Talk About a Head Start
I mean, listen, usually, we’re waiting for a show to catch up to the books, or the showrunners are just kinda doing their own thing. But here? Laura Dave actually wrote a draft of the book. Not even the whole thing, just a draft! And that draft, that unfinished, still-cooking piece of literary goodness, became the starting point for where Jennifer Garner’s Hannah Hall is gonna go next.
It’s… I don’t know, it’s pretty unusual. Dave told Us Weekly exclusively that she “walked them through the book.” Them being the showrunners, obviously. And she only had “100 pages” she was willing to share at that point. A hundred pages! Can you imagine? You’re a showrunner, you’ve got this hit series, and the author comes in, hands you a partial manuscript, and basically says, “Here’s your homework, kids. Go build a world.” I gotta say, that takes some serious trust, or maybe some serious clout from Dave. Probably both.
The “Second World”
So, while Dave was apparently “doing some of that editing,” the show’s creative team was “off creating the second world for the show.” It’s kinda fascinating, this parallel creation. It’s not a straight adaptation in the usual sense, where the book is done, dusted, and then filmed. This is like a simultaneous birth, a creative tag-team match. And Dave thinks they “speak to each other really beautifully.” Which, you know, she would say. But if it works, it works.
But Seriously, What Does That Mean For Us?
Here’s the thing. If you’ve read The First Time I Saw Him already- and a lot of you probably have, seeing as it dropped last week- then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s coming for Jennifer Garner’s character. Which, for some, is awesome! You’re in on the secret. You’re feeling smug. For others? It’s like, “Hey, don’t spoil it for me!” But the author herself basically confirmed the book is the roadmap.
“They had the world and the themes and everything, but I only had 100 pages I was willing to share at that point.” – Laura Dave to Us Weekly.
And that’s the rub, isn’t it? The show isn’t out until next month, and the book’s already been out for a bit. It kinda flips the script. Usually, book readers have bragging rights for a while before an adaptation even starts. Here, the book’s coming out just before the show, specifically to inform it. It’s a clever bit of synergy, if you ask me. A really, really clever bit of marketing and creative control.
The Meat of It: Control and Creativity
What this all boils down to is control. Laura Dave, the author, is clearly deeply, deeply involved. And that’s not always the case with adaptations. Often, once the rights are sold, the author becomes a kind of benevolent ghost, maybe an executive producer credit, but not really in the trenches. Dave, though? She’s not just in the trenches; she’s handing out the shovels and drawing the battle plans.
This approach- sharing a draft, letting the showrunners run with it, then finishing the book- it’s a high-wire act. It means the show isn’t just a faithful adaptation; it’s an extension of the author’s current creative process. It implies a kind of organic growth between the two mediums that you just don’t see every day. And, I mean, who doesn’t want to see Jennifer Garner back as Hannah? She nailed that role. The quiet intensity, the desperation, the smarts- she was Hannah. So knowing Dave is so hands-on, guiding that journey, it actually makes me pretty optimistic for season two.
What This Actually Means
Look, if you’re a fan of The Last Thing He Told Me, you’ve got options. You can dive into The First Time I Saw Him right now and get a serious preview of what’s coming. Or, you can hold off, wait for the show, and let Jennifer Garner’s performance unfold the story for you. Either way, it’s clear that this isn’t just another book-to-screen story. It’s a collaborative dance, with the author very much leading.
It also kinda means the show can’t really stray too far, can it? Not when the author herself is saying, “I wrote the draft that guided them.” So, while some adaptations are a loose interpretation, this one feels like it’s gonna be pretty locked in. Which, honestly, for a mystery-thriller like this, is probably a good thing. You want that tight plotting, that consistent character voice. And with Dave at the helm, even if it’s just 100 pages to start, you’re probably gonna get it. Get ready, people, because Hannah’s back, and this time, the author’s got the master key to everything… and she’s not afraid to use it.
