing compared to the TV show. The characters are nowhere as quirky and interesting, there is less humor, and the plots are generally less gripping. If the TV series did not exist, the books would be OK, but they suffer badly in comparison. What makes a TV adaptation of a book series successful? Above all, it is the quality of the writing. If the books are exceptionally well written, you can't go too far wrong by using the books as templates for the screenplays. If the books are so-so, the script writers would be well advised to riff on the basic concept, and not be too bound by the books' plotting, characters or venues. Miss Fisher is a prime example of one; Bones is an excellent example of the other. |
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