Netflix Upsets 'Seinfeld' Fans With Aspect Ratio Crop, Quite Literally Cuts Out Jokes
Airing the show in 16:9 rather than the original 4:3.
After the much-anticipated release of Seinfeld on Netflix, fans of the shows seem to be majorly disappointed with the way the streaming giant has aired the show.
Various viewers have taken to Twitter to comment on the fact that Netflix neglected to keep the original 4:3 aspect ratio and used 16:9 instead. Rolling Stone pointed out that the 16:9 ratio offers a more “modern look,” since the standard widescreen would make it more suitable for view on high-definition TVs. Unfortunately for Seinfeld fans that means that the switch from the full-screen mode or square screen quite literally means that some of the most iconic jokes from the show are cut off.
Audiences were quick to point out that the famous scene from season eight’s “The Pothole” episode had lost its punchline as the pothole in question is completely out of frame. In that particular scene, George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander, complains to Jerry Seinfeld about the “titular erosion” while on the street. The ratio also crops out Seinfeld’s sneakers, which have been a huge highlight throughout the series.
Check out some of the fan reactions below.
seinfeld’s in 16:9 on netflix and is therefore unwatchable…bummer
— boris karkov 🍂 (@boriskarkov) October 1, 2021
Can't believe Netflix's 16:9 Seinfeld crops out the entrance to The Black Lodge in the season 8 episode The Pothole pic.twitter.com/p7ESS4nLDw
— Sein Peaks (@Seinpeaks) October 2, 2021
Seinfeld's a weird one where the image is both slightly expanded and slightly cropped, thanks to open matte shooting. It's nowhere near as bad as the Simpsons crop – I almost never noticed issues when it was on Hulu. But come on, just have the original aspect ratio as an option! https://t.co/vjTHTH8nJ4 pic.twitter.com/YNxbZDg1we
— Wes (@alifefilmodic) October 1, 2021
In the pothole episode of Seinfeld on netflix, since they cut it to 16:9, you cant actually see the pothole. Leaving a plot hole about the pothole.
(s08E16)— yburyug (@yburyug) October 2, 2021
SO, NETFLIX. YOU SPEND EIGHT SQUILLION ON SEINFELD AND THEN YOU SHOW IT IN THE WRONG RATIO. pic.twitter.com/SJiWNTOVIy
— 🥃Donald Clarke📽 (@DonaldClarke63) September 30, 2021
netflix release of seinfeld looks like shit, bring back 4:3
— president stupid j moron (SIGMA MALE) (@bambooney) October 2, 2021
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