Television networks regularly acquire rights to adapt popular novels and literary universes, with some resulting in acclaimed productions that sustain viewer interest across multiple seasons. However, numerous adaptations have instead alienated audiences by substantially departing from the source material, creating products that fail to capture what originally drew readers to the stories.

The article identifies several noteworthy recent failures. Amazon's The Rings of Power achieved technical and visual acclaim but disappointed Tolkien enthusiasts through extensive lore deviations that disrespected the author's carefully constructed universe. The CW's Nancy Drew abandoned the protagonist's defining optimistic and resourceful character traits in favour of a pervasively dark atmosphere, whilst the network's Beauty & the Beast reimagined the classic fairytale as a murder mystery, losing the fundamental narrative appeal of the source material.