The show’s secret weapon is the art department that covers modern stuff with old stuff. They literally paste period wallpaper over concrete walls. It’s like dressing up your cat in a little tuxedo for a photo—it’s a lie, but a beautiful one.
They also spray-paint car tires to look like wooden carriage wheels. Next time you see a carriage in the show, imagine a crew member with a can of Rust-Oleum going to town. That’s the craft of television: making a Honda Civic look like a Morgan horse.
The actors wear real wool costumes in 90-degree heat. They are sweating through history so we can sit on our couches and judge their etiquette. That’s a sacrifice we should all appreciate.
So, Where Was It Filmed? A Simple Map For Your Brain
Think of it this way: the fancy houses are in Rhode Island. The fancy streets are in Troy. The fancy hallways are in Albany. And the fancy lies are in a Brooklyn warehouse.
Next time you binge the show, play a game: try to guess if a room is a real museum or a plywood fake. It’s harder than you think. I lost a bet with my friend over a pillar that turned out to be painted foam.
And when you see those glittering chandeliers, just remember: they might be real crystal from a Newport mansion. Or they might be plastic that glitters because a lighting guy had a good day. Either way, it’s a beautiful lie we all need.
