"Dante's Cove" (2005) TV series

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Creator:

Michael Costanza

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Some loves will haunt you forever.

Plot Keywords:

Gay Sex | Lesbianism | Male Nudity | Lesbian Romance | Female Nudity

Cast

William Gregory Lee	...	Ambrosius Vallin (13 episodes, 2004-2007)
Gregory Michael	...	Kevin Archer / ... (13 episodes, 2004-2007)
Tracy Scoggins	...	Grace Neville (12 episodes, 2005-2007)
Charlie David	...	Toby (12 episodes, 2005-2007)
Thea Gill	...	Diana Childs (10 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jon Fleming	...	Adam (10 episodes, 2006-2007)
Nadine Heimann	...	Van (9 episodes, 2005-2007)
Michelle Wolff	...	Brit (7 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jill Bennett	...	Michelle / ... (6 episodes, 2004-2007)
Gabriel Romero	...	Marco Laveau (6 episodes, 2006-2007)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

ACH

Trivia:

Episodes 2-5 of Season 2 extensively use the music of singer/actor James Easter Bradford including the 5 of the 6 tracks from his single "Relationship Destruction Machine".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: There's a nice close-up of the Baldwin piano and its clearly printed name during the 1840 scenes at the beginning of the first episode. However, the company didn't exist at that time. The Baldwin Company didn't make its first pianos for another 50 years.

Movie Connections:

Spin off "The Lair" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Dying To Be With You

Dante's Cove - a more than fine attempt.

Make no mistake: Dante's Cove is targeted primarily for the gay male audience. Its young, cute, hunky and beautiful male actors aren't cast by accident. While their acting doesn't quite hit the mark, the main characters, Kevin and Toby, do well, and I suspect may improve further in the remaining segments. In their scenes together, they represent a plausible young gay couple in love–refreshing and what most gay (and straight) people need to see. Sure, the great bodies and handsome faces are wonderful, but we all want love, and this show provides the chance to vicariously jump head first into more than just sex.

For those not tuning in to see guys, take heart--there are lesbian scenes; beautiful, scantily-clad young women, and just a nice bunch of young people kind of lazing around white, sandy beaches doing what most of us would enjoy: not much and having a hell of a good time. There's also a strong Gothic and macabre element reminiscent of Dark Shadows from '70s television.

Roll all of the show's elements together, and you have an entertaining, albeit exaggerated plot, that adheres to the show's preternatural basis. Dante's Cove is not about BEING gay, but more pointedly that gay people find themselves in everyday AND extraordinary situations--trying to navigate life's labyrinth and survive (Wow! exactly like straight people do!).

Take a look at Here!'s new miniseries. This genre and its audiences are here to stay; get used to it, folks.