A New Dark Age
By Sean McVeigh
The “Dark Ages” were not named as such because of anything literal. The sun rose and the sun set just as it always does. Rather, the period is named for an extreme darkening in the human experience. Human intellect, art and economics — among many other things — were in decline. It wasn’t even that there was just a lack of these pillars of civilization, the human race actively forgot things we had already learned! We were going backward. Think of it as the anti-enlightenment. This was a deep, dark low point on the massive bell curve that is our existence.
There are so many different directions that I can take this topic. It’s killing me not to go into so much other crap based on the last few weeks — and what a few weeks it has been! But that little six-inch mini-me on my right shoulder is begging me, screaming at me, to leave it all be. He is pulling on those reins that control my brain as if his tiny life depends on it. Even Jiminy Cricket would be proud of his effort. And out of respect to him, I will cease the self-righteous digression. Another time.
I am not much of a cinematic expert. I am certainly not a director. I have also never let a lack of expertise stop me from spewing my opinions. Why on earth is everything produced for TV and the big screen so damn dark these days?
The other day, I was watching a TV show and there was a scene that took place at night and in the woods. I could not see a single thing on the screen for over five minutes. We get it, in reality, it would be very dark at night in the forest. This is not reality though. That’s the whole point. Not everyone watches shows and movies in a pitch-black room. But even in absolute darkness, you still can’t see anything! I’ve tried rewatching something late at night with all the lights off and, yet again, I stare at a black screen, listening to random noises at a loss for what might be happening. If I wanted to use my imagination for what I thought was happening, I would read a book. The funny thing about all this is that they still pay for the intricate set and the acting that goes on in the scene … it’s just no one gets to see it. Some might think that is a giant waste of money. I am part of that “some.”
“Game of Thrones,” one of the greatest shows of all time, was a dastardly guilty culprit of this crime. In the disappointing final season, we were treated to episode 3, “The Long Night” (how aptly named), which promised a highly anticipated battle scene that would be the culmination of years of plot building. That episode alone was estimated to cost the ungodly sum of $15 million to make. I never saw the majority of it though because it was filmed in complete darkness. What a freaking waste. I wonder who watched that and thought to themselves, “Wow, it’s so cool that I can’t see anything.” I would bet my bottom dollar that most people were like me and thought that their TV’s brightness settings were on the fritz. I went and rewatched it on my computer the next day to see if I could … well, see anything. Nope. It was the same thing. Outlines of shapes running around with the occasional dialogue to give you the slightest idea of what was happening. I wouldn’t dare say that was the worst thing about that final “Game of Thrones” season, but it was up there.
I think this all stems from people trying too hard. These directors and producers are trying to come up with the next big thing and in the process, they are ruining the product. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Want to make something worth watching? Here’s a bright idea to start with: turn on the freaking lights!
