BENJAMONSTER AWARDS 2024: Outstanding Technical Design of a Limited/Anthology Series

The first award is Outstanding Technical Design of a Limited/Anthology Series! This award considers all technical elements of a show including sets, costumes, and cinematography.

Past Awards in This Category: 2023 2022 2021 2020

This year's nominees are...

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (Netflix)

FARGO (FX)

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY (Apple TV+)

A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD (FX/Hulu)

RIPLEY (Netflix)

TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY (HBO)

And the Winner Is...

RIPLEY

Netflix

Maybe the easiest award I've ever given in my five years of doing these awards. That's not because the other nominees are underwhelming, it's because Ripley is a cinematic masterpiece. One of the most beautiful pieces of art I've ever seen in film or on TV, every single frame is incredibly considered and awe-inspiring. I've never really talked about sound design before when it comes to the Technical Design award but that was one of the many areas in Ripley where every little detail mattered. Most of the times you can see in a show where a budget, logistics or time constraint meant they may not have been able to do everything they wanted. It happens, I get it. Maybe that happened on Ripley but it didn't seem like it. Every single moment of the show seemed like it was meticulously planned from a technical achievement. And the black and white decision was inspired. Maybe I should rename this award for Ripley.

Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:

There was no catching Ripley in this category but the other nominees all had strengths and could have been worthy winners in a year that didn't have an all-timer in the technical category. A Murder at the End of the World and True Detective: Night Country were both set in remote winter locations and really captured the mood of their respective series. Night Country especially had a very realized world that took full advantage of the days where Alaska plunges into 24 hour darkness. Fargo spanned more than just the winter but had that show's trademark beautiful scene setting visuals in its fifth season. Lessons in Chemistry was extremely polished with great attention to detail in its 50s and 60s clothes, cars and more. Finally, The Fall of the House of Usher captured the grandness and eeriness of the story it was trying to tell.

Tomorrow: Outstanding Technical Design of a Drama Series!

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