The novel this is based on is one of the most infuriatingly well-written stories I’ve ever read, so I’m glad to find that the adaptation is a (mostly) successful translation. I have issues with some of the additions the show makes, as they tend to make the error of simply adding more drama for drama’s sake, and it’s disappointing to see some of the richer character arcs in the book downplayed in the show. Any adaptation will have to make cuts and changes, but some (not all, though) of the ones made here didn’t always serve the series as well as they could’ve and should’ve. Which is disappointing, because the book really does make you feel part of the narrative, and the show comes up just short of achieving something similar. But the adaptation nails the fundamentals it needed to, and carries all of the story’s sharp, empathetic, and appropriately painful examination of entitlement, masculinity, small town isolationism, and so much more. As the audience, you know who you’re supposed to dislike (and often abhor), but you’re also forced to consider where those people are coming from and acknowledge that, while ultimately responsible for their own actions, they are also shaped by the people and the world that came before them. And the cast do a tremendous job at selling that, too. Some of the character writing is a little lacking, but the most important figures benefit from some impeccable casting and nuanced performances. The cinematography also deserves praise, because the show captures the feel of this story just about flawlessly. There are plenty of stunning (and barren) landscapes to admire, but it’s the way the camera focuses (or doesn’t) on certain figures and objects that makes it clear just how committed the creators were to their adaptation. Just terrific, thoughtful, and controlled direction across the board, and the series owes a not insignificant portion of its success to it. The series may not reach the highs of the book, but it still has its highs, and delivers a solid adaptation that focuses its attentions in (most of) the right places.