The confusing timeline of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy adaptations - The Dom Reviews 

Rest in peace Douglas Adams you batshit insane genius.

This quote is the main reason Douglas Adams is awesome: "I love deadlines. I love the wooshing sound as the fly past ."

Am I the, only on thinks its ironic that a book that is a "guide" needs a guide to understand it.

So unpopular opinion: I have a fondness and actually enjoy the Hitchhiker movie. It's what got me into the series and I'm glad that it did because this series is my favorite book series of all damn time. Anyways next video should be fun XD

I really think they must have chosen Marten Freeman to play Bilbo Baggins because of his performance of the feature film adaptation of hhgttg. I mean they are pretty much the same character on the same arc... Minus the whole home exploding and love interest

It seems that you left out the LP versions of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" 1979 and "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" 1980, which were newly recorded adaptations of the Primary Phase radio scripts, made to circumvent issues with publicly selling copies of the original Primary Phase. And while they basically used the original radio scripts, there are differences such as cast, dialogue/exchange changes, and the inclusion of Hot Black Desiato. Also, I don't think the film is as bad as you make it out. No it's not my favorite version, I agree and I do wish that they followed the Primary Phase or book more closely, but I do love the props, sets and many of the costumes. That said, give me the Original radio play actors and scripts, and the budget and props of the new film, and I'd be happy. But we need all five original books! Thanks to Dirk Maggs we can finally have a complete series of stories at least by the original crew.

the movie came out in time for my Dad's 42nd [AGAIN. he turns 42 every year. and has for 20+ years :D ] so we all tromped to the movie theater, toting towels, and we got my dad a bathrobe, which we were perfectly will to FORCE him to wear... luckily [and obviously] i come by my geeky-genes honestly, and once he was done gushing about how awesome we, as a family, are, he put it on. and wore it through the movie, and to dinner, and to the bar... this story was as pointless as many of the random asides in Mr. Adams' books, but i hope it made you smile :)

"Life? Don't talk to me about life."

I'd never got to see this! Amazing job putting this together. Adams' work means so much to me. I started at the beginning in '77 or '78 when the local college radio station played the first radio serial. I feel like Douglas molded my young brain into the right shape and it's something for which I will be forever thankful. ❤️

I'm so excited for the lost in adaptation episode! (Is it just me or is the dom kinda adorable?)

It breaks my heart that Adams never got to see his final wish completed. RIP, Doug. This universe is far less fun without your star shining in it. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

I love the book, and now I love the mess of this timeline, because it feels so like the craziness of the book. It simply perfect.

Holy shit, this is a whole new level of the matrix I was NOT prepared for. It's like trying to simultaneously solve AND disprove string theory whilst playing 3D chess

I wish you could have played the text game. It was its own mash of adaptation and was supervised by DNA himself.

I highly appreciate that roadmap to the series. I own everything (even the radio show transcripts) but I I never understood the weird shift between the second and third phase. It all makes perfect sense now, thank you

Your posh RP accent is so clear that the auto-generated subtitles catch it almost perfectly.

Great book. Glad you are doing a lost an adaptation about it. Thanx so much.

From beginning to end this video was really cool. The setup for the video was great. And the plug at the end was nice. Share the spot light Dom, paying it forward.

That Hitchhiker's theme song makes me get all tingly inside.

@The Dom - it looks like you're going to need to update this in 2018, when the Hexagonal Phase comes out on radio, based upon loosely 'And Another Thing' and other material. I liked the explanation given in Mostly Harmless / the Quintessential Phase, that all of the stories are equally valid in the Whole Sort of General Mish Mash but that one's perception of them is defined by how one slices them. For me, the 'canon' narrative is the radio series, which I listened to before I read any of the novels. For my friend, it's the novels. It makes me happy that they found a way to make everyone equally right about this!

The hype videos that come out before the actual ones was a great idea, you get two videos on each concept, and you get higher views for the second.

This is fascinating! I haven’t heard much about this since I haven’t listened to the radio shows. I’ve watched the TV shows, and I’ve read all the books, but I haven’t heard the radio shows. I need to listen to the radio shows one day. Honestly I absolutely love the way Douglas Adams writes, and I try to use my favourite features of his writing into my own.

you forgot 1 adaptation, the text adventure video game., which revolves around Arthur trying to A) make marvin happy and B) get himself a cup of tea. all done through getting a bunch of fluff.

Yes! I've been waiting for the lost in adaptation of this for a very long time.

I believe Douglas Adams didn't consider any version of the story to be final or "canon", but enjoyed making the constant changes. As such, I don't know if Adams would have liked the movie, but I have a feeling he wouldn't dislike it as much as Dom appears to. I actually enjoyed it, so I'm interested to hear Dom's points in his discussion about it. My introduction to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was the original TV show, and then the novel, so I think as long as a new listener/reader/watcher already knows how much the stories diverge from themselves, they should be fine with almost any interpretation.

I'm surprised that nobody on Patreon has requested gone with the wind yet, that would be a good book/movie to do on this show.

There was a 6th radio series as an adaptation of 'And Another Thing', called Hexagonal Phase

I absolutely love your work! We've been following you for about a year now! My mind was blown when you released this because our channel just released an episode about Marvin (with comments on K2SO). I'm so happy that you're succeeding and wish you the best of luck. Hope your move to LA goes smoothly!

The last time I was this confused was when I had one Pangalactic Gargleblaster to many. So - one. Also - just two more weeks until Towel Day. Tell me that's no coincidence... :)

Yay the radio theme

Ooh, must pay this one closer attention later, it intrigues me! (I’m liking + commenting immediately in an effort to maximize my support for something sabotaged against the algorithm)

You tricksy devil! I was going to save this until later, but as soon as Journey of the Sorcerer started up, I had to keep going. Also, I want to genuinely thank you for making this. I grew up listening to the radio series (as in, you just won't believe how... many times I've heard them), and it's deeply satisfying to actually have an explanation for some of the eddies in the timeline.

Dear Dom, you are absolutely lovely. I've been bingewatching your channel and I love everything I've seen! I'm so excited for The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy! Don't worry, your graph made things clearer for me actually. ;) Hava a lovely day and I look forward to the next one!

I don't love the film version of HG2G but I don't hate it. It got me into the books and I think it's a decent enough version of the style of comedy that Adams wrote as well as can be nearly 3 decades in a different medium. Also great shoutout for Rocked. You two are some of my favourite video producers!

I love TheDom's passion in these reviews. It's obvious that he loves the genre and how this series in particular makes his brain work.

All I can say Is thank you, I just found the radio show on youtube, a few minutes in and I know ill be binging the whole damn thing

so I was watching this episode having seen the Hitchhikers Guide film ages and ages ago, thinking "Oh I see what you mean, so the film would have been in the spirit of the idea of adapting the previous material but changing things to keep things varied", but then that ending! I'm very excited to hear your thoughts on the film.

...When you quoted from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, you made me squee with joy. Hitchhiker's Guide holds a special place in my heart, and has likely influenced my views on humor and society.

its also great that its all over the place.. because its like the whole thing is a shared memory or a shared fever dream. everyone remembering it slightly differently and everyone remembering bits someone else didn't remember.

Most people I talk to hate the movie because of how much they changed from the books. With most adaptations I would agree that that's a good enough reason to at least be weary of it, but in this case I think it should just be expected, given Adams' track record. Honestly I feel like if he had passed away earlier in production, the movie would have ended up being more 'faithful' to the 'source material', not less. As it stands, I love the movie.

I'm so looking forward to hearing you talk about the film! :D Maybe I have to face the truth that I'm one of those fans that likes to see reviewers suffer. I'm also loving the promotion of other channels at the end of your videos now. Going to go check out Rocked and I'm excited to see what other hidden treasures you'll recommend next!

I hate to say, but the Disney adaptation is what got me into the series in the first place and I have a soft spot for it. I'm happy to see you do a lost in adaptation of it and I have acknowledged that it's bad. But I feel it had some good elements....

so glad you're doing this , I grew up on the radio series and later on the books, and am looking forward to your lost in adaptation

I understood everything when you first explained it - and english isn't my mother tongue. You did a great job with that timeline! I'm looking forward to the episode!

Wow, Dom. You had me right until the end. The H2G2 movie was pretty damn good. And you can't blame it for changing things, when the whole POINT of your flowchart-style analysis was pointing out how Mr. Adams was perfectly fine with changes.

Warms my heart to hear him hate on the film.

Excellent job, The Dom! I wouldn't have had a clue how to start on this one, but you covered it amazingly well!

Yay I've been wanting you to review this for a while :)

Don’t forget towels. The most useful thing a hitchhiker can have.

Very clear explanation of the different versions. Thank you.

Love the use of the Mini-Series theme! good work as always. Can't wait to see the LIA for the movie

I don't think the movie was that bad; I consider it more of a tribute to Adams' work rather than an adaptation of the first book/radio series. So most of the story was vastly different; but if you did faithfully adapt it without any changes, would it be as good as the original(s)? And like you said, Adams was fine with adaptations being different for the sake of variety.

Nicely done, The Dom. I've personally read the scripts to the first two series of the radio shows, but have never actually heard them. I should get on that.

Aw man, those opening notes of Journey of the Sorcerer give me the feels every time

I followed all that easily. I was at a Douglas Adams panel & asked him Which version was the hardest to write. He replied "radio, because so much has to be suggested". Always remember where your towel is & Don't Panic.

im so pleased youre doing this, hhg is my favorite book

The casting and writing of Trillian in the series was so weird considering in the first book she's even described as dark skinned. I always felt Mostly Harmless also left things far more open and un-rounded than So Long and Thanks For All The Fish did, since that book actually had a fairly satisfying ending and really only left one small detail about Agrajag unresolved.

Man, I haven't seen The Dom this pissed since 50 shades

This is awesome... I was born in the late 90s and my first experience with Hitchhiker's was the movie and at the time I didn't know about the books or radio versions or the TV show... one of my all time favorite movies and apparently I have some reading to do!!

After the intro here, I would pay to have an audio book of this series read by the Dom.

I have the anthology and Douglas adams wrote about all the changes in the forward. He basically said "i know it doesnt line up dont panic and just go with it"

The unfinished book/prequel/dirk gently book is actually the salmon of doubt

i grew up listening to the audio books of: the hobbit, hitchhikers guide, restaurant at the end of the universe, old radio drama's like "the shadow" and a mix of dean koontz and Stephen king books among other things. (and that's not counting what read as a kid, some of witch are in the audio list) the dom talking about one of the series that I learned some of my most important life rules from is gunna be bloody brilliant!

The only saving grace for the film, was the cameo appearance of the original Marvin from the Television series. The TV series was what got me back into Douglas Adams books when it came out in1981.

this should be good, i had no idea of how complex the adaptations had been.. had to listen to this multiple times to get a good grasp

Imagine how much MORE complicated this video would be if it included the video game, the towels, the differences between the LP and the original radio series, and the minor changes to the Illustrated edition, and the various location-based adjustments, etc.

Adams changed the timeline with every reinvention. An amazing talent... sorely missed.

3:08-3:48 That reminds me of when 'First Blood' author David Morrell wrote novelisations of the films Rambo 2+3 where he added an introduction saying [spoiler] 'In my novel Rambo dies, in the movie he lives' and then followed the film continuity [particularly regarding Rambo-Colonel Trautman's relationship].

And all this is perfectly fitting of and for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

the late 70s radio program was THE BEST i hear those opening strings and i get excited!

A new radio series based on 'And Another Thing...' starts on Radio 4 tomorrow, 8th March 2018 at 18.30. Forty years to the day after the first broadcast.

Thanks for making this video explaining this adaptation because I didn't know it was this... complicated. I have only ever watched the movie. The book is in a very big pile of books I have to read!

The 6th book was turned into a radio series as well

I didn't know any of this and I used to consider myself a huge fan of the series. Now I'm going to have to track down recordings of the radio shows and gift them to the friend who lent me the first book way back when we were twelve.

The way things where adapted by each other, almost seems deliberate on Douglas Adams behalf. At least there is a certain symmetry and/or parallel only Zaphod could keep up with.

This was a beautiful and perfectly confusing (by which I mean that it's perfect that it's confusing) rundown of what is adapted into and from what. I had no idea that the radio show came first, well done Douglas Adams you insane genius. I'm so glad The Dom hates the movie, and I look forward to his rants about it in the next video!

This is a hoopy frood of a video!!! Absolutely drop dead gorgeous :D

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXITED I AM FOR THIS!

*@The Dom* -- The events surrounding the character Fenchurch could explain the complicated nature of the adaptational tree. "Plural" sectors, and the creatures who live in them, are areas of infinite improbability, leading to an infinite number of alternate versions of each character. Due to how space travel seems to work, its entirely possible that alternate versions of "plural" characters are created or transported randomly (or at least co-incidentally) with every hyperspace jump. Each medium (radio, book, tv, film) is its own "reality" but the characters are shuffled between the different realities with each jump, leaving readers to pick and choose which version of which character is in which universe at any given time, thus creating more alternate realities. The 2005 film is merely the "Vogon reality" created at the end of the fifth book. Also known as the "studio system".

Picking up a copy of H2G2 in a used bookstore on a whim was the best decision of my life; not even kidding.

For me, the radio series will always be the best! So damn good!

Part of the changes to the second book were also because Douglas Adams got help from John Lloyd when writing the final three episodes of the primary phase of the radio show, using material Lloyd had for a different project. So Adams had to change it.

I only know about half of this insanity. Thanks for revealing the true level of madness behind the Hitchiker's adaptation saga. Also, REALLY looking forward to seeing you rage over that movie. Martin Freeman was the only good thing about it (though I remember liking the guy who played Ford, too).

just finished thanks for the fish in a four in one compilation and now realise i need to read the last two books

I love the video dude plus the radio show and the book is awesome.

And the hexagonal phase...? Hmm.. This is getting complicated. Loved the video!

That intro was incredible

another great episode. thank you!

The confusion you demonstrated in this video apears to be utterly appropriate given the general themes of the books/radio productions. That being nothing makes any real sense and everybody is just as confused as you are, even if they act otherwise. Also, when you realized your timeline was making things more confusing you should have quoted the books by saying, ''Sorry for the inconvenience.''

I'm reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as my summer reading book so I guess I'll have to wait to watch this until after finals

I love your thesis to Douglas Adams, but why did you exclude "Young Zephod Plays It Safe"? Just curious. \

The film would certainly have had Douglas Adams spinning in his grave and he is still spinning as it made a lot of people angry and is generally considered to be a bad move.

My god, that music brings up so many memories

"You're turning into an infinite number of penguins."

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has changed my life, for the better of course. And I was with you right up until the very end, because how dare you, that movie is a beautiful masterpiece xD The movie was actually the first thing I watched that had to do with HG2G, and I watched it because of Martin Freeman - that man lit the flame of a lifelong obsession, which I've had for the past four or five years. I listened to the radio show, I read the books, I watched the series, I went back and watched the movie, I bought an Arthur action figure (they're rare, but you can find them on eBay), I even cosplay Arthur Dent and got a 42 tattoo on my arm, and I have the movie to thank for that. I also noticed that you didn't mention the graphic novels that were released for the first three books! Maybe you could talk about them briefly? They were published in issues of three per series by DC Comics in 1993 (The Hitchhiker's Guide), 1995 (The Restaurant), and 1996 (Life, the Universe, and Everything). They never made any more after that though, which is a shame, because the artwork in them is amazing.

very good review of a complex timeline ! I can't wait to see the consequences.

You missed the computer game, towel and record. Granted, two of those are likely hard to come by these days, but the computer game (a hilarious text parser where giving a cheese sandwich to a dog saves your life, and there's a thing you can never get rid of) is quite easy to find.

Sub Dom, I've discovered your channel some days ago and have watched a bunch of videos. It didnt really think about subscribing until now. I loved reading those books and I need to know when the next video on this comes out! keep up the good work

I actually enjoy the movie. It's not the best that it could be, but it's a bit of fun for an afternoon.

I've been waiting for this!