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Ponies: Spy Comedy Grounds Humor in 70s Moscow
19 May
Summary
- TV spy series "Ponies" blends comedy with a 1970s Moscow setting.
- Directors emphasize character emotions over genre conventions.
- Production design used Budapest's architecture to evoke Soviet era.
The television series "Ponies" offers a fresh take on the spy genre by grounding its comedic elements in a detailed 1970s Moscow setting. Co-creator David Iserson and the writing team deliberately steer the show away from typical Iron Curtain thriller tropes.
Directors Susanna Fogel and her colleagues employ playful visual techniques, such as dynamic zooms and split-screens. However, their primary focus remains on ensuring characters' emotions are visually apparent throughout each sequence.
Production designer Sara K White utilized Budapest's architecture, sometimes in buildings nearing demolition, to stand in for the Soviet capital. This approach created a complicated and engaging world for CIA agents Bea (Emilia Clarke) and Twila (Haley Lu Richardson) to navigate.
Lead actors Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson emphasized how the exceptional production design and tactile sets transported them into the characters' world. They noted that tangible, accurate environments made their performances easier and more enjoyable, unlike the challenges of auditioning where such elements must be imagined.
