Casting? Everything. The rest? Iffy.

As someone who’s a moderate fan of the books (with Hannah & Garrett being my favorite couple bc I relate to both of them in different ways) AND, frankly, as a singer with big boobs, a bob & a fangirl crush on Belmont Cameli, I went into this knowing there would be enough things I’d enjoy to counteract some of the expected cringe moments & departures from the book. I also just enjoy shows like this & have been looking for a new one to fill the void, so I’m one of the last people who *wants* to be feeling anything other than ecstatic right now.

But honestly even some of the things I enjoyed were either cut short (DEATH to the montages of important moments instead of playing them out 🙄) or circumvented in ways that weren’t as satisfying as they could/should be. It’s totally their prerogative to want to surprise book fans & not have full scenes be lifted straight from the pages, but there were some PERFECT moments in the show for a line or two from the book to be casually added into the mix & they just bypassed them. The soundtrack was fine but nothing particularly memorable; Ella’s voice is LOVELY, though.

I still stand by the casting — the story choices, pacing & awkward characterization shifts were the main detractors for me. A handful of more intimate moments were genuinely touching. I’m sure I’ll revisit s1 more than once (I’m on my second full watch-through now) & I’ll casually watch future seasons, but it’s just a bummer bc they could’ve done more with this cast & this source material.