So, you've decided to watch Spider-Noir. Good choice, it's a fun ride! But before you press play and settle in for an episode of Nicolas Cage slinging webs and taking names, Prime Video offers you one more choice. Do you want to watch the series in "Authentic Black and White" or "True-Hue Full Color"?
Both options will give you the same story, just in a different color format. The former mimics the black-and-white look of film noir movies, which Spider-Noir references heavily throughout. The latter, on the other hand, offers up a vibrantly colored experience, but one that still feels fairly vintage.
According to star Cage, either option is great, with the color potentially appealing to younger audiences. "The truth is, they both work and they're beautiful for different reasons," Cage told Esquire. "The color is super saturated and gorgeous. I think teenage viewers will appreciate the color, but I also want them to have the option. If they want to experience the concept in black and white, maybe that would instill some interest in them to look at earlier movies and enjoy that as an art form as well."
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But Cage's endorsement of both choices aside, which Spider-Noir option really wins out? I watched the season in both black-and-white and color, and one format does reign supreme. However, the race was closer than I thought, and the runner-up does have some merits that make it worth checking out.
The show is called Spider-Noir for a reason. It — and the very character of Spider-Man Noir! — is inspired by classics of the film noir genre, the majority of which are shot in black and white. (While "noir" is French for "black," not every film noir movie is in black and white. The "noir" refers more to films in the genre's pessimistic outlook.)
Spider-Noir wears these influences on its sleeves, especially when it comes to lighting. The show is chock-full of chiaroscuro, a technique that contrasts bright highlights with dark shadows, and the result is a visual feast. Light frames detective Ben Reilly's (Cage) head in a darkened bar, cut occasionally by the blades of a fan. Street lamps cast long shadows down New York City streets. Lounge singer Cat Hardy's (Li Jun Li) sparkly gowns stand out against pitch-black mirrors.
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These images and more immerse you fully in the world of Spider-Noir, drawing you back into a bygone era. Here, the power of good lighting is more apparent than ever, especially in a growing crowd of underlit TV shows. (Remember the too-dark House of the Dragon debacle?)
To put it more bluntly, Spider-Noir just looks cooler in black and white. That option most clearly matches the show's inspirations, plus it offers viewers the novelty of seeing a new show that's mostly missing from the current TV landscape.
Be sure to check out Spider-Noir in color too!
That being said, you should definitely make time to watch at least one Spider-Noir episode in color. In this format, you're able to see the wide array of hues the show's creative team was working with, from set designers to costume designers to makeup artists.
Take Robbie Robertson's (Lamorne Morris) suits. They're sharp in black and white, but they truly pop in color. At one point he sports an orange ensemble that I wouldn't expect many people to carry off, but somehow he manages it!
The same goes for Cat's dazzling makeup looks, or the walls in almost any room. As I alternated between black-and-white and full-color episodes, I was always astonished that people had been having discussions in bright yellow- or red-painted rooms. Clearly, the interior designers in Ben's New York were having a blast.
Just like how Spider Noir's black-and-white version outdoes underlit TV shows, its colorful version fixes another complaint I tend to have with modern film and TV. They tend to be undersaturated to the point of flatness, but Spider-Noir is happy to go buck wild and prove just how vibrant TV can be.
My only complaint with the colorful version of Spider-Noir is that occasionally, surfaces take on a waxy or even plasticky sheen. This is especially true for flat, unadorned walls, although the effect was lessened somewhat when I moved from a laptop to a TV.
Both Spider-Noir options offer viewers chances to appreciate different elements of the show's craft, and I'd recommend checking out both just to take in what a difference a lack of color can make. Still, if you want the best encapsulation of the show's tone and atmosphere, you can't beat black and white.