To Read or Not to Read: My Confession as a TV-First Fan

There's a debate as old as the small screen itself: do you read the book before you watch the adaptation?

For years, I proudly stood on the side of "read the book first." It felt like the right thing to do, a badge of honor for a true fan. I'd smugly tell friends, "The book is always better," as I critiqued every scene that didn't match the movie in my head.

But then, something changed.

I started watching shows that were so good, so compelling, that the books were an afterthought. The world-building was so rich, the characters so alive, that the TV show became my entry point into the story. A TV show like Silo didn't just tell me a story; it transported me to the depths of a futuristic society and left me hanging on every secret. The show was so good that it left me with a hunger for more—a craving for the full, uncut story that only the books could provide.

This new approach has completely changed my perspective. Watching the show first allows me to enjoy a story without the baggage of expectations. I'm not mentally comparing every detail or getting annoyed by a character's appearance. I'm just enjoying the story as it unfolds. And when the credits roll, I get to embark on a new adventure: reading the books to uncover all the hidden layers, backstories, and lore that the screen couldn't capture.

So, where do I stand now? I'm a little of both. There are still some classics I'll read first, but I'm no longer afraid to let a great show be my introduction to a new world. The journey from screen to page is just as rewarding, if not more so, than the other way around. It's a second chance to fall in love with a story all over again.