I watched both seasons before picking up the book (compilation of 3 parts with additional chapters from Coltons side of things - might have colored my opinion on the story and Colton).
Most of positive raving 10 star reviews comes from people who read the book first. People who gave worse reviews based them only on the show. I think both sides are wrong. It's certainly not as good as most people rating it think. But it's also not as bad as others think - there's an obvious improvement in the second season.
Season 2 is just as cheesy as the first one, just with better acting. The story it self is pretty interesting and it gets better later on, definitely better than typical Hallmark Christmas Romance movie, especially since we can expect some action in future seasons.
Here are my issues with Driven as a show: Certain cheesines works better on paper than screen, adaptation might have been to literal. With the exception of one scene that was so very obviously altered (it's a minor alteration, but still) to seemingly benefit from continuous popularity of a certain movie/book at the time Driven was first filmed. Completely unnecessary and out of character for both of them, to the point I was sure it was not in the source material even without reading the book. Also who keeps that ready to go in their kitchen drawers?
Furthermore, while Casey Deidrick is a talented actor, I had couple of issues with his performance. There is no chemistry between him and Olivia Grace Applegate, he had trouble making the cheesy dialog believable and his Colton read as an complete ass (there is this lack of vanerablity in his performance that the character has). At this point in story (end of S01) Colton doesn't show much of his wounded side, just the moody broody side so it's not like Deidrick had much to work with. And yet the difference in performances is especially visible during the first scene of season 2. It's the same as the last scene of season 1 just with Michael Roark as Colton. Once you get over the jarring experience of an actor change (I was not aware of it before watching) this couple of seconds just hits differently. It's all in the eyes.
Olivia Grace Applegate will not shock you with her performance but at least in season 2 she actually has onscreen chemistry with Micheal Roark (Staircase scene S02 - no actual sex and yet 10 times hotter than anything on season 1).
All in all it's a better book than series and unless you are already a fan of books or just enjoy terrible romance movies don't waste your time.
Most of positive raving 10 star reviews comes from people who read the book first. People who gave worse reviews based them only on the show. I think both sides are wrong. It's certainly not as good as most people rating it think. But it's also not as bad as others think - there's an obvious improvement in the second season.
Season 2 is just as cheesy as the first one, just with better acting. The story it self is pretty interesting and it gets better later on, definitely better than typical Hallmark Christmas Romance movie, especially since we can expect some action in future seasons.
Here are my issues with Driven as a show: Certain cheesines works better on paper than screen, adaptation might have been to literal. With the exception of one scene that was so very obviously altered (it's a minor alteration, but still) to seemingly benefit from continuous popularity of a certain movie/book at the time Driven was first filmed. Completely unnecessary and out of character for both of them, to the point I was sure it was not in the source material even without reading the book. Also who keeps that ready to go in their kitchen drawers?
Furthermore, while Casey Deidrick is a talented actor, I had couple of issues with his performance. There is no chemistry between him and Olivia Grace Applegate, he had trouble making the cheesy dialog believable and his Colton read as an complete ass (there is this lack of vanerablity in his performance that the character has). At this point in story (end of S01) Colton doesn't show much of his wounded side, just the moody broody side so it's not like Deidrick had much to work with. And yet the difference in performances is especially visible during the first scene of season 2. It's the same as the last scene of season 1 just with Michael Roark as Colton. Once you get over the jarring experience of an actor change (I was not aware of it before watching) this couple of seconds just hits differently. It's all in the eyes.
Olivia Grace Applegate will not shock you with her performance but at least in season 2 she actually has onscreen chemistry with Micheal Roark (Staircase scene S02 - no actual sex and yet 10 times hotter than anything on season 1).
All in all it's a better book than series and unless you are already a fan of books or just enjoy terrible romance movies don't waste your time.