38/19
And here’s my problem
Line of Events
A series 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 big Old Spice commercials as “the man your husband can smell.” I first followed Aldis Hodge’s career when I fell in love with his character in Leverage. His portrayal of the “hacker” Hardison was excellent, and I am also completely sold on his portrayal of Alex Cross. The script is strong, the performances are consistently excellent, and the direction and editing are top notch. The lighting is terrible.
Three scenes particularly stand out
I don’t know anyone who spends every waking moment indoors in such darkness. I’m only 40 minutes into the first episode, but I’m already having trouble making out details in many scenes. The first was the cocktail lounge. I don’t usually go to bars and cocktail lounges, but even the darkest restaurant I’ve ever been to was so well lit that I could see the faces of the other people at the table. Second, there was the villain’s hideout.
This isn’t a romantic dinner for two
Would someone who works on detailed plans and designs really do so in such dim lighting? A perfectionist would certainly want to see everything he does clearly. Third, there’s the house where Alex shows up for dinner. It’s a gathering of family and friends. The entire house is dark—the foyer, the living room, and the dining room.
Why so dark?
Plus, every room in the police building is dark. Wouldn’t a forensic scientist have a very well-lit operating room? When they’re trying to set the mood, I focus more on the laborious visualization than on the plot and dialogue. This is a decision many shows have made in recent years. You know, someone with vision problems simply wouldn’t be able to watch it.
My dad couldn’t do it anyway
However, 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 also so dark it wasn’t fun. A little online research revealed that the problem was with the service, not the streaming service. When the show aired on the network, the lighting was perfectly fine. Your guide to all the new movies and shows streaming on Prime Video in the US this month.