Eighteen years after its debut, HBO’s John Adams is just as captivating to audiences as it was when it was released and has become the crème de la crème of prestige TV. It’s stood the test of time even in a competitive, crowded field of limited series with absolutely monstrous budgets. It was adapted from David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize–winning biography, had the backing of Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who served as executive producers, and set the bar so high that few – if any – limited series have been able to clear it since.

Airing on HBO in 2008, the seven-episode miniseries tells the story of the second president’s personal and professional life. He’s portrayed by Paul Giamatti, who takes viewers on a journey through the highs and lows of being John Adams and his wife Abigail, played by Laura Linney, who was instrumental to his success before, during and after his presidency. The series won 13 Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes.

‘John Adams’ Leaned Into History as Drama, Not Myth

Historical dramas often lean on elevating the central figures to almost god-like status to make sure the viewers become invested in them. And it would have been easy for the creators of John Adams to assume they had to portray Adams as this mythical figure, so it was a story that people actually wanted to watch. But, instead of relying on Adams being a likable character to find an audience, they relied on the truth.

The series kicks off with the Boston Massacre and instead of framing the event as good versus evil, the series showcases the Americans taunting the red coats, putting them at fault for the tragedy, as well. The opening episode also shows Americans brutally tarring and feathering someone who suggested Massachusetts should just pay the tea tax. The entire series is a showcase of how messy revolution and building a new country can be, and the creators took care to never make it obvious who viewers should side with.

Adams is a deeply unlikable character in the series. Show runners leaned into his stubborn and vain personality, with Abigail quickly telling him that he needs to “mask his impatience” with people he thinks are less intelligent than him. She also reminds him that he doesn’t need to “quote great men to prove you are one.” It showcased Adams’ deep insecurity that pervaded his entire life, much to his detriment. The entire series has Adams at odds with seemingly everyone around him. America’s early years were defined by ideological clashes, but in Adams’ case, his disagreements were as much about his personality as they were his beliefs and ideas.

But where Adams lets his emotions get the best of him, Abigail serves as the emotional anchor. While she’s easier to instantly like than her husband, the show runners also didn’t shy away from telling the real story of their marriage. Yes, they loved each other, but their marriage was also one of partnership and the show spotlights how ambition, distance and grief over the loss of family during the dysentery epidemic takes a toll on a marriage.

The characters being more human than statues to be admired is actually what makes the show so compelling to watch. The intense emotion and intimate look into their marriage amid Adams’ quest to be remembered give viewers characters they can not only root for, but get invested in their stories. It also keeps the show from feeling like a history lesson. Viewers lose themselves in the interpersonal stories that helped shape America.

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‘John Adams’ Trusted Viewers to Pay Attention

When you rewatch John Adams today, it’s noticeable how different it is from the television shows we’re used to seeing. The show foregoes fancy effects for small, candlelit rooms and attractive costumes that play up the realism of the era complete with teeth rot and sweat. It adds to viewers’ investment in the show, feeling less like they’re watching a carefully planned drama and more like they’re getting an inside look into the American Revolution.

In keeping with the realism of the show, the script also avoids falling into the pitfalls we see in modern television shows. Kirk Ellis, the writer, resisted the urge to use long monologues to explain details, instead trusting the audience to keep up with the show. Show runners assumed people would be paying attention when they’re watching, so they didn’t overly modernize the dialogue. While the show requires patience to watch, viewers are rewarded in leaps and bounds.

Streaming platforms have now taken to stretching the limits of a narrative instead of allowing the true story to speak for itself. Viewers aren’t challenged to actually pay attention to plots and read into the subtle moments. Instead, series opt to reiterate points of the story and spell out every moment, leaving viewers little room to think or reflect on a scene or a moment.

‘John Adams’ Defined the Prestige Template

Image by Zanda Rice

John Adams set a template for prestige television. It had a serious subject, absolutely massive talent in Giamatti and Linney, and an even bigger budget. HBO spent $100 million on the series, which is more than Game of Thrones. It turned a historical TV miniseries into a bestseller instead of just something someone’s grandparents might watch. It paved the way for later HBO projects, although none have quite accomplished what John Adams did.

Part of that might be because the big budget John Adams had was put to good use. Show runners focused on using the money to fuel the story, not just wow viewers to keep them entertained. It was used in the set design, the costumes and the music, all of which won multiple awards. Not to mention locking in Giamatti and Linney, both of whom won Emmy Awards for their performances.

Resisting the urge to give in to cheap gimmicks to keep an audience means John Adams has had the opportunity to keep drawing viewers in. It has a high audience and critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and sees viewers coming back to it at times of cultural relevance. And this year, it’s possible the series gets significantly more renewed interest than in past years given America’s 250th birthday.

Eighteen years from debuting, it would be understandable if John Adams felt dated. Or even if the filming started to feel dated. But, all these years later, John Adams feels as if it could have been released last week. It’s informative, it’s emotional and the attention to storytelling keeps audiences coming back year after year.

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