Why Jeff Wheeler's First Argentines fantasy books would make a fantastic TV series

Jeff Wheeler published his first fantasy novel in 2011 and has published nearly 40 books, encompassed in 10 series, since then. One of his very best is his First Argentines series. While this series serves as a prequel to his well-known Kingfountain books, it takes place centuries before and stands very well on its own.

The main character in the First Argentines books is Ransom Barton. Ransom's life and accomplishments closely resemble those of the famous 12th century British knight William Marshal, the first Earl of Pembroke. Marshal, like Ransom, served several kings and was a tournament knight of impressive repute.

Many of the storylines throughout the four First Argentines books reflect real historical events that happened during Marshal's life and in England. Wheeler even incorporates Marshal's wife's family name (Isabel de Clare) as the name of Ransom's love (Claire).

Of course, the real events have been altered significantly so they can fit inside these fantasy novels, but it's easy to see the parallels. Britannica offers a nice summary of Marshal's life if anyone is interested.

The books intermingles magic into the story, but in a wizard-waves-his-hands-and-sets-something-on-fire kind of way. The magic here is more subtle and specific. It plays a part in the story, but mainly, the star of these books is the medieval setting and its gallant knightly hero.

Why Jeff Wheeler's First Argentines books should be turned into a TV show

There is plenty of action, political intrigue, violent battles, romance, and magic to satisfy most fantasy fans. If a TV studio adapted the novels for TV, they could do all four books in probably two eight-episode seasons. And if it was successful, it could lead to even bigger and better things with a longer series adapting Wheeler's six Kingfountain books.

A whole world could open up with the right team working on these books, and it could lead to a number of television series. Wheeler's work is easy to read; the pages almost turn themselves. His stories are fast-paced and his characters well-developed. It all seems too good to be true. After that, there is a five-book series that takes place in the same world as theFirst Argentines series and the Kingfountain series: the Poisoner of Kingfountain books.

Hopefully, someone somewhere will take a look at Wheeler's work and bring them to the small screen. Fantasy fans will be excited to see it come to pass.

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