There are books that cater well to adaptation, like the works of Stephen King or George R. R. Martin, and then there are books that are so vast, sweeping, and epic that they get labeled “unadaptable.” But just because something is declared “unadaptable” doesn’t mean it’s impossible to bring to life on screen — Dune was considered unadaptable after David Lynch’s version underperformed, but Denis Villeneuve managed to breathe new life into it.
Now, one of the greatest works of literature ever has been subjected to the streaming TV adaptation treatment. One Hundred Years of Solitude, based on the novel of the same name by Gabriel García Márquez, is an immense tome that feels impossible to portray on the screen — that the Netflix series manages to is a veritable magic trick of transformation that comes across as completely effortless. The result is surprisingly digestible, interesting, entertaining, and above all, gorgeous to watch.
