|
Post by ThirdMan on Jan 5, 2020 10:53:50 GMT -8
I found a lot of the show's stylistic flourishes to be more playful and cheeky than anything. Very rarely found it pretentious. and/or trying to suggest profound meaning where it didn't exist (like some David Lynch or Nicholas Winding Refn films). Anyways, regardless of characterization, these days, if a show has a generic or flat visual style, I can't be bothered to devote my time to it. I notice this with a lot of BBC murder-mystery shows, which look like they've been shot on crappy video, and seem to have no effort put into their visual compositions. They're like daytime soaps with somewhat better acting (British character actors with some stage experience).
It IS interesting to me, though, how so many of these $200+ million blockbusters have so much less visual imagination than a relatively-low-budget TV series on FX. It's too bad that that cool, trippy virtual-reality montage (via Mysterio) in the middle of Far From Home (at the construction site) isn't the rule, rather than the exception. More of that, please.
|
|
|
Post by Incandescence 112 on Jan 5, 2020 17:03:11 GMT -8
I found a lot of the show's stylistic flourishes to be more playful and cheeky than anything. Very rarely found it pretentious. and/or trying to suggest profound meaning where it didn't exist (like some David Lynch or Nicholas Winding Refn films). Anyways, regardless of characterization, these days, if a show has a generic or flat visual style, I can't be bothered to devote my time to it. I notice this with a lot of BBC murder-mystery shows, which look like they've been shot on crappy video, and seem to have no effort put into their visual compositions. They're like daytime soaps with somewhat better acting (British character actors with some stage experience). It IS interesting to me, though, how so many of these $200+ million blockbusters have so much less visual imagination than a relatively-low-budget TV series on FX. It's too bad that that cool, trippy virtual-reality montage (via Mysterio) in the middle of Far From Home (at the construction site) isn't the rule, rather than the exception. More of that, please. It's not that surprising to me that the studios wouldn't want to risk doing anything too daring or creative for fear of alienation. Whereas series such as FX (and AMC and others) have been investing in quality lately. Which is nice to see. I don't see Atlanta being made by a big budget studio, even if Glover said that he basically had to trick the studio heads to get the show made. Not sure about the first point. I've liked some shows that are visually ugly before-TNG and DS9 were pretty sterile and monotone looking. Still like those due to the writing. Dull, gray shows like Travelers though? Can't say I'm really interested in those either.
|
|
|
Post by ThirdMan on Jan 5, 2020 18:10:45 GMT -8
Oh, the first point wasn't directed at you. I was just speaking in more general terms about what I'm drawn to as a viewer.
And though I did single out the "trippy" sequence in Spider-Man: Far From Home, I'd be happy if the images in these blockbusters were just a BIT more artfully-composed. There are so many times where I don't even think they have any genuinely memorable images. As the MCU goes, I think Doctor Strange was just about the only one to consistently buck the trend, capturing the visual, eye-popping possibilities of these things.
|
|
|
Post by Jeremy on Jan 5, 2020 19:09:33 GMT -8
I think the issue of creativity getting more of a platform in niche TV goes well beyond superheroes. Compare the average 90-minute animated film from DreamWorks or Blue Sky to an 11-minute episode of Adventure Time, Steven Universe, or Teen Titans Go, and the latter will typically be more artful and innovative. Studios just aren't going to take those kinds of daring risks in massive blockbuster productions (give or take the occasional Spider-Verse).
I'm trying to think of TV shows that put me off due to their visuals. Some older television series have a washed-out look to them, but I've accepted that as a sign of the times. I think Battlestar Galactica put me off after a while due to its hazy blue-grey color palette, though it could just be that I was losing interest in the show itself.
|
|
|
Post by ThirdMan on Jan 5, 2020 19:23:18 GMT -8
I just don't understand why a mainstream audience would be put off by attractive images (I'm not talking about long takes), as opposed to bland or cluttered visuals.
|
|
Quiara
Grade School
Posts: 775
|
Post by Quiara on Jan 11, 2020 14:35:54 GMT -8
Well, I just called The Americans the "best show of the decade" which means I've triggered the lightning round: what are the best shows of the decade? Incidentally, here's how the picks for #1 show of the decade currently break down: 1. The Leftovers/The Americans (7 votes each) 2. Breaking Bad/Game of Thrones (5 votes each) 3. Fleabag/Watchmen (2 votes each) I win!
|
|
|
Post by ThirdMan on Jan 12, 2020 2:55:30 GMT -8
The Americans is ranked fifth in overall Top 10 mentions. And this is an aggregate list that has Stranger Things at #10. Silly people. Talk about a show running in circles. (ST, that is).
|
|
|
Post by Jeremy on Jan 12, 2020 6:32:34 GMT -8
Fleabag is a hairsbreadth away from being crowned the best show of the decade. Wow. It also appears on far more lists than any other show (36 total - its closest competition is Atlanta, which is on 29).
I think Metacritic's algorithm is a little unfair (it assigns the same weight to a #10 spot as a #3 spot), but this is still pretty impressive.
|
|
|
Post by ThirdMan on Jan 12, 2020 15:09:30 GMT -8
It's a very good show, but I doubt it would be nearly as high if it had premiered over five years ago.
|
|
|
Post by Jeremy on Jan 19, 2020 7:57:20 GMT -8
I had some spare time, and decided to figure out how Metacritic's list would fare if it played by more traditional rules, like the old Hitfix lists. (TV shows get 10 points for every #1 spot, 9 points for every #2 spot, and so forth.)
Here's how it turned out. Note that I only focused on the "ranked" lists on their website:
1. Breaking Bad (164 points) 2. The Leftovers (160) 3. Fleabag (159) 4. The Americans (145) 5. Game of Thrones (142) 6. Atlanta (123) 7. Mad Men (104) 8. BoJack Horseman (87) 9. Stranger Things (75) 10. Parks and Recreation (68)
As you can see, Breaking Bad moves from #4 to the top spot under the new (and, in my opinion, fairer) grading system. So maybe it wasn't hurt so much by its 2000s debut after all.
(Meanwhile, Stranger Things gets bumped up a spot as well. Critics can be hilarious.)
|
|
|
Post by otherscott on Jan 20, 2020 5:50:46 GMT -8
That rating does make more sense. Before the rankings started anything but a Breaking Bad walkover would have surprised me, but I think it got really hurt by premiering in the previous decade and getting left out of some critics list as a result.
The Fleabag stuff is a little ridiculous. Like not only did it just become popular this year, it also only aired 6 total hours of content. There was more Watchmen that aired this decade than Fleabag. I agree the show was really good, but it was also pretty much a miniseries that happened to air two distinct parts. I controversially did include miniseries in my best of decade list, but I also acknowledged it’s hard for them to compete with the character and story development you see in a well run long form series.
|
|
|
Post by Jeremy on Jan 20, 2020 19:31:31 GMT -8
Fun fact: Back in 2009, Metacritic's "Best TV Shows of the 2000s" list put the UK Office at #7 (just ahead of Deadwood and The Shield). That show, which only aired 12 episodes (plus a couple of hourlong specials) made it near the top of the decade's list - and several spots ahead of its American remake! - despite its extremely brief run.
All of which is to say - Fleabag's ranking is certainly influenced by recency bias, but it's not entirely without precedent.
|
|
|
Post by otherscott on Jan 22, 2020 7:01:59 GMT -8
I don't really have a problem ranking it #7, or even where you ranked it around #9. It's the sheer number people who were stating that this 6 hour TV show that mostly gained traction as great only this year was the best thing to air this decade that had me looking kind of side-eyed.
|
|