Thread by @MattBaume

There's an extremely silly reason for this weird stand-too-close behavior that's not uncommon in pre-2000 TV shows, and once you notice it you can't help seeing it EVERYWHERE... 🧵 (1/6)

https://twitter.com/sapphicsea/status/1661357388778315778

It's the aspect ratio. When TV was a boxier 4x3, actors were sometimes made to stand bizarrely close so they could fit in the frame. It was so common on TV, viewers (mostly) accepted it as normal, even though if someone did this IRL you'd be like "uhhh could you back up" (2/6)

Also, old TVs had an "action safe" area -- every different model would cut off some amount of picture at the edges. If Willow and Tara weren't sitting leg to leg, on some TVs they'd be half out of frame. (And it's just cute to see them being cozy and gay) (3/6)

Now that we're used to 16x9, close-standy blocking is less common. But when a 4x3 show is converted to 16x9 (UGH) even if you can't put your finger on WHY, the blocking just feels ... odd. In 4x3, this composition is nice. In 16x9 Scully looks squished on his shoulder! (4/6)

Another 4:3-to-16:9 conversion crime is that it often cuts out elements, or reveals goofy nonsense at the margins that was never supposed to be seen. @tvaziri has great documentation of this absolute CRIME:

https://twitter.com/tvaziri/status/1660040251132502016

(5/6)

So anyway! That's why Beverly and Picard are standing so close. That, and they're super horny for each other (6/6)