TL;DR
Ross Duffer, co-creator of Stranger Things, posted guidance asking viewers to turn off several TV picture enhancements before watching Season 5. He recommended disabling features that can alter color and motion and suggested checking advanced presets like Dolby Vision Movie Dark while avoiding 'Vivid' modes.
What happened
Ahead of the Season 5 premiere, Ross Duffer used Instagram to walk fans through TV picture settings and urged them to switch off several automatic image enhancements so the show appears as the creators intended. He singled out functions such as dynamic contrast, super resolution, edge enhancement and color filters, and also advised disabling noise reduction. Duffer identified motion‑smoothing features—often labeled truemotion or smoothmotion—as particularly problematic because they introduce the so‑called soap‑opera effect. He noted that some TV presets, including advanced movie modes like Dolby Vision Movie Dark, will turn off many of these adjustments automatically, but encouraged viewers to verify each option manually. He also warned against using a 'Vivid' picture mode, saying it activates many of the worst offenders and can dramatically change color and image character.
Why it matters
- Picture enhancement features can change the appearance and motion of filmed content, potentially diverging from the creators' intended look.
- Motion‑smoothing settings can alter temporal characteristics of footage, producing an effect many filmmakers consider undesirable.
- Default or consumer‑oriented presets like 'Vivid' may prioritize bright, sharp images over accurate reproduction of color and contrast.
- Simple user adjustments can affect how audiences experience new releases on home TVs, making a creator's guidance influential for premiere viewings.
Key facts
- Ross Duffer posted TV‑setup advice on Instagram ahead of the Stranger Things Season 5 premiere.
- He recommended turning off dynamic contrast, super resolution, edge enhancer and color filter.
- Duffer also told viewers to disable noise reduction and to turn off motion‑smoothing features such as truemotion and smoothmotion.
- He called those picture‑enhancing features 'garbage' in his guidance to fans.
- He suggested switching to advanced viewing presets like Dolby Vision Movie Dark, but still urged manual confirmation of settings.
- Duffer cautioned against using 'Vivid' picture mode because it activates many problematic settings and alters color.
- Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1, is available to stream on Netflix; Volume 2 is set for December 25, 2025, and the finale for December 31, 2025.
- His comments highlight a tension between automatic TV enhancements aimed at casual viewers and filmmakers' desire to preserve their intended image.
What to watch next
- Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 arrives on Netflix on December 25, 2025; the series finale is scheduled for December 31, 2025.
- If planning to watch the premiere, check and manually confirm picture settings (dynamic contrast, noise reduction, motion smoothing, etc.) are disabled.
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Dynamic contrast: A TV processing feature that adjusts contrast levels frame‑by‑frame to make scenes appear brighter or darker.
- Noise reduction: A setting that attempts to remove small visual artifacts or grain from an image, sometimes at the cost of fine detail.
- Motion smoothing (TrueMotion/SmoothMotion): Processing that interpolates additional frames to create a smoother-looking motion cadence, which can produce the 'soap‑opera effect.'
- Dolby Vision Movie Dark: An advanced TV picture preset intended to prioritize accurate color and contrast for cinematic content in dim viewing conditions.
- Soap‑opera effect: A visual impression caused by motion interpolation that makes filmed content look unnaturally smooth, like live video or soap operas.
Reader FAQ
Who gave the TV settings advice?
Ross Duffer, co‑creator of Stranger Things, posted the guidance on Instagram.
Which settings did he tell viewers to disable?
He recommended turning off dynamic contrast, super resolution, edge enhancement, color filters, noise reduction and motion‑smoothing features like truemotion and smoothmotion.
Did he recommend any preset or mode to use instead?
He suggested advanced presets such as Dolby Vision Movie Dark can address many issues but advised manually confirming each setting is off.
When are the remaining Season 5 episodes released?
Volume 2 is scheduled for December 25, 2025, and the finale is scheduled for December 31, 2025.
Stranger Things Creator Says Turn Off "Garbage" Settings By Jennifer Chu Published Nov 27, 2025 Jennifer is a TV News Editor at ScreenRant. She started her journey in entertainment media…
Sources
- Stranger Things creator says turn off “garbage” settings
- Stranger Things creator says turn off "garbage" settings
- Stranger Things Co-Creator Ross Duffer Calls on Fans to …
- Stranger Things creators urge fans to change TV settings …
Related posts
- TrendForce: 2026 notebook shipments to decline; Apple seen better positioned
- Lottocracy: Rethinking Representation by Replacing Elections with Lotteries
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: some users hear speaker hiss when charging