How historically accurate is the "John Adams" miniseries on HBO?

Question:I know it could only give a thumbnail sketch at best, but what do history buffs think of the series?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I know it could only give a thumbnail sketch at best, but what do history buffs think of the series?

It is based on David McCullough's. biography of John Adams which was widely praised as being well researched and accurate as to documented events, drawing on the correspondence between John and Abigail for their reactions to events of the day.

It is as accurate as any telling of a lifetime which must pick and choose events. It avoids the common Hollywood trick of compressing events and combining characters.

HISTORY is just someone else interpretation of WHAT happened. When HBO gets involved then MARKETING comes into play. Not only must the circumstances be FAIRLY (operative words here) accurate but they must be interesting and able to generate an audience (sales) as well.

If you had asked about John Adams' WRITTEN account in his autobiography, then I think that would be better believed because it would be a PERSONAL expression versus someone else views.