Though there is a debate over whether novels should be converted into movies or shows, I firmly believe some books will never win that argument. The biggest issue with the “A Good girl’s Guide to Murder” Netflix series was character development; a lack of character development in a show might be indicative of a badly written screenplay. Characters without goals, wants, weaknesses or backstories can make it tough for people to connect with them, and that’s about all this series successfully displayed.
High school student Pippa Fitz-Amobi investigates the murder of Andie Bell, a popular girl in her town who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Sal Singh, who later committed suicide. Pippa collaborates with Ravi, Sal’s younger brother, to find the truth because she believes the case isn’t over. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson is a gripping novel that delves into a variety of topics, including the perils of snooping about in the past, the value of justice, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. A wide range of people, including Pippa, Ravi, and the locals of the small town, are included in the novel.
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Pippa is a likable lead character who handles the issue with great care, consideration, and grace. Despite what the show portrays, she is not an impulsive character. She is presented as being quite impetuous and forceful in the show. Unlike in the novel, she never approached and opened this case with kindness and delicacy. Furthermore, given that she is the main character, I believe they should be considerate with how she approached the case.
There was little discussion of Andie’s father, Jason Bell, also known as The DT murderer. He was a serial killer who was first recognized in the early 1990s in London as a South Shore stalker and rapist. His identity was discovered when DNA testing matched unidentifiable fingerprints found on the remains of his victims. He was the father of Andie and Becca Bell, yet they hardly ever discussed their family’s dynamics.
The elements and circumstances that made Jason the obvious killer in the book were never presented in the show, and his domineering and frightening personality was hardly acknowledged at all. I understand the show attempted to keep it a secret and not make the killer too obvious, but it does not give it the right to conceal important details, facts and information about what Jason Bell did. To me, that’s ludicrous and demonstrates the show’s lack of character development.
The fact that Andy was Nat’s bully and the one who released her pictures is another important piece of information that, in my opinion, should have been included in the show but for some reason they didn’t. However, in the TV version, the person who leaked Nat’s photos was not identified because they were merely unaware of it.
It almost seems odd since it seems like they are still trying to transform Andie into an angel, even though in the book they kept displaying and discussing how she was no angel and had quite a few faults. In the Netflix series, however, they eliminated many of Andie’s features, like the fact that she went out of her way to sell drugs not because she needed the money but because she wanted to get to know a guy she liked and was addicted to the drug.
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Now, lets talk about the relationship between Pippa and Ravi. They had a situationship and some chemistry going on throughout the novel, but it never seemed like a true romantic relationship or that it would eventually lead to one. Even if the readers would have preferred it to, it never felt that way. However, the Netflix series chose to emphasize that relationship more, which gave the audience the impression that they were a real pair. The producers gave their situationship more attention than the characters’ growth and included a few dubious characters who, in my opinion, deserved more attention, perhaps just to add some more drama and spice in the series.
One of the main points of contention was that the “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” book keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time, making you want to read one more chapter than you had planned to, but the show fell short in that regard. The characters didn’t get much development, the revelations felt hurried and random, and before you knew it, the series was over. As a result, the drama didn’t truly begin to unfurl until the final three episodes.
Overall, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” on Netflix was a huge letdown; it should only be maintained as a novel, not a television show. There is, I suppose, a sensation that can only be experienced mentally and cannot be adequately depicted on television.