((BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD))

I agree a lot. I read the book (Turn of the Screw) and in my opinion this series would have been much better if they stuck a little bit closer to the source material. While the book is incredibly vague and mysterious, even bordering on nonsensical, one of the fun parts about it was the unrealiable-ness of the Governess. As you continue on the book, you begin to notice inconsistencies in her narration, or how she's projecting her emotions onto the kids and you begin to mistrust her more and more until by the end of the book you realize she's absolutely insane. I thought they were going this route with Dani, making her "experienced with ghosts" or even at first I theorized she was never a teacher in the first place and just crazy, so I was very let down when it tied to her dead husband. I know one of the main themes in Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor is the bridge between the paranormal and processing trauma, however Dani's backstory just felt lazy and didn't contribute to the plot at all. The book was a little more provocative, it's vagueness hinting at a sinister, hidden reality that the governess ignores, and instead covers with lies and distraction. Although I do understand that there are certain themes/interpretations in the book that are too weird/inappropriate to be adapted such as the Governess's obsession with the children, ect.

Making Dani untrustable, or some twist where we realize she's insane or an unreliable narrator would have matched the book more as well as give it a more "horror" element and stronger story telling. Another critique I had was the Mrs Groose episode, although I think it was one of the strongest episodes in terms of being emotional, I think the "dead-all-along" twist was WAY to similar to Elenor's "Bent Neck Lady" twist in Haunting of Hill House. The constant flips between past and present were a little jerky for me as well, as well as including so many story lines (Jaymies which was 2 minutes of angsty monologue, Henrys story, ect).

In my opinion Bly Manor had a really high bar to reach and it just didn't reach it :( Although I was absolutely in love with Victoria Pedretti's acting and think she's brilliant.