You’ve binge-watched the shows… but do you know the stories behind them?

Millions of us have watched these shows, but few know the powerful books behind them. Not only that, but many of the original stories actually differ from what we’ve watched on screen. Discover what you didn’t know about your favorite shows and what they’re really all about.

Do you enjoy escaping from your everyday life through epic adventures with mythical creatures? Then you might’ve watched the extremely successful epic fantasy drama, "Game of Thrones", which aired on HBO and is currently available on streaming.

It’s a visual masterpiece based on George R.R. Martin’s novels titled "A Song of Ice and Fire." These books feature complex political maneuvering among families fighting for the Iron Throne, endless supernatural elements such as the mysterious threat from the frozen North, and morally gray characters who are endearing yet disappointing. Some differences from the original story include new characters and, sometimes, entire plotlines being cut out.

Are you one of those people who likes to reflect on how far human cruelty can go? Then maybe you know about "The Handmaid’s Tale", which aired on Hulu. It's an expanded version of the novel of the same name, written by the well-known Canadian author Margaret Atwood.

The original text was published in 1985 and is considered a groundbreaking speculative and dystopian drama. Hulu’s production then became an award-winning adaptation that builds heavily on the book's initial foundation of terror, subjugation, and resilience experienced by the main character, June (Offred), in the theocratic Republic of Gilead, although less centered on June’s famous internal monologues and more on other aspects like the "Colonies" and the Commanders' secret lives.

For those who love spending time with family and friends, this is an all-time favorite. The NBC series "Little House on the Prairie", developed by Michael Landon, is a legendary adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical novels (the first of the same name and the follow-up book titled "On the Banks of Plum Creek").

It’s important to note that the original books presented an authentic, grounded look at 19th-century pioneer survival, including more grueling realities and extreme danger, and the TV show leans into a broader family drama, balancing day-to-day country hardship with deeply emotional and heartwarming storytelling focused on romance and community.

Romantic stories tend to be a big favorite. For all those who love love and are open to a bit of fantasy too, "Outlander", which aired on the Starz network, is a fantastic choice. The show is a condensed adaptation of the best-selling novels by author Diana Gabaldon.

These books are an epic romantic fantasy about time-travel, romance, and war. They center around a nurse named Claire in 1945 who visits Scotland. She then touches a magical stone, and suddenly finds herself in the 18th century. As the story develops, referencing real historical events, she shares a deep love with a Scottish warrior named Jamie, and they fight to stay together across time and space.

Have you ever longed to follow clues and solve mysteries? Then you probably love all things Sherlock. The BBC show adaptation of the same name has been a brilliant reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic 19th-century books for modern times, swapping notepads for cell phones.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original texts include four novels and 56 short stories written between 1887 and 1922, creating the modern mystery genre and establishing the famous Mr. Holmes as the ultimate master of deduction; that is, the art of reaching big conclusions from small clues. The stories are famous for the detailed clues that invite the reader to play the detective game alongside Holmes and his close friend, Dr. John Watson.

Money troubles and social class are other issues that affect all of us, and the 1995 "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries is a brilliant adaptation of the timeless novel of the same name, written by Jane Austen in 1813.

The show is considered a gold standard of TV adaptations, made up of six episodes that perfectly capture the romance and social rules of the book, which follows the witty and intelligent Elizabeth Bennet as she falls in love with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy. The novel is especially famous for showing why people often let their egos get in the way (pride) and judge others too quickly (prejudice).

And for the endless romantics, here we have another option: the Netflix adaptation of "Bridgerton", based on a collection of eight novels written by Julia Quinn, each story focusing on a Bridgerton sibling's search for true love.

While the books are considered entertaining, many fans argue that the TV show offers a richer version of the original stories, maintaining their essence while expanding the narrative into a more exciting on-screen experience, including deeper characters, heightened drama, visual magic, and powerful soundtracks.

Beyond usual crowd favorites, viewers often want to watch something a bit more twisted and are intrigued by exploring what’s behind a murderous mind. For those situations, Showtime’s "Dexter" is perfect.

The show is based on the book "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay. It follows Dexter Morgan, who by day works for the police and solves murders, and by night, he is a vigilante serial killer who hunts other murderers. The first season closely follows the novel, but as the show continues, it begins to differ, presenting deeper character arcs and alternate explanations, such as Dexter’s desire to kill being the result of psychological trauma (instead of the mysterious dark ‘power’ described in the text).

To broaden the scope, let’s look at shows that also cover historical situations and, in this case, a story concerning the game of chess. We are talking about Netflix’s show "The Queen’s Gambit", which is a very faithful and stunning adaptation of Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel of the same name.

Both tell the gripping story of Beth Harmon, an orphan and chess genius who rises to become a chess master, while she battles addiction to drugs and alcohol, the pressures of fame, and sexism in the male-dominated world of chess.

Last but not least, to round out the list with a fantastic show that centers on politics, Netflix’s 2013 "House of Cards", based on the 1989 novel by British author Michael Dobbs, starring Kevin Spacey and Robyn Wright, was extremely popular.

The original story follows a British politician named Francis Urquhart and his thirst for power. In contrast, the TV show focuses on Frank and Claire Underwood, a ruthless and power-hungry couple living in Washington, D.C. After Frank is denied a cabinet appointment, he begins a quest, at any cost, to climb the ladder to the presidency.

We just know that we know nothing

12 facts that people often get wrong

No one can claim to know everything, but most people go through life confident about certain things. However, some of these widely held beliefs are not actually correct, despite their popularity. Let’s have a look at some "facts" you might have gotten wrong!

The idea that insects—particularly mosquitoes—are not animals is widespread, but it’s also incorrect. In fact, insects are the most diverse group within the Animal kingdom, with more than a million species described and representing more than half of the animal population of the planet.

The mistake comes from not considering that "fruit" is not only a culinary term but also a botanical one. Botanically, a fruit is the part of a plant that develops from a flower and contains seeds. This makes tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, and many other foods that we call vegetables actually fruits in the scientific sense.

Countries have a political delimitation, while continents are divided according to geographical criteria. The Russian Federation is the largest country on Earth, bordering fourteen other countries and extending across eleven time zones. It spans across a good part of Eastern Europe, but also across the Ural mountains—one of the recognized borders between Europe and Asia—and stretches deep into northern Asia.

While cold weather isn’t harmless, it is not the direct cause of illnesses like the flu, which are caused by viruses. In colder months, people tend to spend more time indoors and often avoid ventilating rooms, creating conditions that make it easier for viruses to spread and cause illness.

Bats might not prefer to be out during bright daylight, but this does not mean that they are blind. In fact, many species have excellent eyesight, though it is adapted to low-light or nighttime conditions. On top of that, bats also use echolocation, which allows them to navigate and hunt with remarkable precision in complete darkness.

The belief that you must wait a full day before reporting someone missing is a myth popularized by movies and TV shows. In reality, the law does not require a waiting period. In fact, law enforcement agencies stress that the first 24 hours are often the most critical, so a missing person should be reported immediately.

Some man-made structures are visible from space without magnification, but despite popular belief, the Great Wall of China is not one of them. While it is quite long, being over 13,000 miles long, it is relatively narrow, and its earthy colors blend in with the surrounding landscape, making it nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye from orbit.

This one is tricky: Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth (29,032 feet)… if you measure the distance from sea level to peak. For the actual tallest mountain, the answer might vary depending on how you measure. Measured from base to summit, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest at 33,474 feet—though much of it is underwater. Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska rises about 18,000 feet from its base to the peak, making it the tallest mountain entirely above sea level. And Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo, while shorter in height, is the farthest point on Earth from the planet’s center due to the equatorial bulge.

The Earth is tilted on an axis, which causes the amount of sunlight each hemisphere receives to change as it orbits the Sun. Because of this tilt, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and experiences summer, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away and experiences winter—and vice versa. This is why the Southern Hemisphere celebrates Christmas during summer.

Standard medical advice is to gently guide a sleepwalker back to bed rather than waking them, but not because waking them is inherently dangerous. People tend to sleepwalk during deep sleep, so waking them up might startle them or cause confusion and disorientation.

Hair color and thickness are determined by genetics, not by shaving. Hair naturally gets thin at the ends, so when you shave it, the hair shaft appears to be thicker and darker because of the blunt cut. But it's just an optical illusion; the natural size of the shaft remains unchanged.

Coffee is a natural diuretic, meaning it can increase trips to the bathroom. However, the water in brewed coffee still contributes to your hydration and offsets its mild diuretic effect. If you consume coffee in moderation—3 to 5 cups a day, depending on your tolerance—you should be alright. However, drinking extra water on the side is never a bad idea.