The cult classic teen movie “10 Things I Hate About You,” beloved for its witty take on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” was reimagined for television by ABC Family. This adaptation sought to capture the magic of the original film for a new generation, with Lindsey Shaw stepping into Julia Stiles’ iconic role as Kat Stratford, and Ethan Peck, grandson of Gregory Peck, taking on Heath Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal of Patrick Verona. While the prospect of revisiting such a cherished movie for television might seem like tampering with perfection, the “10 Things” series on ABC Family carved out its own space in the teen TV landscape.
However, the series opted for a less inventive approach when it came to modernizing the narrative. Despite incorporating contemporary elements like text messaging and cell phones, the ABC Family “10 Things” adaptation largely leaned on well-worn high school tropes. These clichés, reminiscent of Archie Comics, included a predictable social hierarchy dominated by stereotypical dumb jocks and mean-spirited cheerleaders. This reliance on familiar territory meant that the series, while watchable, didn’t push boundaries or offer significant updates to the source material, which itself was a clever modernization of classic literature.
In some ways, “10 Things” on ABC Family further diluted the Shakespearean roots of the story. It incorporated elements of cheerleader-focused narratives, bringing to mind movies like “Bring It On.” At a time when teen television was evolving, with shows like Fox’s “Glee” injecting satire and musical elements into the high school formula, and Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” capturing the zeitgeist of the internet age, “10 Things” played it relatively safe. While “10 Things I Hate About You” ABC Family offered moments of entertainment, it ultimately fell short of the original movie’s sharp wit and originality, settling into a more conventional teen series format.
