5 Paranormal Romances Perfect for Television
While there have been a number of page-to-screen adaptions of urban fantasy —True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Dresden Files—TV producers seem to avoid urban fantasy’s kissing cousin, the paranormal romance. The main difference I see between the two is structural: urban fantasy tends to follow a single individual, while paranormal romance changes protagonists with each successive book. Before you snicker that there’s another big difference, I’ll point out that both subgenres contain wildly varying levels of sexytimes. (Also, you’re watching Game of Thrones strictly for the articles, right?)
Urban fantasy and paranormal romance are more alike than different, often occurring in specific cities that lend their civic flavor, with magical and supernatural creatures operating at the margins or in bending realities, in alternate histories, and strange futures. Both often have incredibly complex mythologies and relationships that grow and change with time. Given that there’s not much difference between them, I assume the reason no one’s adapting paranormal romance is because books with romantic elements have girl cooties on them and can’t possibly succeed.
Thank Crom we have the smashing success of Outlander, adapted from Diana Galbadon’s best-selling time travel romances, to work as proof of concept: viewers aren’t scared off by romantic content. In honor of Outlander’s imminent return, I’ve decided to help producers out with suggestions of other paranormal romances that would play well on the small screen.
Black Dagger Brotherhood, by J.R. Ward
Network: TNT, following the WWE
The pitch: Finding enough massive leather-clad colossi to play the vampire enforcers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood might be tricky, but oh, baby, would it be worth it. In Ward’s series, the secretive vampire king and his soldiers are locked in a deadly conflict with the Lessening Society, creepy eunuch zombies. Given that lots of the vampire dudes are centuries old, Highlander-style flashbacks could also chronicle their historical badassery. There are court politics, kidnappings, nightclubs, sins of the father, car chases, and other grist to keep the Black Dagger bros in leather for a long time, which is exactly where we want them.
Would appeal to fans of: Sons of Anarchy, Forever Knight
Fever series, by Karen Marie Moning
Network: Fox, if they could manage not to cancel it
The pitch: Southern Barbie MacKayla “Mac” Lane gets word her sister has been murdered while on school exchange in Ireland, which sends her to Dublin to grieve and play girl detective. She falls in with Jericho Barrons, book store proprietor and millennia-old shapeshifter, who agrees to help her but has his own murky motivations. The world of Fever is based on Irish mythology, with killer fairies, Unseelie and Seelie courts, the spear of destiny, kilted Scots, and so much more. The will-they-or-won’t-they push/pull of Mac and Barrons would draw you in, but you’d stay for the inventively gross monsters they battle to find the series’ McGuffin. Moning puts Mac through the ringer across the five-book series, which makes for the very best TV.
Would appeal to fans of: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Moonlighting
London Steampunk series, by Bec McMaster
Network: BBC Four
The pitch: In McMaster’s steampunk series, vampirism is a communicable virus that confers greater strength and longevity, with the unfortunate side effect of inevitable murderous insanity. The ruling class of Victorian England jealously guards the virus for their first born sons—meaning the aristocracy is made up of blood-sucking leeches, which may not come as the biggest surprise. A variety of others are inadvertently infected: second sons and accidents who make up the constabulary, a gang leader on the East End, even the occasional woman (gasp!). The evolving mythology is fantastic, trotting from the deepest slums to the highest courts in a London with the gritty texture of a living city. Oh, and there are werewolves! You really couldn’t ask for more.
Would appeal to fans of: Ripper Street, Penny Dreadful
Psy-Changeling series, by Nalini Singh
Network: Canadian Broadcasting Network, filming in Vancouver
The pitch: It’s the late 21st century and the world is inhabited by three races: the Psy, emotionless Vulcan-types with psychic powers; the changelings, who can shift into specific animal forms and live in packs; and us regular humans. While I don’t think the changlings’ mate-for-life trope is particularly conducive to an ongoing series—magical happily ever after doesn’t make for good conflict—but the one-upmanship between the races (and between individuals) is ridiculously fun. I’ve also got a soft spot for emotionless Vulcan-types (sniff, Nimoy), and the way the Psy are tested and changed as the series proceeds could provide a deep well of stories.
Would appeal to fans of: BeastMaster, Dominion
Iron Seas novels, by Meljean Brook
Network: The holodeck of the USS Enterprise
The pitch: I am keenly aware that it is probably not possible to bring this series to the small screen—the budget would be insane—but holy cow would it be amazing. In the 1500s, the Mongolian Golden Horde conquered most of Europe and Africa through the use of nanotechnology, and the alternate history is profound. The world is stuffed with joyfully rendered steampunk ornament: megalodons and krakens, air ship pirates, floating cities, mechanical sandworms, and secret societies. Treasure hunter Achimedes Fox and his writer sister Zenobia would make wonderful ambassadors to this technologically magical world as they circumnavigate the earth, from a Europe overrun by zombies to the smuggler’s havens off the coast of Australia. Let’s fire up the airship and set sail!
Would appeal to fans of: Avatar, the Last Airbender, Marco Polo
Which show would you make it on your DVR?