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Dark Affairs & Deadly Deception: A True Story?
9 Mar
Summary
- The series is inspired by a true crime story from a 2017 New Yorker article.
- It explores multiple affairs gone wrong, starting with a platonic connection.
- The show delves into themes of midlife crisis and poor decision-making.
HBO's 'DTF St. Louis' presents a darkly comic suburban mystery, drawing inspiration from a 2017 New Yorker article titled 'My Dentist's Murder Trial: Adultery, False Identities, and a Lethal Sedation.' The series twists the original true story of a dentist accused of murder after an affair and an elaborate deception. While the real-life trial resulted in a conviction for forgery, not murder, the show adapts these elements into a fictional narrative.
The show centers on a platonic meet-cute between two men that escalates, influenced by a hook-up app and extramarital affairs. Creator Steven Conrad describes the series as a dark coming-of-age story for middle-aged individuals. He highlights the misguided, desperate need to fit in or find safety, which can resurface in middle age, leading to severe consequences.
Unlike the original true crime inspiration, the series focuses more on the existential, romantic, and sexual uncertainties of married individuals. It examines the allure of excitement without consequences, likening the characters' experiences to a second, ill-advised adolescence driven by a desire for connection and poor decision-making. The final outcome of this fictionalized suburban drama remains unpredictable.
