Seinfeld is one of the most popular and well-loved sitcoms of all time, and it's finally available on Netflix.
However, while all nine seasons and 180 episodes are as funny as ever, some fans aren't happy that Netflix is streaming the show in the widescreen aspect ratio 16:9.
Why Is 16:9 Bad for Seinfeld?
When Seinfeld was produced from the late 80s onwards, it was filmed in the standard 4:3 square aspect ratio of the time.
However, Netflix is streaming the show in 16:9, which means that the top and bottom of the frame are cropped so that the image fills the screen of modern TVs.
It means that you are literally seeing less of the show than originally broadcast. It also ruins the jokes in some episodes.
One key example is in the episode The Pothole, where George Costanza is furious about a pothole on the street. In the original 4:3 broadcast, you can clearly see the pothole. However, on the 16:9 crop it looks like he's just pointing at a normal strip of road.
While Seinfeld was in widescreen on its former streaming home Hulu, the show's move to Netflix has garnered it more attention.
Disney+ Made the Same Mistake With The Simpsons
This isn't the first time a show has been butchered by a "remastered" aspect ratio, nor will it be the last.
A prime example is when Disney+ launched with The Simpsons in a 16:9 aspect ratio. It similarly ruined jokes. Eventually, Disney+ let you watch The Simpsons in its original 4:3 ratio thanks to a toggle. Hopefully Netflix can offer the same for Seinfeld.
For now, if you want to watch Seinfeld how it originally aired, your best bet is to buy the DVDs—which is ironic, considering streaming services are meant to be the replacement for physical media.
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