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I haven't done any cinematography/camerawork meta analysis threads recently and it's making my brain itch. So here's a small analysis of how negative space is used in the show to express characters' emotions. This is the first in a series.

The use of greenery in negative space in episode 1x7: This Is Happening

First, Jim stands alone in a field with Olu small in the distance, reflecting Jim's mindset of being on their own, isolated. We know from Olu that Jim doesn't talk much about their personal past, and this shot is right after Jim confronts their past, which turns negative.

They isolate and go to their old land, seeking comfort in the openness and of the past: where everything changed.

Olu follows them, not leaving Jim alone in this vast negativity: literally and figuratively.

Next, Olu and Jim face each other, with space in between them, a stone wall behind Jim, and open space behind Olu. This once again reflects their mindset.

Jim opened up to Olu, telling him the truth about their past, introducing him to the person that raised them. Shooting them in profile, completely facing each other shows how open they are now after that previous shot: they are on equal footing, no longer Jim with their back turned to Olu in the distance.

While they are drawn to one another — they almost kiss — what is behind them foreshadows the end of the episode.

Jim still has a wall behind them — they have decided to continue on their journey of revenge — and therefore must leave. Olu on the other hand, has open space behind him because he is open to Jim and whatever is happening between them.

Now moving into the A storyline of Lucius, Ed, and Stede. This overhead shot consists of mostly neutral colors, the only pops are the fire, the purple of Ed, and the green leaves. Ed and Stede sit right next to each other, but their bodies are turned inward, knees almost touching. (This exact same position happens multiple times throughout the show including in 2x4 on the couch in Mary and Anne's home.)

The green is attached to the humans, especially to Ed and Stede, and it being the main pop (along with a kindling, warm fire) in this scene reveals what is important in the scene: the people.

When we move to the two shot, Lucius still dirties the shot in the foreground, but the focus is on Ed and Stede. Just like with Olu and Jim, there is a small space between them and larger space on each side, particularly the green is more on Stede's side, but Ed's purple shirt — which shows his growing feelings for Stede — is out and proud.

That kindling, warm fire is now shown between Ed and Stede, bringing that metaphor up front in this angle.

This whole episode is Stede subconsciously trying to get Ed to stay. His space on his side is open and green, just like his feelings for Ed.

A large palm tree sits behind Ed in his space because his feelings are shown through his purple shirt. Just like Stede, he has growing love for him but isn't as open at this point. (Lucius talks to him about not being a dick and Stede has feelings for him.)

I also love this shot when both the A and B plotlines merge together.

Stede is in the same position as when he looks at the ruined, burned map, but this time he's excited, he found the treasure. Ed and Lucius are on one side and Jim and Olu on the other, Stede bridging the storylines and characters.

Greenery, the stone wall, and particularly the sun are the bright spots in this shot of mainly neutral colors. The sun shining down on all these characters shows how their relationship has changed since the previous shots/beginning of the episode. Olu and Jim are about to split up so they stand in more darkness, while Ed and Stede are right under the sun, the light that is used throughout the show to represent their love (especially Stede's — but that a whole other post I'm working on) is bright and center.

And I'll end with this shot, which unfortunately is cropped, but in the full shot there is open space on either side of the couple. But luckily I want to focus on the space between Ed and Stede. The space here is bridged by their hands touching and holding the petrified orange. (Later on, Stede talks to this orange, calling it Edward in symbolism of his new versus old life).

Stede and Ed parallel Olu and Jim's earlier shot of facing each other but they complete the gap and touch. Their relationship has changed by this point, they are closer: emotionally and physically.

The negative space used in these shots show us the emotional state of the characters, from the green space around them showing their isolation, to by the end the greenery space shows how they have become closer.

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