Derek Thompson

So gilded age, gilded age. means thinly covered with gold paint, but not actually gold. And the reason I think that this era of television is gilded is that I think we've reached an important inflection point Prestige TV today looks so fucking good.

So gilded age, gilded age. means thinly covered with gold paint, but not actually gold. And the reason I think that this era of television is gilded is that I think we've reached an important inflection point Prestige TV today looks so fucking good.

So gilded age, gilded age. means thinly covered with gold paint, but not actually gold. And the reason I think that this era of television is gilded is that I think we've reached an important inflection point Prestige TV today looks so fucking good.

If you compare the cinematography and art direction of the best shows of the 21st century, The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad, avant-garde shows like Twin Peaks, if you compare their cinematography to... White Lotus or Severance or 20-minute continuous shot episodes from The Bear, television looks unbelievable right now. It's like a movie.

If you compare the cinematography and art direction of the best shows of the 21st century, The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad, avant-garde shows like Twin Peaks, if you compare their cinematography to... White Lotus or Severance or 20-minute continuous shot episodes from The Bear, television looks unbelievable right now. It's like a movie.

If you compare the cinematography and art direction of the best shows of the 21st century, The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad, avant-garde shows like Twin Peaks, if you compare their cinematography to... White Lotus or Severance or 20-minute continuous shot episodes from The Bear, television looks unbelievable right now. It's like a movie.

Even better, that episode of Severance about Gemma was more technically impressive than some of the most beautifully shot movies I've ever seen. And I feel like maybe we don't even talk about how lucky we are to live in an age where prestige TV is so next level sumptuous.

Even better, that episode of Severance about Gemma was more technically impressive than some of the most beautifully shot movies I've ever seen. And I feel like maybe we don't even talk about how lucky we are to live in an age where prestige TV is so next level sumptuous.

Even better, that episode of Severance about Gemma was more technically impressive than some of the most beautifully shot movies I've ever seen. And I feel like maybe we don't even talk about how lucky we are to live in an age where prestige TV is so next level sumptuous.

And yet, I think this era of impossibly beautiful art direction and technical achievement and gorgeous cinematography is coinciding with this other very important trend. which I'll summarize as, I think we've lost the plot on plot.

And yet, I think this era of impossibly beautiful art direction and technical achievement and gorgeous cinematography is coinciding with this other very important trend. which I'll summarize as, I think we've lost the plot on plot.

And yet, I think this era of impossibly beautiful art direction and technical achievement and gorgeous cinematography is coinciding with this other very important trend. which I'll summarize as, I think we've lost the plot on plot.

Like Severance, I like the show more than our mutual friend, Annie Greenwald, but there's no question that like from a plot momentum standpoint, some of its episodes grind things down to an absolute halt. Like White Lotus, I love the show. The first four episodes of this season could have been 90 minutes in terms of what it set up plot-wise.

Like Severance, I like the show more than our mutual friend, Annie Greenwald, but there's no question that like from a plot momentum standpoint, some of its episodes grind things down to an absolute halt. Like White Lotus, I love the show. The first four episodes of this season could have been 90 minutes in terms of what it set up plot-wise.

Like Severance, I like the show more than our mutual friend, Annie Greenwald, but there's no question that like from a plot momentum standpoint, some of its episodes grind things down to an absolute halt. Like White Lotus, I love the show. The first four episodes of this season could have been 90 minutes in terms of what it set up plot-wise.

Last year, I remember we talked about the fact that it seems like almost every single prestige miniseries has at least two to four episodes in the middle of it, which is half the miniseries, where nothing happens, right? We're presumed innocent. The guy gets a heart attack. And then 45 minutes later in plot, he's bouncing up. He's fine. He's fine. He's running a half marathon. He's totally good.

Last year, I remember we talked about the fact that it seems like almost every single prestige miniseries has at least two to four episodes in the middle of it, which is half the miniseries, where nothing happens, right? We're presumed innocent. The guy gets a heart attack. And then 45 minutes later in plot, he's bouncing up. He's fine. He's fine. He's running a half marathon. He's totally good.

Last year, I remember we talked about the fact that it seems like almost every single prestige miniseries has at least two to four episodes in the middle of it, which is half the miniseries, where nothing happens, right? We're presumed innocent. The guy gets a heart attack. And then 45 minutes later in plot, he's bouncing up. He's fine. He's fine. He's running a half marathon. He's totally good.

He just had a heart attack because Kelly needed to stretch the plot to eight episodes. Something weird has happened here where it's almost like we've gotten too good at cinematography.

He just had a heart attack because Kelly needed to stretch the plot to eight episodes. Something weird has happened here where it's almost like we've gotten too good at cinematography.