What Book Is The Show You Based On

Ever watched a show and thought, "Hey, this feels... familiar?" You’re not alone. Sometimes, that feeling hits you like a rogue avocado at brunch.

But Which Book Is It Really?

We all know the big ones. Game of Thrones? Clearly, it’s from those A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin. Duh. But what about those shows that are kinda based on something?

That’s where things get delightfully messy. We all have that one show we're convinced is secretly inspired by our favorite obscure novel.

The "Loosely Inspired" Culprit

Let’s talk Riverdale. A show that starts with Archie comics innocence. Ends up a fever dream involving cults, gargoyle kings, and maple syrup empires. I'm convinced it's secretly based on a rejected draft of a Stephen King novel. Or maybe a particularly vivid dream after eating too much pizza.

It's definitely not the Archie I remember reading as a kid.

Then there’s The Vampire Diaries. Sure, it's "based" on L.J. Smith's books. But I suspect the writers also consumed a heavy dose of Twilight fanfiction. And possibly a manual on teen angst. It’s a perfect blend of the melodramatic.

Don't even get me started on Shadowhunters. Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series is the source material. But sometimes it feels like someone just threw a bunch of fantasy tropes at the wall. And then filmed the result. Still entertaining, though!

The "They're Totally Hiding It" Theory

Now for my truly unpopular opinion: I believe Succession is secretly a modern adaptation of King Lear. Hear me out! A powerful patriarch, squabbling children vying for control, Shakespearean levels of backstabbing. It’s all there!

Roy family and Lear family, the similarities are just too obvious! Don't even try to deny it.

And what about The Good Place? Yes, it's an original creation. But doesn't it remind anyone of Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit? Four people trapped in a room, forced to confront their existential angst. Replace the room with a quirky afterlife neighborhood. And swap existential dread for frozen yogurt. Boom, same concept!

It’s basically philosophy disguised as a sitcom. Genius, really.

My Hilariously Wrong Conclusion (Probably)

Look, maybe I’m completely off base. Maybe Riverdale is just... Riverdale. Maybe Succession is simply a brilliant original work. Perhaps The Good Place just happens to explore similar themes. But where's the fun in that?

Half the fun of watching TV is dissecting it with friends. Debating its merits, analyzing its influences. And, of course, crafting wild theories about its secret literary origins.

So, next time you're watching a show, ask yourself: What book is this really based on? You might surprise yourself. Or at the very least, spark a lively debate. Happy watching!

"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't." – Mark Twain