2022 gave us a grand list of differing adaptations in the film and TV show industry. As the year is coming to a close, we here at Bookstr thought we should compile all our favorites that we watched during this year. Here are 12 adaptations that you should definitely check out if you haven’t already!
Heartstopper (Netflix)
This show is the sweetest teenage love story I’ve ever watched. Charlie and Nick are so freaking adorable and watching them fall in love is literal goals. Not to mention, we are getting more LGBTQ+ representation done the right way. It feels natural, and the characters are fleshed out in a way to show us there are different sides to people when they get a crush. After binging the whole show in a night, I realized this love story was based on a comic series! Alice Oseman’s illustrations and easy storytelling give us romance with such ease!
The Batman (Theaters/HBOMax)
I am a massive Batman fan, so it should come as no shock that The Batman made it on the list. I’ve watched all Batman-related Movies/TV Shows, and I have always been a fan of any of his comic storylines. I was apprehensive about Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the Dark Knight, but overall I think he did an amazing job as Batman.
His Bruce Wayne portrayal is A LOT different from his comic counterpart, so I’m still getting used to this ‘emo’ Bruce. I liked the reproach of a detective noir that the film brought, especially considering how well the Riddler fit into the scenes. He’s a villain that’s usually laughed at, but they made him a believable bad guy. And I can’t stop gushing about the chemistry between Batman and Catwoman! It was very fun to watch!
-Sierra Jackson, Editorial
Along for the Ride (Netflix)
Based on my favorite Sarah Dessen novel, I feel like this is one of the best adaptations of books to movies out there! Even though not every single detail was kept in the movie, they really kept the spirit and the heart of the story alive. It has all the summery and romantic vibes of a coming-of-age novel mixed with all the complex characters that Sarah Dessen is known for!
Dani Shembesh, Editorial
Bridgerton Season 2 (Netflix)
I can’t get enough out of the storytelling of Bridgerton. I was a huge fan of Shonda Rhimes’ early work in Grey’s Anatomy, so I knew I’d have to give Bridgerton a try, and I loved it! I know a lot of people like it because of the spiciness element, but the emotions and character arcs are the things that keep me tuned in. The scene with Anthony panicking after a bee stings Kate is burned into my mind. Season two was incredible, and I’m anxiously awaiting season three. My girl Penelope deserves a win!
Jenna Sassenrath, Editorial
Vampire Academy (Peacock)
A second adaptation of the book series, Vampire Academy was full of political intrigue and backstabbing drama. As an avid fan of Richelle Mead’s books, I was excited by the changes made to the show because they brought her books to life in an entirely new way. Peacock’s version of Vampire Academy had everything.
They had less of the schooling aspect, but they still had the important core aspects and relationships that are vital to the plot of the books. I loved how they flushed out the characters. I would love to see more of the character’s development on screen instead of having them develop off-screen. But overall, I love the changes to Vampire Academy that brought Mead’s books to life, especially with the addition of out-of-book romances developing.
Alexanderia Wadsworth, Editorial
I read the books, saw the movie adaptation, and was curious about the TV show. I didn’t know what to expect. I really enjoyed the adaptation, especially the costume/fashion design. The show kept me guessing about what was going to happen next. The only thing that bothers me is the name Dominion (the name of the world where the vampires live) because my mom started writing a book with the same title at least 5-6 years ago. If the proofreader/editor/spell checker hadn’t forgotten to save the files, then that would have been one of her books that she published.
Christina Hardesty, Graphics
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
I first read these books when I was a thirteen-year-old hopeless romantic, and this TV show allowed me to feel that sense of giddiness for these fictional characters and their dramatic love story, once again. This was an incredibly faithful and fun adaptation, and I couldn’t have asked for a better Belly.
Lindsay Johnson, Social
Little Women (2022) (Netflix)
This is a Korean drama loosely based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel. It has characters of different names that undergo different experiences but centers around the same themes of perseverance, sisterhood, and self-values versus family values. It was phenomenal and tear-jerking to watch. I’m excited for season two!
Olive Garcia, Editorial
Chainsaw Man Season 1 (Crunchyroll)
The manga came out a couple of years ago, and I was really excited to hear that it was getting an anime adaptation. This shounen series is full of action-packed scenes and complex characters, so there’s never a dull moment watching this show. MAPPA Studio has done well in bringing the story to life. I can’t wait for the next season!
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean (Netflix)
Jojo’s is definitely my favorite manga/anime to date. Netflix released the last chunk of episodes this October and I was so excited! I binged it all in one night. This season had a powerful female MC, which can be rare for a shounen series. This is yet another anime adaptation that leaves you either at the edge of your seat or dying with laughter!
Xiomara Demarchi, Editorial
The Wonder (Netflix)
I will be completely honest, I had not heard of the book by Emma Donoghue until I heard about its adaptation starring Florence Pugh, and I am for all things Florence Pugh. So I quickly checked the book out at my local library and read it within a week. When the movie came out, I was not disappointed by Florence’s performance. (I never am, let’s be real)! The movie definitely captured Donoghue’s darkness and conflict in the book, which was just as chilling to read about as it was seeing it on screen.
Griffyn Tijamo, Graphics
Mob Psycho 100 Season 3 (Crunchyroll)
Ever since the first season aired, I’ve been a huge fan of this series. Though the flashy animation is what first caught my eye, the heart of the story is what makes the show for me. The parental relationship between the shy middle schooler Mob and his mentor Reigen is one of my favorite aspects of any show ever. I’m so glad my high school self discovered this when I did. It’s such a relatable coming-of-age story that can make you laugh and cry within the same scene. Now that I’m older, I’m glad to see the third and final season went above and beyond my expectations and left longtime fans with a perfect ending.
Kylie Eng, Video
House of the Dragon (HBOmax)
House of the Dragon exceeded my expectations and renewed my faith in adaptations of George R.R. Martin’s works. I had very low expectations for the show when it was first announced. I saw it as HBO’s way of trying to save face after that dumpster fire that was season 8 of Game of Thrones. But by the end of the series premiere, I was hooked.
It was clear the writers and showrunners were taking the show and its pretty straightforward source material seriously, and damn did they do a great job. House of the Dragon deserves the praise it’s getting, and actors Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, and Emma D’Arcy were fantastic. You can bet I’ll be singing their praises (and the shows) all throughout this upcoming awards season. DRACARYS!
Savannah Swanson, Editorial
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon Prime)
There was a lot of speculation about how this series would turn out, and I must say, it was so much more than I could’ve hoped for. Between the phenomenal cast, stunning scenery, and exceptional storytelling, the show instantly became a favorite of mine. Tolkien is hard to adapt especially given the writers for this adaptation didn’t have too much to go on content-wise.
Set in the second age, we really don’t know too much about this time in Middle-Earth. The writers and directors gave us a story worth remembering. I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat. Don’t even get me started on how much I loved covering the show each week for Bookstr. The tweets were always spot on. I hate that it’s going to be so long before we get season 2, but that just means it’ll be even more awesome when we finally get to see it!!
Emilee Calametti Quinn, Editorial
For more roundups for the years ending, click here for books that impacted us in 2022! For more adaptation picks, click here!