North American Lake Monsters

"3.5"

"Pretty interesting stories- I read after watching "Monsterland" on Hulu which is what it was adapted into. My ratings (spoilers after this):<br/>Best Accurate Adaptation: "You Go Where It Takes You"/"Port Fourchon, Louisiana", the plot is very similar and none of the changes in the episode were significant. The story had interesting characters- the story was clearer, the episode's scene where she leaves her child is more dramatic. I liked the added factor in Monsterland of having the character show up in different places afterwards with different names doing what she'd been inspired to in this story. It really tied things together.<br/><br/>Best Improved Adaptation in the Show: "The Monsters of Heaven"/"Newark, New Jersey", I really preferred the ending changes in Monsterland, it maintained the darkness but the creature killing itself made it more alien and the ending in the episode was beautiful. In the story, the ending left more of a sour taste in my mouth especially since I liked most of the story before it. <br/>I also preferred the slight changes adapting "The Good Husband" into "Plainfield, Illinois". It maintained the same bones but emphasizing the wife's personality prior to her sickness/death made it so much sadder. Also they added more elements in the episode that mimicked depression- it's made clear that the food that now tastes terrible used to be her favorite foods, she no longer cares about the activities she loves, adding her forgetting her daughter before the "I know who you are" makes that line more effective.<br/><br/>Best Story Not Adapted: "The Crevasse" I am always a sucker for Lovecraftesque stories. The characters here were likeable and complex, the setting was new and interesting, and the character decisions made sense. The abrupt endings that the book employed for almost all stories was most effective here since it made the hand dragging the dog and the mysterious staircase all the more mysterious.<br/><br/>Best Episode Not from the Book: "Palacios, Texas" I know not everyone liked this episode, but I loved the design of the mermaid/siren. It was both inhuman and alluring. The main character was sympathetic and the mermaid's powers made sense. I also liked how "New York" and "Palacios" were tied together, it made "New York" slightly better by showing the impact on real people. <br/><br/>Worst Episodes Not From the Book: "Iron River, Michigan"/"New Orleans, Louisiana" This is a tie since both were pretty awful. "New Orleans" was the worst since I love both Nicole Beharie and Hamish Linklater, the plot had promise, and none of that could save this confusing and lackluster episode. I feel like they should have spent more time with the moment with the monster since it doesn't really leave an impression on the viewer. "Iron River" also could have been good, but the witch was way too cartoonish compared to the monsters in the rest of the show."