Altering Olive:  a look at HBO’s adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge

Walsh, Lana

Altering Olive: a look at HBO’s adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge

Author

Walsh, Lana

Date

2025

Keywords

HBO, adaptation, Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge, source text

Abstract (summary)

This paper discusses the HBO adaptation of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge, with a focus on revealing the level of depth and nuance that gets lost in the translation from short story cycle to mini-series. By analyzing the cycle form, this paper considers the risks involved in neglecting the form of a source text during adaptation. While the author ultimately refrains from commenting on the quality of the mini-series as its own entity, she does conclude that as an adaptation, the mini-series is disappointing in its replication of the source text's complexity.

Publication Information

Walsh, L. (2025). Altering Olive: A look at HBO’s adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. MacEwan University Student EJournal, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.31542/9wp4s795