#s2x05

Check out the special catchlight/reflectors they used in front of Finn to film these shots - the reflected glints in his irises and teeth create an incredibly glazed, spooky effect in his eyes. He’s confused and aghast.

Next, look at the bokeh effect in the background in the first two gifs. You need a specific type of lens to create this effect, so the light spheres in these shots are entirely intentional. A mosaic of light spheres like these are a romantic trope, commonly used to create a mood of softness and attraction. Here, as Clarke gazes on Finn, the lights in the background imply that she still has feelings for him. However, Finn’s eyes are deranged and almost ghoulish - and the juxtaposition is off-putting and jarring.

In the last two gifs, the soft bokeh lights aren’t as pronounced, and as Finn approaches Clarke, the lights lose shape and bleed into each other, as if Clarke’s feelings for him are slowly draining away.

Now, let’s turn the camera around to watch Clarke slowly back away after she finds Finn:

The same reflectors are casting similar glints onto her irises, a glossy effect emphasizing her mounting horror as she realizes that Finn’s love for her has made him into a monster.