Disappointed by condensed arcs and changed ending in a streaming adaptation

[Sofia.L]

I just finished reading the acclaimed fantasy novel that's been adapted into a major streaming series, and I'm deeply disappointed with the creative liberties taken in the first season. They condensed two major character arcs into one and completely changed the ending of the first book, which I felt was crucial for the protagonist's motivation. For other fans of the source material, did these changes work for you in the context of a visual medium, or did they fundamentally alter the story's themes? How do you generally judge the success of a book-to-film adaptation—is fidelity to the plot most important, or capturing the essence and characters? Are there any adaptations you feel actually improved upon the original book, and if so, what did they do differently?

[DavidRW]

Totally get the frustration. In my view, the best adaptations preserve the book's core questions and character arcs, even if scenes get rearranged or merged for pacing. If the protagonist's motor—the why behind their choices—still tracks to the book's ending, the changes can feel purposeful rather than betray the source.