DTF St Louis Review: An Addictive Tale of Middle-Age, Swinging, and Murder
In the new seven-part dark comedy DTF St Louis, starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini, viewers are treated to a deliciously dark narrative that delves into the complexities of middle age, swinging, and murder. The show, which aired on Sky Atlantic and is available on Now in the UK, as well as HBO Max in the US and Australia, offers a binge-worthy experience that is both humorous and thought-provoking.
Plot and Characters
Jason Bateman portrays Clark Forrest, a local weatherman and microcelebrity in St Louis, Missouri, who rides a recumbent bicycle—a detail that serves as an early warning sign in the series. Clark becomes fast friends with Floyd, played by David Harbour, a sign language interpreter who saves him from a flying stop sign during a violent storm. Floyd is a goodhearted soul dealing with a mutinous stepson, a hot wife named Carol (Linda Cardellini), and Peyronie’s disease, a condition causing abnormal penile curvature that complicates intimacy.
Carol’s padded baseball-umpiring gear becomes a focal point, as Floyd struggles to see her sexually while wearing it, highlighting the show’s exploration of marital dissatisfaction. Clark, unaware of this dynamic, introduces Floyd to the DTF St Louis app, designed for couples looking to spice up their lives without endangering their marriages. The app’s name, standing for "Down to fuck," sets the stage for a series of events that blend comedy with darker themes.
Themes and Execution
Initially, the show risks becoming overly whimsical with elements like umpire pads, Peyronie’s disease, and recumbent bicycles. However, under the direction of Steven Conrad, who writes and directs, it gains confidence by introducing a murder mystery thread. This shift allows the series to tackle meatier questions about marriage, middle age, and whether motivational podcasts can truly help anyone navigate life’s challenges.
Detective Homer, played by Richard Jenkins, investigates a suspicious death at the Kevin Kline Junior Community Pools, surrounded by gay porn, adding depth to the narrative. His poignant observation—"You shouldn’t have to get up so early just to be you. It should be an all day kind of thing"—resonates beyond sexuality, touching on the accretions of duty and responsibility that obscure one’s true self over time.
Performance and Impact
The leads deliver wonderful performances, with Bateman’s ability to infuse his everyman persona with subtle creepiness, first seen in Juno, perfectly deployed here. Harbour’s role is particularly poignant given real-life headlines involving his ex-wife Lily Allen, adding an extra layer of intrigue. Cardellini shines as Carol, whose discovery of a lover with unique proclivities allows her to multitask, a detail that humorously underscores the show’s exploration of sexual dynamics.
Supporting actors like Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday enhance the odd-couple detective duo, making the characters both congruent and believable. The series balances sexy and hilarious intimate scenes across its seven episodes, asking whether sex can solve anything or if it merely masks deeper emotional needs and existential crises.
Conclusion
DTF St Louis is a wonderfully bingeable show that combines dark comedy with profound themes. It challenges viewers to consider the inevitability of malaise in middle age and the potential of sexual exploration to provide temporary relief. With its strong performances and engaging plot, it’s easy to find yourself finishing the entire series in a single watch, making it a standout addition to contemporary television.
