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.

Deathbed statements

Beyond the grave: Take a look at the last words of 12 famous people

Image: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout history, hundreds of historical figures have left their mark on the world through their marvelous achievements. When their lives came to an end, their last words were often a reflection of their lives and ideals. From George Washington and Mark Twain to Frank Sinatra and Leonardo Da Vinci, in this article, we will reveal 12 final words of memorable personalities.

Image: The New York Public Library

After serving two terms as the United State's first president, George Washington retired to his Virginia plantation. In mid-December 1799, he developed a cold and a severe sore throat. Despite doctors' efforts to cure him, the end was imminent.

His long-time secretary, Tobias Lear, was at his side during his last days and documented all the events that transpired, including the former president's last words. According to his account, shortly before he took his last breath George Washington said "Tis well" —an old-fashioned way of saying "everything is okay."

Image: Signal Corps Archive from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Noir icon of perpetual elegance and rebellious charisma, Humphrey Bogart is an undisputed legend in cinema history. A Hollywood Golden Age star, Bogart is still remembered today for his scar on his upper lip, his everlasting cigarette, and his perfect portrayal of gangsters and detectives.

At the age of 57 Bogart was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, for which he was hospitalized for several months. According to lore, the legendary star's last words were "I should never have switched from scotch to martinis." However, his wife Lauren Bacall confirmed that the last thing he actually said was "Goodbye Kid. Hurry back," before she left his bedside to get their children.

Image: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As one of the greatest American writers of all time, Mark Twain is usually credited with all sorts of great quotes that he often didn't say. For that reason, there are different versions of what his last words were before he died in 1910 at the age of 74.

The most plausible theory can be found in an article published one day after his death. According to this chronicle, Samuel Langhorne Clemens' last words were not spoken aloud but written. The famous humorist and essayist reportedly wrote to his daughter Clara, who accompanied him on his bedside, "Give me my glasses."

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Joan Crawford, the Oscar winner for Mildred Pierce and one of the greatest stars of Hollywood's golden age, died in 1977 of a heart attack.

The actress, who had a complicated personality, was true to her nature until her last breath. She was so ill that her doctor felt it wasn’t worth taking her to the hospital. One of her nurses began to pray aloud in desperation. Losing her patience, Crawford snapped for the last time and said, "Damn it... Don't you dare ask God to help me."

Image: Municipal Library of Trento, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The year 2024 marked the 700th anniversary of the death of the man who better described remote lands. Marco Polo was a merchant who spent more than 20 years of his life traveling through the Orient and wrote about his adventures in a book that became a bestseller when the printing press wasn’t even invented.

Marco Polo was, and still is, a legend. When, on his deathbed, his wife and friends begged the brave explorer to confess if what he had told in the book was true, he barely whispered: "I have not told the half of what I saw and did."

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Julius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho Marx, is considered one of the most influential comedians of all time. The man with the bushy black mustache was one of the Marx Brothers. Together they made 13 films, including the classic Duck Soup. After a long and prominent career, Groucho passed away in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 86.

His brilliant one-liners are still remembered and replayed to this day, so it is not surprising that not one but several final words are attributed to him. A few close friends have suggested that his last line was "This is no way to live!", while most suggest that his last words were in fact dedicated to his wife: "Die, my dear? Why, that's the last thing I'll do!"

Image: Nicolas de Largillière, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Voltaire, the French writer, philosopher, historian, and lawyer, one of the major figures of the Enlightenment, died in 1778 at the age of 83. Different accounts of his deathbed make it impossible to determine exactly what his last days were like.

One of these stories, however, is consistent with his ideas about God and his well-known criticism of the Church. According to this version, when the priest asked him if he wanted to renounce Satan before he died, Voltaire replied, "This is no time to make new enemies."

Image: William Wallace Denslow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

L. Frank Baum was a prolific American author. He wrote 55 novels, 82 short stories, and more than 200 poems. However, his most memorable work is his series of children's fantasy books The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

On May 5, 1919, Baum suffered a heart attack. He died the next day, shortly before his 63rd birthday. Disturbed by the imminence of death, he whispered to his wife: "Now we can cross the Shifting Sands," a clear reference to the Land of Oz.

Image: National Archaeological Museum of Athens, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Augustus, the first Roman emperor, is often attributed with the phrase: "Behold, I found Rome of clay, and leave her to you of marble," alluding to the great infrastructural works carried out during his prosperous 40 years of rule.

However, according to other historical accounts, his last words were addressed to the friends who stayed with him on his deathbed: "Have I played the part well? Then applaud, as I exit."

Image: English: Distributed by NBC. Photographer unknown., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

"Darling, you've gone through worse and you can beat this too. You have to fight," implored Barbara Marx, Frank Sinatra's fourth wife, to her beloved on his deathbed. "I'm losing," The Voice whispered through teary eyes.

Barbara recounted the last hours of the singer of such hits as My Way and New York, New York in her memoir Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank. Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, pronounced his last words in 1998 at the age of 82.

Image: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was very hard on himself. All his life he challenged his own limits, evident in his paintings and sculptures as well as in his inventions, some of which were truly revolutionary.

Even after a lifetime of success, he wasn’t quite satisfied. When he suffered a stroke at the age of 67, he sent for a priest to receive the Holy Sacrament and, according to historians, his greatest regret was that he hadn’t achieved excellence with his work. In that sense, it is said that his last words were: "I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have."

Image: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Yankee Clipper was one of the greatest baseball players of all time but he is also known for having been married to the iconic American actress Marilyn Monroe. Joe and Marilyn were together for less than three years. In 1955 the actress left him for American playwright Arthur Miller.

DiMaggio was devastated. He never married again, and never got over his one true love. His last words before he died in 1999 at the age of 84 were: "I'll finally get to see Marilyn."