Summary

• A TV show adaptation of Mistborn would be better than a film adaptation because it would have the time and space to address issues with the source material.
• The portrayal of female characters in Mistborn, particularly the protagonist Vin, could be improved by avoiding the "not like other girls" trope and allowing Vin to develop more positive relationships with other women.
• A TV show could enhance the romance between Vin and Elend, making it more compelling, and delve into the psyches of the villains.

A film adaptation of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn is in development, but a most popular fantasy offerings out there, set in a world wrought with political drama and corruption — but also with magic. Mistborn's metal-based magic system is perhaps one of the best things about the series, though the dynamics between the characters will also appeal to anyone who enjoys found-family stories.

Mistborn tackles heavily relevant political topics, following an orphan named Vin as she s a crew of thieves plotting to overthrow the Final Empire. The Final Empire is ruled by a tyrant dubbed the Lord Ruler, and he's become akin to a god. Only those with Allomancy — the ability to manipulate metals — stand a chance of stopping him. Even then, the odds are stacked against Vin and her new companions. Their seemingly hopeless quest weaves a compelling narrative throughout the books, but there are a few flaws that a TV adaptation of Mistborn could address.

7 Mistborn Needs More Female Characters

Brandon Sanderson should have included more women

Although the Mistborn series has a female protagonist, the books are lacking when it comes to women. Apart from Vin, there are only a handful of female characters who play a prominent role in the story. Even those who factor into the main storyline don't appear all that frequently. Tindwyl is the only other woman on the main crew, and she's around for just one book. Allrianne Cett's storyline takes a surprising turn in the later novels, but she's not that important overall. The only other women mentioned frequently are Mare, Kelsier's deceased love, and Shan Elariel, who serves as an antagonist in book one.

Sanderson himself has said he should have included more women in Mistborn, and a Mistborn movie or show could fix this book problem. A series would have the time to add new female characters to the equation or give the ing women more to do within the story. It could introduce Tindwyl earlier or offer more of Allrianne's perspective. It could also feature flashbacks to Kelsier and Mare's relationship, making the latter's presence felt more than in the books.

6 Vin Falls Into The "Not Like Other Girls" Trope

She cuts the male characters way more slack

In addition to lacking female characters, Mistborn tends to put down any women who aren't Vin — or at least Vin does, and much of the story is told from her perspective. Vin doesn't trust easily, but she often gives the male characters more slack than the women she meets. In some cases, this is justified; Shan Elariel certainly deserves her scorn. However, Vin judges allies like Tindwyl, and she distrusts Allrianne for all the wrong reasons. It seems anyone with frivolous or feminine tastes meets Vin's disapproval, even though she spends much of the books grappling with her own desire to embrace such qualities.

While a Mistborn adaptation should still delve into Vin's understandable trust issues, it could approach her relationships with other women more carefully. There's no need for her to embrace the "not like other girls" trope — and if she does, a show could have her acknowledge and work through it.

5 A Show Could Make Mistborn's Main Romance More Compelling

Vin and Elend are kind of awkward in the books

Vin's relationship with Elend Venture plays an important role in the Mistborn series, as the two work together to save the Final Empire. Elend becomes king after the events of the first Mistborn book, and Vin becomes his protector and queen. The two make a strong pair, but the chemistry between them could be stronger in the books. Their relationship is a bit awkward, and while some of that can be attributed to Vin's struggles with intimacy, it's often hard to see why they're together.

A Mistborn TV show would have time to build up their romance better, and casting actors with good chemistry could help sell it. If an adaptation hopes to succeed, it will need to get viewers in these characters' corners. Making their relationship more compelling is one way to do that, and it will make the ending of the story that much more emotional.

4 A Show Could Dig Into The Villains' Psyches

The Lord Ruler could be explored further through flashbacks

The villains in the Mistborn books can be somewhat one note, coming off as all bad, all the time. Elend's father, Straff Venture, certainly doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities — and the same can be said for several of Sanderson's antagonists. The Lord Ruler and Inquisitors aren't meant to be humanized, but at the same time, it would be interesting to see a different side of these villains. The books eventually reveal there's more to the Lord Ruler's actions than it seems, but even this does little to make him truly interesting.

A TV show could dig into the Lord Ruler's history before he becomes a tyrant, something the book outlines through journals and other artifacts. By bringing the journal entries to life on-screen, a Mistborn show could delve deeper into the Lord Ruler's psyche. It wouldn't have to sacrifice book one's big twist either. By showing flashbacks to Alendi and Rashek's journey, a series could make them both fully fleshed out characters as memorable as Vin and Kelsier.

3 Mistborn's ing Characters Could Have More In-Depth Arcs

Dockson, Clubs, and Spook deserve their own subplots

Kelsier's crew is full of great characters, but the Mistborn books don't give all of them equal attention. While Sazed, Marsh, Ham, and Breeze are often in the spotlight, characters like Dockson, Clubs, and Spook could benefit from more in-depth character arcs. They all play large roles in Mistborn's rebellion, yet they don't feel as important as the others. A TV show could give them their own subplots, increasing their presence in the story. A Mistborn show could also flesh out rebellion leader Yeden further, which would make his fate more tragic later on.

2 A TV Show Could Keep Kelsier Around Despite Book One's Ending

Flashbacks could keep Mistborn's best character present longer

The first Mistborn book ends with Kelsier sacrificing his life for his cause. While it's a fitting death for his character, it drastically changes the tone of the latter books, as Kelsier is no longer one of the main characters. His presence remains with the other crew as they fight for the Final Empire, but his absence is felt by the reader — and in some ways, it makes books two and three less entertaining than the first installment.

Kelsier's charming and bold personality is a selling point of book one, and the series noticeably struggles to recover from his departure. A show could keep him around through flashbacks, allowing fans to spend more time with one of Mistborn's best characters.

1 A Mistborn Show Could Explain Ruin & Preservation More Clearly

A TV show could better explain how they factor into the whole story

Mistborn is set in a complex world with a detailed magic system, but that can make some of its lore feel convoluted at times. The books' reveals about Ruin and Preservation get bogged down by this, and readers may have to go back and read the series again to see how these gods factor into everything that unfolds. A Mistborn show could tie things together more clearly. It could also address other complex topics in a more straightforward manner, making the story more accessible for those who don't have a lot of experience with the fantasy genre.