GROWING UP, OUR living room resembled a small cinema on Friday and Saturday nights.

Seats were pre-booked in prominent viewing positions, all of us knowing not to challenge squatters’ rights. One by one – and there were a lot of us – we drifted in from other rooms to gather in front of a single television set. After much scraping of chairs and shushing the younger ones, we settled down.

See, CHiPS, (An American show about two highway patrol motorcycle officers) was on. And MacGyver. And The A-Team.

Those were the good old fashioned, innocent days of conventional TV when we had no alternative other than to catch our favourite shows at their scheduled times. In the 21st century, however, our viewing habits have changed beyond recognition. Smart TVs, consoles, online video platforms and entire seasons released at once, have completely transformed the way we watch television.

Who remembers grabbing the remote to channel-hop whenever the ads came on? Advertisements – another annoyance that has shaped how we consume television today.

Who remembers CHiPs? Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

It’s been decades since I’ve watched TV. Desperate Housewives and Lost are among the several television series that I began watching but did not complete. I had my first baby in 2006 and as a result, lost my place at the water cooler where the chats and dissections of popular TV programmes took place.

But now, The Walsh Sisters, adapted from the works of Marian Keyes is here, dropping episodes weekly, and I am transported back to the thrill of my childhood TV nights.

Every promo in the run-up to the series release was listened to with great interest. That Christmas feeling my stomach made me suspect this show would be the one to draw me back to traditional TV, reminding me why tuning in once a week can feel so special.

From page to screen

Why do we get so excited when a beloved book is adapted for the small screen?

The anticipation factor is a big draw for me. Being drip fed the story week by week makes the experience feel far more immersive than binge watching the entire thing. This is not a time to be looking for instant gratification. A little respect, please. Would you treat a fine wine in the same manner?

I’ve “known” the Walsh women for three decades now and because I, too, come from a large family of females, my emotional investment is huge. Feeling the way I do about the characters, I want nothing but the best for all of them. Having read the books, I know what’s in store and the need to comfort is strong.

On paper, Keyes’ characters play out in my head: I get to picture their faces, hear their accents and see the whole thing materialise in my imagination. But on screen, they come to 3D life in my living room.

Of course, the age-old debate circling around which was better, the book or the show, needs to be addressed. A question destined to divide, it always pops up when a beloved book is reimagined for the screen. Adaptations are lightning rods for opinion because everyone has their own idea of how the story should look and feel.

But arguing over a book versus its adaptation is a bit like debating whether coffee is better than wine or the sun versus the moon. Each are completely different, yet essential in their own way.

No adaptation can carry everything across. Some lines get lost, some subplots trimmed. Both Keyes and series writer Stefani Preissner have alluded to this.

Not for everyone

Whereas many fans have embraced the result, it seems not everyone has fallen head-over-heels for the series. Some reviews criticised the set design. Others decided there was a lack of chemistry between the leads. Yet, in other camps, the show was described as a “Sunday night hug” and was widely praised for perfectly capturing the joy and heartache of Irish sisterhood.

All par for the course whenever a beloved novel makes the leap to serialised storytelling and dares to change even the smallest detail. Some viewers loved Normal People, while others took to RTÉ’s Liveline to express their horror and disgust at certain scenes as they played out in their homes. Bridgerton was adored by many, while others rolled their eyes at the frocks, yet both adaptations became cultural touchstones and drew in huge audiences. Proof that no matter what the critics say, reviews are opinions, not verdicts.

For me, the book vs. movie debate isn’t really about competition. It’s more about connection, about how a story or a character resonates on a personal level. Our relationship with any fictional character grows out of our own life experiences, which is why each of us responds to them differently.

I wasn’t looking for perfection within the show. Ultimately, when I sit down to watch something, I want to be entertained. Whether reading or watching, my only agenda is to relax and give myself up to forty minutes of pure diversion. It’s an excuse to step out of my own head and immerse myself in someone else’s world for a while.

So did The Walsh Sisters premiere lure me to a comfy seat with perhaps a nice beverage at 2130 hours last Sunday?

I can safely say, after all this anticipation, discussion, and emotional investment, yes, it looks like the TV adaptation has managed to bring me back to traditional television. At least for the foreseeable future.

And is Luke Costello the most ridey man in the land? Come on! Do you really need to ask? (Yes. Yes he is!)