Unrealistic fire scenes in tv dramas and movies

[jamonbread]

Just an observation! Has anyone else noticed that fire scenes on tv often involve people standing around in rooms that are on fire, with hardly any smoke and no smoke inhalation issues? This evening I watched an episode of the Handmaid's Tale and an episode of Dark, both of which featured a smoke-free fire scene, and I've noticed it several times before. In real life it's usually the smoke that overcomes people well before the flames, but not in tv-land apparently. 🧐

Yes, I've noticed this too. I think it gives people an unrealistic idea of what being in a fire is actually like, and that you can faff around having dramatic fights or conversations instead of getting out as quickly as humanly possible.

Yes. I frequently annoy the family by pointing out that the fire James Bond or someone is strolling around in wouldn’t be survivable, because it would be 1000 degrees centigrade, full of toxic gases etc etc.

Oh good, I also annoy my kids with comments on health & safety in films. Generally people not wearing helmets when doing stunts on motorbikes.

I've attached still from The Handmaid's Tale. The character Serena has set the bed on fire and stands there watching for several minutes as the flames take hold. June is upstairs and smells the smoke. She calmly walks downstairs to the bedroom and gently leads Serena away to safety as the whole house burns down. Neither of them cough or sweat or show any signs that the flames are hot. It's just very silly really.