John Adams HBO Miniseries Review

Having recently read John Adams by David McCullough, I felt the need to go back and re-watch the excellent HBO Miniseries based on the book. For those who haven’t seen it (and are intimidated by the 700+ page biography), I would highly recommend it! Currently, it can be viewed free by Amazon Prime members. My review of the book can be found at https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2020/03/john-adams-by-david-mccullough-book.html

The miniseries from 2008 received numerous awards including 13 Primetime Emmys and a slew of Golden Globes. Writers, directors, producers, actors, musicians, and others were recognized in almost every possible category. It is a wonderful adaptation of an amazing book. (And you know, we English teachers are usually highly critical of such projects!)

To begin, the show is historically accurate following closely to an incredibly researched book. Over the course of seven episodes, the story plays out in great detail and follows the rise of John Adams from a Boston lawyer and gentleman farmer to a long and illustrious career as a patriot, revolutionary, and politician. The love story of John and Abigail is wonderfully portrayed, as are his complex friendships with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

Secondly, it a beautiful experience. The music is fantastic, the costumes and scenery spot-on, and it is simply a captivating and well-told story. I confess, I probably cried at least once per episode. Adams lived in tumultuous times. In both his public and private lives, he experienced more than his share of tragedies. There were also times of triumph and throughout the series, I laughed and rejoiced, as often as I cried.

Finally, the best part of the series is the incredible cast! Paul Giamatti, as Adams, is absolutely amazing. Laura Linney makes a fantastic Abigail. Tom Wilkerson steals most of his scenes as Benjamin Franklin, and it is no surprise that all three won both Emmys and Golden Globes for the series. Stephen Dillane and David Morse are also great in their portrayals of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Almost every character is compelling and well cast.

In the end, as with the book, I came away with a great appreciation for the founding fathers and the sacrifices they made. John Adams, underappreciated in his lifetime to a large degree, remains today a rather unappreciated historical figure. If (like me before the book) you don’t know much about the man, take the time to watch this wonderful miniseries. And read the book too! Although honestly, in this case, the movie is just as good!

(Now that I’m so interested in the American Revolution, I’ve also begun listening to the soundtrack to the musical Hamilton at the suggestion of a friend. Not a big fan of rap or hip hop, but the concept is intriguing. Of course, in the Adams biography, Alexander Hamilton is an absolute scoundrel! Just saying.)