"City on Fire" Adaptation Fails to Ignite on Apple TV+

The TV adaptation of Garth Risk Hallberg's novel "City on Fire" lacks the distinctive elements of the book and fails to deliver an engaging storyline. The 8-episode series, written entirely by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, eliminates the '70s setting, stylistic detours, and most of the backstory flashbacks, leaving only the main mystery. The ensemble cast is good, but the characters lack depth and the plot is convoluted. The series struggles to connect to the 2003 setting and the nods to the music scene and Occupy Wall Street are lip-service. Overall, the series is not worth watching.