It’s recently been pointed out to me that I’ve got a good run of kinda snarky posts about streaming. I guess like many of us, I’ve found some things to be disappointed about. Satellite doesn’t get me down in the dumps, but it does seem like the world of streaming is quickly maturing to the point where it’s less fun to talk about.
So, this week I’m going to consciously focus on one good thing about streaming: the amazing fantasy stuff that’s out there.
House of Dragons gets it right
OK, so it’s not perfect. It’s uneven, it’s a bit talky the wigs are just silly, but the Game of Thrones spinoff has a lot about it to like. The original show ended on a divisive note, and it’s been a couple of years. While it wasn’t an ironclad guarantee that a new show would have an audience, it’s breaking viewership records.
The show’s producers have really learned a lesson when it comes to the show as well. It’s available on streaming in 4K HDR, and the lighting problems which plagued the original aren’t there. Watching in HDR is a pleasure, and if you don’t have an HDR setup, the show’s been adjusted to make it so you can actually see it.
The Rings of Power might just be worth the money
A lot of time has been spent on the fact that Amazon Prime’s The Rings of Power is the most expensive show ever made. Some estimates place the cost at just under half a BILLION dollars. Not that Jeff Bezos is hurting for money, but that’s a lot of coin.
Still, early episodes give me hope. It’s pretty darn good. It validates the time spent watching the original. The effects look realistic, not over-CGI’d. It feels worth the effort. As someone who’s spent a lifetime with the Tolkien originals, I’m glad it’s there. And that came as quite a surprise to me.
The streaming experience is, for once, better than satellite
I’m not quite sure why HBO hasn’t come up with a 4K satellite channel. But the fact is they haven’t. And Prime content is only available to stream, of course. If you want the best quality from these gorgeous-looking streamers, you can’t get it on satellite. So, here I am giving you a thumbs-up to the streaming experience. Go on, streaming box. You’ve earned it.
Can streaming keep the streak going?
If you’re reading this article and thinking, “who are you and what have you done with Stuart?” I get it. I’ll be just as surprised as you if I can come back next week with something positive to say about the world of streaming video. But then, stranger things have happened, as Jake Buckler would say. You’ll just have to come back next week and see if Streaming Saturday continues to get sunnier and more optimistic.
