A Different World’s Different Look: When AI Upscaling Goes Wrong

The anticipation was palpable. Fans of the beloved 1980s sitcom, A Different World, were ecstatic when news broke that the Cosby Show spin-off was coming to Netflix, presented in stunning HD quality across all six seasons. The promise of revisiting Hillman College and its vibrant cast of characters with newfound visual clarity was an enticing prospect. However, the initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment, even dismay, as viewers began streaming the show. Something was undeniably off. This wasn’t the A Different World they remembered.

Instead of a crisp, clear image, viewers were greeted with a disconcerting visual landscape. Skin tones appeared waxy and unnatural, lacking the texture and nuance of real skin. Text on signs, once easily legible, looked strangely garbled and indistinct. Faces in the background, far from being clearly defined, were distorted, sometimes appearing squished or even grotesque, taking on an almost monstrous quality. The overall image resembled an animated watercolor painting, smoothed over and lacking in detail. The familiar warmth and charm of the show were replaced by an unsettling artificiality. Everything looked… well, weird, bordering on grotesque.

"Whether it’s Maggie, Jaleesa, Kimberly, or Ron, once familiar faces instead melted into unrecognizable visual goop," lamented Salvatore Cento of MovieWeb, encapsulating the feelings of many disgruntled viewers. The beloved characters, ingrained in the memories of a generation, were now rendered as uncanny caricatures of their former selves.

So, what exactly happened? What caused this dramatic and, arguably, detrimental transformation? The culprit, it seems, is the increasingly prevalent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in upscaling older television shows and movies. While Netflix has yet to officially comment, Cento and others suspect that AI has been "unceremoniously injected" into classic sitcoms like A Different World.

The debate surrounding AI upscaling has been simmering for some time, and the A Different World controversy has reignited the discussion with renewed fervor. The issue first gained widespread attention several months ago with the release of 4K remasters of James Cameron’s Aliens, The Abyss, and True Lies. Discerning viewers immediately noticed a distinct lack of film grain in these reissues, a characteristic feature of films shot on celluloid. This absence, coupled with the now-familiar waxy-skin problem, served as a telltale sign of an AI touchup.

Cameron, known for his meticulous attention to detail, has vehemently defended the remasters, dismissing critics as "nitpickers" and urging them to "get a life." However, his defense has done little to quell the concerns of those who believe that the AI upscaling process, when applied too aggressively, can fundamentally alter the artistic integrity of the original work.

The AI treatment isn’t limited to big-budget films. Just recently, Variety reported that all 222 episodes of Roseanne have been AI-upscaled to HD and are now airing on CMT, TV Land, Peacock, and Cozy TV. This widespread adoption of AI upscaling underscores its growing prominence in the entertainment industry, raising questions about its long-term impact on how we experience and preserve classic content.

To be fair, the use of AI upscaling isn’t inherently a bad thing. When applied judiciously and with a keen understanding of the source material, it can enhance the viewing experience without sacrificing the original aesthetic. David Fincher, for example, employed AI for the recent 4K remaster of Seven, tweaking elements here and there to improve clarity and detail without resorting to the dreaded "waxwork" effect. Fincher’s approach demonstrates the potential of AI as a tool for restoration and enhancement, rather than a blunt instrument for wholesale alteration.

However, the allure of quick and easy HD or 4K upscaling is undoubtedly tempting, especially when dealing with older TV shows that were shot on standard-definition video rather than film. Film, with its inherent texture and grain, responds more favorably to careful upscaling, while standard-definition video often requires more extensive intervention to achieve a presentable HD or 4K image. Examples of filmed TV sitcoms, such as Friends and Seinfeld, have recently received highly praised 4K remasters, demonstrating the potential for success when working with higher-quality source material.

The problem arises when AI is used as a crutch, masking the limitations of the source material with aggressive smoothing and artificial detail enhancement. In the case of A Different World on Netflix, it appears that a heavy-handed AI makeover has resulted in a visually jarring and ultimately unsatisfying viewing experience.

While it remains unclear who is directly responsible—or blameworthy—for A Different World‘s new look, the incident raises important questions about the responsibilities of streaming services and rights owners. Netflix, for its part, may simply have received the re-done assets from the current rights holder, acting as a conduit rather than a direct instigator. However, as a major platform with significant influence, Netflix has a responsibility to ensure that the content it streams is presented in a manner that respects the original artistic intent.

Ultimately, the A Different World debacle serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of unchecked AI upscaling. While the technology holds promise for preserving and enhancing classic content, it must be used responsibly and with a deep understanding of the nuances of filmmaking and television production. Otherwise, we risk transforming beloved works of art into unrecognizable visual goop, alienating audiences and undermining the very legacy that we are trying to preserve.

So, if you’ve been eagerly anticipating revisiting A Different World on Netflix, proceed with caution. Perhaps avoid watching it on a large 80-inch 4K display, where the flaws will be magnified. Maybe try watching it on your phone instead, where the smaller screen may help to mask some of the more egregious AI artifacts. Or better yet, seek out the original broadcast versions, if you can find them, and experience A Different World as it was intended to be seen, imperfections and all. Sometimes, a little bit of imperfection is preferable to a whole lot of artificial perfection. The soul of the show resides in those imperfections.