- “The DL Chronicles” tells the stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles. The “Down Low” is a slang term sometimes used to refer to African-American men who identify themselves as straight, but secretly engage in sexual activity with men. They date women, have children, and often marry in an effort to appear heterosexua
“The DL Chronicles” tells the stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles. The “Down Low” is a slang term sometimes used to refer to African-American men who identify themselves as straight, but secretly engage in sexual activity with men. They date women, have children, and often marry in an effort to appear heterosexual to the public. Most of these men do not identify as gay or bisexual and refuse to be associated with the gay identity or gay community.Four episodes comprise the first season of the DL Chronicles, about black men “living in a gray area” between gay and straight, according to the narrator Chadwick Williams (Damian Raven). The drama is framed as if Williams, a journalist introduced in the first episode, is sharing each story to enlighten viewers to the complexities of being an out gay man in various African-American communities. The shows, titled “Wes,” “Robert,” “Boo,” and “Mark,” describe these men’s sexual situations, ranging from complete cover-up to their near-comings out. Wes Thomas (Darren Schnase) is a married real estate banker whose infidelity is kept under tight wraps. Robert Hall (Terrell Tilford) falls in love with Austin (Kareem Ferguson), a local store manager, but is terrified of his daughter finding out. Boo is faced with homophobia and outright prejudice everywhere he turns, and becomes doubly anxious about AIDS. The last episode, “Mark,” turns the series around, by showing an example of a man who has just decided to tell his family the truth. Overall, the series manages a careful balance of drama, including some steamy sex scenes, and educational content, to help viewers understand how hard it is for these men to fight for community acceptance. Furthermore, there are great humorous moments, such as when all the men and women who Boo has slept with flash before his eyes, to prevent the show from seeming didactic. All these characters who are keeping it on the “down low” have something to tell us about tolerance, as well as charm and wit. –Trinie Dalton
Buy “The DL Chronicles: The Complete First Season” For Only $14.31
April 27, 2008
#1
First off, this DVD was too expensive for its low-budget acting. You have to start from the beginning of the DVD every time you moved on to review one of the 4 sequences on the list (very dumb idea). This is not worth the money at all!!!!
April 27, 2008
#2
This DVD consists of four 30 minute stories that make up 1 season. Yes, thats 2 hours of film time. That’s considered a season these days? Anyway, besides the 4 short episodes, the acting doesn’t help. There are some very cute, good looking men, but they must of just been picked up from a modeling agency, because they lack in the acting department.
The stories are okay, but 30 minutes per story is not enough for you to get really envolved or feel for any of the characters. They don’t have enough substance. If you are getting it for the sex scenes, those are not even worth the money. There are better scenes in Noah’s Arc.
April 27, 2008
#3
I think unsuspecting people should be aware that this series is NO Noah’s ARC. I’m not talking about the stories. I was very aware of what this series was about before I saw it. I read all the reviews. And like Noah’s ARC, I was expecting a bunch of unknown actors and low budget production. However, I LOVED Noah’s ARC. A beautiful series that was truly ended way too soon. No so much this series. There should never be a season 2.
I think Noah’s ARC writing and direction made it a better series to watch and enjoy. How do I describe the DL Chronicles? In one word…AWFUL. And predictable. (I guess that was two words.) And on top of the poor stories (and really bad acting) we were constantly treated to gratuitous nude scenes. I’m not opposed to nude scenes, but there was no point to these. In one scene there was full frontal nudity. What?!
Plus the show had a lot of plot holes, which really irritated me. For example, in the story of Robert, can anyone tell me what the timeframe was? He met the guy in the store, then online, then at his apartment and then on a few dates. Next thing I knew… they were professing love for each other. I couldn’t tell if this romance happened in a week or a year. I kept thinking to myself that if the executive producers/ writers/ directors (who appeared to be the same people, which probably led to most of the problems) had eliminated all the nude scenes, maybe we could have been treated to more plot that actually filled in some of the holes.
Either way, I don’t think that this would have improved the stories, much. I understand that this series was pretty popular among the young, gay college crowd. However, straight women like my friends and myself found it “unwatchable.” View at your own risk.
April 27, 2008
#4
I was very happy with this purchase. I received it earlier that I suspected in good condition.
April 27, 2008
#5
Of the Afro-Americans still rarely Hollywood presents works not filled if even in comedies, with gun-drugs gang-murdering actions.
It is simply nice to watch something different from cliché of steady anti-social activities while San-Francisco lads direct their urges in different direction.
This set of stories is distinct from Noah’s Arc as much as a fairy story of the Red Hook differs from The Jungles Tales, in common sharing men’s desires for sexual gratification mutual and some actors, seemingly.
Funny situations, nice performing, easy, relaxed show – no blood, no murdering, no sexual harassment, really nice music.