I heard Jason Bateman talking about this series on his podcast Smartless as it was being made, so when DTF St. Louis hit HBO streaming, I thought I was ready for what was to come. I’d seen the trailer, I knew the premise, but hats off to creator Steve Conrad for a truly inventive, soulful, and ultimately heartrending series.
DTF ST. LOUIS
What’s it rated? TV-MA
When? 2026
Where’s it showing? HBO Max
When weatherman Clark Forrest (Jason Bateman) meets ASL interpreter Floyd Smernitch (David Harbour) during a tornado, there’s an undeniable connection. The two just seem to “get” each other, and when Clark meets Floyd’s wife, Carol (Linda Cardellini), they also find their own spark.
I don’t want to ruin the series and the twists and turns for you, and my words will never be as compelling as an actual watch in this case. What we’re offered is a wonderful exploration of friendships, relationships, and family dynamics. Something drastic and dramatic happens to one of our main characters at the start of the series, and the rest is a slow puzzle that helps it all make sense and manages to make the audience love these characters, even in their loneliest and most desperate moments. This is the most engaging series I’ve seen in a while. (seven 47- and 58-min. episodes) ∆
This article appears in April 30 – May 7, 2026.