Have you read Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng? If yes, you probably can’t wait for the adaptation starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. You’re probably also eager to find out how the show differs from the book. From what we can tell so far, it seems pretty faithful. Here’s what we’ve been able to ascertain from the trailer and teasers.
If you haven’t read the book, beware: spoilers ahead!
Elena’s house stills burns down
The novel starts with Elena Richardson’s house in flames and this features in the series too. At the beginning of the book, a couple of characters guess who started the fire and the end reveals that they’re right. But this is about the only attention given to the fire. The series looks like it’ll make more of it, as well as the mystery behind who set it.
Elena and Mia are closer
These two characters (portrayed by Witherspoon and Washington in the show) don’t interact much in the book and they’re certainly not friends. While sticking to the tension and suspicion between the characters, the show does look like it may create something closer to friendship for the two. We assume this is probably to ramp up the tension once secrets start spilling, but also for the awesomeness of having Witherspoon and Washington on screen together as much as possible.
Mia is still a photographer
One of the things we loved about the book was Mia’s photography and the way Ng depicts and describes Mia’s work and passion as an artist. It looks like this will be a focal point for on-screen Mia as well. The series even exquisitely recreates a wonderful moment in the book where Mia leans out a window to take a photo of her daughter, Pearl, surrounded by pieces of her bed.
Mia is still hiding something
One of the most intriguing plotlines in the book is definitely whatever Mia is hiding. She’s a reclusive character who is constantly on the move and it seems like the show will take the same path. The book eventually reveals, with an in-depth flashback, what she’s hiding, and we can’t wait to see whether Mia will have the same secrets in the show.
The Bebe Chow-McCullough drama is still there
An important subplot in the book, the trailer – and a quick look at the cast list – reveals that these characters will be in the show too. Whether or not the drama plays out the same – or even revolves around the same subject – remains to be seen.
Watch Little Fires Everywhere every Monday, starting 30 March, at 21:00 on M-Net channel 101.