I think it’s due to how knowledgeable, practical, and yet pessimistic Watney’s inner monologue is through the book. It’s one thing to see something go wrong on screen (they did show all of the major issues as far as I recall, and a few minor ones too), it’s another to have the main character scientifically dissect exactly how fucked he is or will be if the next attempt at a solution fails.
I have the same feeling.
I think it’s due to how knowledgeable, practical, and yet pessimistic Watney’s inner monologue is through the book. It’s one thing to see something go wrong on screen (they did show all of the major issues as far as I recall, and a few minor ones too), it’s another to have the main character scientifically dissect exactly how fucked he is or will be if the next attempt at a solution fails.
They cut the part where his communications went down again, which was probably his biggest blow mentally aside from getting stranded initially.