Why Does Every Netflix Show Look the Same? An Investigation.

The Nugget

Netflix shows exhibit a distinctive visual style characterized by overwhelming brightness, vibrant colors, and a repetitiveness in set design that leads to a perceived sameness across diverse series. This can influence the viewing experience, making it both memorable and oddly uniform.

Make it stick

🌟 Everything's brighter: Netflix prefers intense lighting over subtle shadows, making each scene pop but sometimes feel artificial.
🎨 Colors galore: Expect a visual onslaught where colors evoke strong emotional reactions, sometimes akin to a Van Gogh painting.
🎭 Close-ups of confusion: At key dramatic reveals, characters line up in groups to express their reactions, creating a signature Netflix photographic style.
🏗️ Set design crossover: You'll spot similar set designs reused across different shows, indicating a tight-knit production style.

Netflix has established a trademark look marked by:
1. Excessive brightness: Shows like The Witcher and Squid Game have bright lighting that overshadows darker scenes.
2. Vibrant, gaudy color palettes: Series like The Circle feature rooms that resemble over-the-top themes, drawn from meme culture.

Shared set designs lead to misconceptions about the locations:
1. Similarities between shows: The sets of Love Is Blind and Squid Game evoke a sense of déjà vu, highlighting a reliance on familiar aesthetics.
2. Virtual-reality overlaps: 3 Body Problem has set designs reminiscent of notable rooms from Squid Game, blurring the lines between different narratives.

Netflix showcases significant character emotions through:
1. Group reaction shots: After shocking events, characters gather in frame to display their confusion or shock collectively.
2. Lineups for dramatic effect: This pattern is notably executed in Cobra Kai, where the emotional dynamics of the characters are underscored through positioning.

"Even in a joint as dark as The Witcher’s candle-lit castle halls, I can still see the reflection of a beaming white light on Henry Cavill’s face."
"If I had to spend a month locked in a hotel room with a Pink Lemonade Jungle theme, I’d go insane."
"There’s a chance that any character on the show could be your favorite!"
"These decisions are not that bad. I’m just lovingly ribbing the streamer."
"Sooner or later, I might start thinking Wednesday Addams is on Stranger Things."

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.