Why TV Is Slightly Out of Focus Lately

[Cristiano]

Why ‘Shogun’ (and the Rest of TV) Is Slightly Out of Focus

If you’ve been puzzled by some blurry backgrounds and darkened edges on your screen while watching your favorite prestige TV shows, you’re not alone. No need to check your TV settings, though: It’s intentional.

www.theringer.com

 

[Lexxi]

Wondered why I couldn't get past the first episode of Shogun. My eyes are horrible. I don't need intentional things done to make my eyes work harder.

Though, really, it was the subtitles. I was having fun with the show. But the subtitles kept pulling me out of the show. Had to focus too much on it and less on what was going on in the show. Especially, again, because my eyesight is poor. Reading those subtitles - not easy.
(there was also the part where I loathed the white English pirate dude, but eh)

 

[Jopsy Pendragon]

I've been enjoying shogun, I sorta noticed the depth of field thing, but acclimated quickly. My main (only?) annoyance at the show are the terrible color contacts. I get it, they wanted him for the role and his eyes weren't the right color. Not as bad as most vampire movies, but still, yikes.

 

[Imnotgoing Sideways]

Don't worry. In a couple years obtrusive multilayer blooming octagonal lens flare will be back in fashion. =^-^=

 

[Rose Karuna]

I really hate this kind of deliberate obfuscation of the picture. Also, when they think it's really artistic to nearly blacken the screen so you can hardly see anything (there was a lot of that in the last season of True Detective which was irritating as hell). I'm old, I don't see or hear as well as I used to so this is probably a typical "get off my lawn post" Nevertheless it's still irritating as hell. I also HATE when they make the background music louder than the dialog. WHY???

It just means I have to watch half my shows with the subtitles on. And it's not a hearing issue because I have my hearing aids tied into the TV and can hear dialog perfectly well when it's not overrun by loud freaking music.

Speaking of loud music (train for derailment here) ...

Why do they have to play it so loud in US restaurants that you cannot hold a conversation at the table? I know it's not just me because my younger friends complain about it too. Just why? This does appear to be a US phenomenon as I hardly ever run into it in Italy, France or other places in Europe (except in the UK once in awhile).

 

[Khamon]

Thank You. I've been watching some shows wearing reading glasses and wondering why it seemed necessary. Won't do that any longer knowing that the fuzziness is intentional.