Hulu Original Miniseries Is One Of The Best Book Adaptations Ever
At this point, we’ve all suffered through the disappointment of seeing our favorite books adapted into films, television series, and other visual arts, and failing to capture the magic of the source material. Luckily, it seems as though the modern leaders of Hollywood are finally getting the hang of proper adaptations, with outings such as Catch-22. Catch-22 is a Hulu original mini-series that aired only six episodes back in 2019, in a near-perfect adaptation of the 1961 Joseph Heller novel of the same name.
Caught In A Catch-22
If Catch-22 sounds familiar to you, it’s likely because the book has become so ubiquitous that the title is now a common phrase as part of the modern lexicon. The turn of phrase is generally used to describe a contradictory situation in which a person is trapped between two conflicting forces, like being unable to get a job without experience, while also being unable to gain real-world experience without a job.
In the plot of both the book and the series, the Catch-22 in question centers on a United States Air Force pilot named John Yossarian, who becomes fed up with his position and his inability to leave his post.
Christopher Abbott As John Yossarian
The narrative of Catch-22 sees Christopher Abbott’s Yossarian attempting to quit his role as the pilot of a B-52 bomber on the grounds that the mission is far too dangerous. The young man has exceeded his initial mission requisites time and time again, though his superiors keep increasing the number of missions he needs to do, forcing him into a Sisyphean existence which will surely result in his death.
After attempting to be removed from the project on the grounds of insanity, Air Force physicians find that his inherent fear of death is itself a perfectly rational thought, which proves that he is fit to continue flying after all.
The Correct Way To Adapt A Novel
The narrative continues to spin out into abject chaos from there, as characters such as Ivor Orr, Milo Minderbinder, and Major Major Major Major continue to face pressure from the pencil-pushing bureaucrats in charge of the US Armed Forces.
By the time the brief series comes to a climactic finish, no well-meaning man is left unscathed by the malaise of the government’s absurd rigidity. While Catch-22 isn’t necessarily a perfect adaptation, and does tend to stray away from the book in its final episode, the show has been hailed far and wide for its ability to bring Joseph Heller’s works to life on the small screen.
Great Casting Choices
As a person who has been disappointed by television and film adaptations of written works time and time again, I found Catch-22 to be a breath of fresh air, with some truly hilarious performances from the likes of Kyle Chandler, Lewis Pullman, Rafi Gavron, Hugh Laurie, and George Clooney. If you’ve read the book, watching Hulu’s Catch-22 will enrich the experience, and if you’ve never read it, you may be shocked at just how funny and esoteric the series can get.
Stream Now On Hulu
REVIEW SCORE
Today, Catch-22 maintains an excellent 82 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is well deserving, as the series perfectly balances the comedy, frustration, and anti-establishment themes of the original novel while showcasing some powerful visuals that will change the way you read the text. For those interested in watching Catch-22 today, all six episodes can be streamed on Hulu.
