DTLA - Downtown LA

Intrigued with the 7.2 IMDb rating on this one, I decided to check it out. I could not even make it through two full 30 minute episodes. I thought the writing was awful, the dialogue laughable and the acting was mostly straight off the high school stage. Perhaps, had I decided to stick with it, I might have been in for a pleasant surprise. But, given what I saw, I don't think so.

I could give something like this a 7 or 8 rating simply for existing in the world of not much LGBT television options. But writers of shows like this need to step up their game and put things on television that are actually worth watching. The days of getting a 10, and a ready and forgiving audience eagerly waiting for your subpar product, are over.

Darryl Stevens is definitely the most natural, at ease, effortless, and probably most seasoned,actor in the cast (aside from small roles from wonderful actors like Leslie Jordan, Melanie Griffin and Sandra Bullock). The script is pretty contrived and the acting is sometimes painfully forced. Sometimes it felt like the editing was to blame, but over all it was a failure in the writing.It was a good effort, but didn't come together. It was nice to have a variety of gay men shown in some positive light along with their straight friends, but the script just seemed to be all over the place. Aside from some sexy, hunky men showing a little skin, this was rather lackluster.

Not sure why so many reviewers here are trashing this show. I understood what it was trying to do and I'm kinda please I bumped into DTLA at the video store. I haven't heard of it and don't like watching series, but this one got me addicted and that's a good thing. Kudos to the actors for really giving it their all. I actually teared up during the the 3rd episode when the main couple had decided to break up. I felt their pain and vulnerability under the pressure cooker of circumstances. It's not perfect, but DTLA set out to do what it wanted to do and it does it successfully. I for one was glued one disc after another and could not wait to see what was going to happen to the characters next. Totally recommend! Also, it was awesome to see Luenell and William McNamara two great actors in my book!

This movie has sub par writing, acting, and technical production, there, I admit it up front. As to whether I would encourage or discourage others on viewing, I would definitely encourage with the knowledge that this is a flawed production. Overall I enjoyed viewing this series and therefore gave it a 5 out of 10 rating. If you are looking for intellectual stimulation or interesting commentary on gay life there is some but not always developed skilfully to gratifying conclusions as one would get in a more masterfully done project. Some acting is overly emotional and feels like the character is "acting" rather than naturally interacting. Without giving anything away there are also situations that seem gratuitous within this season. Encounters happen but then are not mentioned again. This leaves feelings of unfinished story lines (perhaps bad editing). This is a series and perhaps things might be explained in the following season but given the uncertainty about the continuation of a TV series, wrapping things up better would have been very much advised inside the season instead of one that follows. Two or so of these "unfinished" stories involve the main character and are also somewhat contradictory to his presumed values. If you are laid back and can enjoy a flawed but interesting story then you just might find this series an OK diversion.

This writer is not so gifted in ideas involving words, relationships, love, other human beings, friendship, loyalty contradictions, denouement, beginnings, etc. But instead tries to teach us that we're all just food for thought, expendable, things to use, ideas to bounce off of, tricks to be played. I could see at certain points where there was some twinkling light of brilliance, a touch of genius had graced this for a minute like silver, a little whisper, a little voice that disappeared. Its sad because there is a trace of someone or something brilliant that shined for a minute. Its confusing. But I do feel this sadness, this hurt not in the actual acting or writing but in the production. This absence of talent that could have been, like a great work that was left on the playground. The acting is bad but not just by that alone. The director has no idea of space, using it to enhance emotion, power, greed, doesn't understand light and how it is used to convey or intensify the scene, the mood, seems to be still learning about film. I get the feeling that a more talented partner was cut out, denied and discredited. Because there is a shadow in this that hints a what could have been, but is lost to time, buried and forgotten.