Are you watching The Knick?
I am, and I am absolutely loving it. Steven Soderbergh's direction is masterful. There are multiple times per episode where he does something with the camera or the lighting or the perspective which feel totally unique. Every shot feels like an opportunity to try something new, to visually present a character or a situation in a way that makes it feel either more real or more beautiful, or both.
Soderbergh is so good that it never feels contrived though, it always feels just right. I am struggling to find the words to describe just how fantastic the show is - it's certainly "cinematic" but even that doesn't really get there. It's like the best films. But in weekly installments.
The acting and writing are also top notch, but perhaps don't approach the levels of mastery that Soderbergh shows in his lighting, shooting, and editing. Clive Owen has the least distracting horrible mustache in television history. The supporting cast is strong.
I have heard some find the modern score a little distracting, but I actually love it. I don't need to hear old tyme music simply because the show is set in the past. I also think the modern score has a subtle way of reminding the viewer to extrapolate the stories and look at them through the lens of the present day reality.
The only show which I currently think comes close to being as visually interesting as The Knick is Hannibal.
Check out The Knick if you regularly pay attention to how a film is shot, and if you enjoy watching a director who has a very clearly defined design language which he/she uses to help tell the story.
