38/35
Here’s my problem
Plot
A TV adaptation of James Patterson’s novels about the complicated and brilliant detective Alex Cross. In episode 2, Cross tells Sampson that he smells like “mothballs and old spice.” In real life, Isaiah Mustafa appeared in the great Old Spice commercials as “the man your man might smell like.” I started following Aldis Hodge’s career when I fell in love with his character in Leverage. His performance as the “hacker” Hardison was excellent, and I totally buy into his performance as Alex Cross. The script is strong, the acting is excellent all around, and the direction and editing are top-notch. The lighting stinks. I don’t know anyone who lives every moment of their inner life in such darkness.
Three scenes in particular stand out
I’m only 40 minutes into the first episode, but I’m already having trouble seeing the details of many of the scenes. The first was the cocktail lounge. I don’t frequent cocktail lounges and bars myself, but even the darkest restaurant I’ve ever been to had enough lighting to see the faces of the other people at the table. The second was the bad guy’s lair. Would someone who works on detailed plans and projects really do that in such dim lighting? A perfectionist would definitely want to be able to see everything they’re doing clearly.
Why so dark?
Third, the house where Alex shows up for dinner. This isn’t a romantic dinner for two. This is a family and friends gathering. The entire house is dark – the lobby, the living room, and the dining room. Plus, every room in the police building is dark. Wouldn’t a forensic scientist have a very well-lit operating room?
My Dad certainly couldn’t do that
If they’re trying to set the mood, I’m more focused on what I can see than on the plot and dialogue. This is a choice that a lot of shows have made in recent years. You know, anyone with failing eyesight simply wouldn’t be able to watch it. That being said, I could be wrong about the reason for the darkness. I stopped watching “How I Met Your Father” on another streaming service because it was so dark it was uncomfortable. A little digging around the internet revealed that the problem was with the service, not the show.
Check out our November calendar for more!
When the show aired on the network, the lighting was fine. The new season of “Silo” is one of the biggest TV and streaming premieres this month.