Network: BET+
Studio: BET Studios
Creator: Diarra Kilpatrick
Director(s): Chioke Nassor, Brennan Shroff, Sadé Clacken Joseph, America Young
Writer(s): Diarra Kilpatrick, Miles Orion Feldsott, Mark Ganek, Jacob Copithorne, Doug Hall, Lisa McQuillan, Esa Lewis, Helen Krieger, Ester Lou
Starring: Diarra Kilpatrick, Morris Chestnut, Claudia Logan, Dominque Perry, Bryan Terrell Clark, Shannon Wallace , Jon Chaffin, David Zayas, Harry Lennix, Paul Ben-Victor, Bechir Sylvain, Kash Doll, John Salley, Icewear Vezzo, Julio Macias
Diarra is still dressed to impress for Asa launch party, wearing a purple floor length gown with a plunging neckline and hood. Beautiful. And Moni looks great in the pink faux fur jacket and jeans. Chic casual for sure.
Diarra and Moni are in full detective mode when they decide to stakeout the factory that Chris, Mr. Tinder, had shown an interest in, wearing that beautiful purple dress. Moni is her true ‘ride or die’ friend.
Moni cracks me up when she is talking to Diarra and calls her Mr. Tinder, Chris “your milk carton boyfriend.” A reality check from a friend.
The first episodes open with Danger trying to rob Diarra’s mother’s house and they end up eating at the kitchen table. I know they grew-up around each other in the same neighborhood but why does his lifestyle not matter to Diarra?
The photographer is great, especially the use of the splint screens showing the different things taking place and help to tell the full story. It reminds me of the 1967 detective television show ‘Mannix’ and their use of the split screen in its opening and throughout the series. In addition to the use of the split screen, the flashbacks also do a wonderful job of telling how the past is impacting the present events. The scenes flow effortlessly from one to the next.
When Diarra arrives back late to the launch party looking disheveled in her gown and Moni in her pink faux fur coat and jeans. You take a step back and ask why is Moni not dressed for the party.
Diarra is late to give her speech for Asa’s launch party. Asa is sure to one day rival the big names in business, especially Walter Harley (Harry Lennox), who she is courting to become a financial backer in her business venture.
They do keep it real with the language, they swear and swear some more. It was hilariously listening to Mr. Tea sing at the launch party and watching all the guest sing along to all the cursing.
As Diarra and Swa discuss the pending divorce, you begin to wonder, was Swa’s ask about an open marriage the real lead to their getting a divorce?
Diarra From Detroit has black women front and center, starting with the black female principal in the first episode, Maishe who worked with Tony Kindaid (John Salley) Danger’s protector, and the mob fixer they come across in their detective work.
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Network: BET+
Studio: BET Studios
Creator: Diarra Kilpatrick
Director(s): Chioke Nassor, Brennan Shroff, Sadé Clacken Joseph, America Young
Writers: Diarra Kilpatrick, Miles Orion Feldsott, Mark Ganek, Jacob Copithorne, Doug Hall, Lisa McQuillan, Esa Lewis, Helen Krieger, Ester Lou
Starring: DIARRA KILPATRICK as ”Diarra”, MORRIS CHESTNUT as “Francois” aka “Swa”, CLAUDIA LOGAN as “Monifa” aka “Moni”, DOMINQUE PERRY as “Aja”, BRYAN TERRELL CLARK as “Mr. Tea”, SHANNON WALLACE as “Chris”: Diarra’s Tinder date, JON CHAFFIN as “Danger”: The local hookup man, and rounding out with guest appearances by DAVID ZAYAS as “Marshall”, HARRY LENNIX as “Walter Harley”, PAUL BEN-VICTOR as “Zervas” , BECHIR SYLVAIN as “Roman” , KASH DOLL as “Maisha” , JOHN SALLEY as “Tony Kincaid”, ICEWEAR VEZZO as “LeRoy” , JULIO MACIAS as “Young Marshall”
Executive Producers: Diarra Kilpatrick, Miles Orion Feldsott, Darren Goldberg, Kenya Barris for Khalabo Ink Society
Co-Executive Producers: Ester Lou, Mark Ganek
Supervising Producer: Esa Lewis
Consulting Producer: Lisa McQuillan, Doug Hall
Producer: Erynn Sampson
Co-Producers: Helen Kreiger, Dantonio Alvarez
Line Producer: Thomas Whelan
Music by: Nathan Matthew David
Director of Photography: Matt Edwards
Music Supervisor: Jabari Ali