Best Romantic Fantasy Show on Apple TV Was Hated by Critics, but Praised by Viewers

Many people have dreamed of being able to travel through time at least once — to correct the mistakes of the past and, if curious, to see the future. The main character in Audrey Niffenegger’s book The Time Traveler's Wife has this ability. Only in his case, it is not a superpower, but a serious problem.

Audrey Niffenegger began her career as a graphic novelist. The Time Traveler's Wife was supposed to be one of them, but the author realized that it would not be possible to convey the depth of the story using pictures. So in 2003 she published her first novel, which later became a bestseller.

The Time Traveler's Wife's First Adaptation Was Far From Ideal

The movie rights were bought before the book was published — they were acquired by the production company Plan B, owned by Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. It was planned that they would play the lead roles, but the couple soon broke up, and Clare and Henry were played by Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana.

The Time Traveler's Wife was not well received by critics or audiences — its current rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 38% and 59% respectively.

The New Series Got Warmer Reception

In 2022, a series of the same name was released, which thanks to a longer running time was able to reveal the story of inevitable love in more detail, and also corrected many of the mistakes made in the feature film adaptation.

Once again, the new adaptation did not satisfy the critics (the Rotten Tomatoes rating is only 38%), but it did please the viewers, who appreciated it — The Time Traveler's Wife received an audience score of 84% on RT.

What Is The Time Traveler's Wife About?

Librarian Henry suffers from a rare disorder that causes him to involuntarily travel through time. He finds himself in different time periods that are important to him and his family.

One day, Henry meets a beautiful girl, Clare, in the library. It soon turns out that she is his future wife.

The 2022 Show Is Heartbreaking but Touching Story of Great Love

The new Time Traveler's Wife has many sentimental moments, and in this story they are very much on point. The show makes you care about the characters, makes you feel romantic, and gives you a reason to be sad and even heartbroken at the right moments.

Because of the time jumps, the relationship between Clare and Henry does not develop on screen in a linear fashion — the first date is far from the first, and the proposal comes after the wedding. Clare feels lonely, although she continues to love Henry unconditionally.

In the series, even the smallest details of the story can make you feel emotional. For example, Henry's haircut. It seems like a small thing — long hair, short hair. And yet that little thing turns out to be an important piece in a big mosaic of love that is built episode by episode.

Where to Stream The Time Traveler's Wife?

The Time Traveler's Wife is available on Prime Video and Apple TV.