TV Tuesday: What Is That?

[yourlibrarian]

While we might agree or disagree as to which shows succeeded in 2024, the issue of lighting and colors in TV is one that has been an increasing source of debate. Which shows do you think do this well or poorly?

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

As it happens, my recent rewatch of Veronica Mars showed that even though a good part of the show takes place during the night or in dimly lit places, it was still perfectly viewable. Given the timing of the series it makes me wonder if digital filming made a difference in how dark things got. Film in poor lighting looks grainy and poor quality.

Also regarding colors, I noticed that Neptune seemed to use more stained glass than anyplace else I've seen! Despite the fact that Mars Investigations couldn't afford fancy digs, it was quite an attractive office light-wise. It made me wonder if the show couldn't go too grey in its desire for a noir feel, and the stained glass lighting was a compromise.

Similarly I noticed that in the Neptune Grand hotel rooms there was backlighting through amber glass and there were other buildings that also used light through colored glass to produce a unique look for the show.

[executrix]

After a while I couldn't even hate-watch it, but I watched many more episodes of The Gilded Age than I would otherwise because they had enough [expletive deleted] lamps when nobody else did, and people wore beautiful and colorful clothes. I liked Succession, but got tired of all opulent possessions being either black or steel grey.

I didn't even watch one full episode of Millenium, because there was a scene set in a dark, shadowy....morgue. I'm not planning on redecorating in Morguecore, but one thing you can say for ME's offices is that they have more than one lightbulb per 1,000 square feet.

[squidgiepdx]

Some of the Reacher night shots could totally do better with more lighting. I mean it's a good action sequence show, and daytime and well-lit scenes are definitely good - but they could be better.

[caramarie]

It's probably not the most egregious example, but we were constantly having to draw the curtains to watch Silo in the daytime, as it was too hard to see otherwise. Which most shows we don't need to do!

I watched Squid Game not long after and it was like, thank God, some colour!

[tinny]

I haven't watched much western tv in recent years, but cdrama is full of opulent colors, pastel robes, the works. They really take care to light everything well.

That's why The Wind Blows from Longxi was such a standout with all its robes being in drab colors, and the overall color palette being grey. Definitely an interesting choice, and I heard both praise and annoyed comments about it. (I have not seen the show myself, except for fanvids and excerpts.)