Dante's Cove

Created by Michael Costanza and directed by Sam Irvin, Dante's Cove combines elements of horror and soap opera in telling the story of Kevin (Gregory Michael) and Toby (Charlie David), a young couple seeking to be together and overcome the dark mystical forces that conspire to separate them. The show debuted in 2005 to a mixed critical reception. It recently finished its third season.

[edit] Production

The first season was shot in the Turks and Caicos Islands<ref name =Beginning>Template:Cite episode</ref> on 35mm film.<ref name = DCtwofive>Template:Cite video</ref> Initially intended as three episodes, the footage was re-edited and packaged as two episodes, consisting of an 84-minute first episode and a 106-minute second episode. These episodes originally aired in the fall of 2005.

The second season was shot on the north side of Oahu in Hawaii in the spring of 2006. Shooting took place near the filming location of Lost; the cast and crew of the two shows socialized during the shoot.<ref>Template:Cite podcast</ref> The change in locale and obvious change in sets was for the most part ignored within the series, though actor Tracy Scoggins was given a line about "what a fresh coat of paint can really do."<ref name = Magic>Template:Cite episode</ref> Behind the scenes, however, the change led to shifts in the shooting schedule, notably changes in the number of night scenes filmed because of curfew issues and restrictions imposed by neighbors of the locations. This season was shot entirely on high definition videotape. Season two was originally intended to be six one hour episodes. During production episodes five and six were condensed into a single episode and the five-episode season originally aired in the fall of 2006.<ref name = DCtwofive/>

A third season of five one-hour episodes, again filmed on location in Hawaii,<ref name = Sex>Template:Cite episode</ref> began airing on October 19th 2007.

[edit] Cast

William Gregory Lee: Ambrosius Vallin (season 1 - )

Tracy Scoggins: Grace Neville (season 1 - )

Gregory Michael: Kevin Archer (season 1 - )

Charlie David: Toby Moraitis (season 1 - )

Nadine Heimann: Van (season 1 - 3)

Josh Berresford: Cory Dalmass (season 1 - 2)

Diane Davisson: Sadia (season 1)

Michaela Mann: Chrissy (season 1)

Zara Taylor: Amber (season 1)

Rena Riffel: Tina (season 1)

Stephen Amell: Adam (season 1)

Jon Fleming: Adam (season 2 - )

Thea Gill: Diana Childs (season 2 - )

Erin Cummings: Michelle (season 2)

Jill Bennett: Michelle (season 3 - )

Gabriel Romero: Marco Laveau (season 2 - 3)

Michelle Wolff: Brit (season 2 - )

German Santiago: Kai (season 2)

Dylan Vox: Colin (season 2)

Jensen Atwood: Griff (season 3 - )

Jenny Shimizu: Elena (season 3 - )

Reichen Lehmkuhl: Trevor (season 3 - )

[edit] The Religion of Tresum

Thea Gill as Diana casts a spell

Tresum is a supernatural religion, specifically linked to witchcraft in the basest sense although practitioners do not generally refer to themselves as "witches." A new student to the art of Tresum is an Aspirant, while someone who oversees an entire sect is an Avatar. Tresum is divided into three Houses: Moon, Sun, and Sky. The Moon house is female energy and its symbol is water. The Sun house is male energy and its symbol is fire. The Sky house is the prophesied combined essence of both energies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The beliefs of Tresum are contained within a "Book of Tresum." Each House has its own version of the Book and each House interprets its teachings differently. At least one copy of the Moon version (formerly possessed by Van, current whereabouts unknown<ref name = Sex/>) and the Sun version (owned by Ambrosius<ref name =Come>Template:Cite episode</ref><ref name = Sex/>) are known to be in Dante's Cove. A Book of the Sky also exists but nothing is known of its whereabouts or contents. To non-practitioners and to those unready to understand them, the pages appear to be written in a language that has been compared to hieroglyphics.<ref name =Fire>Template:Cite episode</ref> As a Tresum practitioner increases his or her strength, or in some instances through interaction with the drug known as Saint,<ref name =Spring>Template:Cite episode</ref> more of the book becomes readable. There are some pages within each book that remain unreadable to members of both Houses. It is believed that only a Sky Avatar will be able to read them.

There does not seem to be much difference in the powers of Tresum themselves, as far as it relates to the Moon House or the Sun House. Practitioners are able to manipulate energy to alter reality on a number of levels. Tresum witches have been shown performing a variety of feats, including teleporting themselves and others, engaging in mind control,<ref name = Beginning/><ref name =Solstice>Template:Cite episode</ref> scrying,<ref name = Spring/> causing the moon to appear to turn blue<ref name = Come/> and, most sinister, killing with a look.<ref name = Beginning/>

Tresum is ruled over by a Council. Representatives of the Council are called "Emissaries," although it is as yet unclear whether the title refers to members of the Council or only to those who act on its behalf. The Council can make decrees regarding the practice of Tresum and Emissaries can call upon both the power of the Sun and the Moon to enforce them.<ref name = Sex/> The Tresum Council considers the practitioners in Dante's Cove to be "rogue"<ref name = Healing>Template:Cite episode</ref> while Grace derides the Council for being timid.<ref name = Sugar>Template:Cite episode</ref>

A previously unknown House, the House of Shadows, has emerged as a threat in the show's third season. The House is described as an "ancient evil" that was "imprisoned" centuries ago by Tresum practitioners.<ref name = Healing/>

[edit] Saint

Template:In-universe Saint is an entheogenic drug local to the Dante's Cove area, though it may be more widespread in the world of the show. It is a mossy substance that can be eaten<ref name =Come/> or smoked.<ref name = Sugar>Template:Cite episode</ref> In non-practitioners it produces a euphoric high, the feeling that one can accomplish anything and is untouchable.<ref name =Come/> For Tresum witches, Saint is a sacrament called "star flower."<ref name = Spring/> When burned, it induces visions of the past and future and advances a Tresum practitioner's ability, for example, allowing them to read the Book of Tresum.

[edit] Connections to The Lair

Dante's Cove takes place in the same fictional universe as another here! original production, The Lair. Characters from The Lair refer to Saint as "the new drug all the kids are doing," being banished by an "Avatar" and covens of witches centered around a spring. These are all components of Tresum, although Tresum has not been mentioned specifically within the series.

Dylan Vox plays a character named Colin in each series;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> however, dialogue in The Lair indicates that his character from that series has been a vampire for a long time, perhaps centuries.

Director Sam Irvin and Charlie David refer to the Cove's sex club as "The Lair" and call the series The Lair "sort of like a spin-off."<ref name = DCtwofour>Template:Cite video</ref> According to The Lair's Peter Stickles, The Lair was originally intended to be a direct spin-off of Dante's Cove and was originally entitled "Dante's Lair." Early in production the name was changed but the show was intended to be set in the town of Dante's Cove, but eventually the connection was dropped.<ref>Template:Cite podcast</ref>

The Lair's David Moretti reported on The Lair podcast that he will appear as his Lair character Thom in season three of Dante's Cove, running the island's sex club, but did not elaborate on how that will come about.<ref>Template:Cite podcast</ref> Moretti appeared in the third episode, "Sexual Healing," and the Cove's sex club was finally identified by name as "The Lair."<ref name = Healing/> Whether this establishes that the two series are indeed set in the same location remains unclear.

[edit] Podcast

A Dante's Cove podcast was launched through the show's official site and through iTunes on October 6, 2006. The podcast is hosted by New York DJ Ben Harvey and includes episode recaps and discussion and interviews with the cast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

[edit] Critical response

Formal reviews for Dante's Cove have been light and the series has failed to attract enough reviewers at Rotten Tomatoes to date to garner a rating.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One outlet that has reviewed each of the complete seasons is the lesbian-themed website AfterEllen.com. Season one was deemed "campy, gothic, mysterious, homoerotic, and a bit silly" with the reviewer noting the series' apparent debt to such earlier fare as Dark Shadows and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.<ref name = Corson>Template:Cite web</ref> These sentiments were echoed by the gay-interest Instinct magazine, which called the series a "guilty pleasure TV hit...with...camp goodness and sexy soap appeal."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In looking at season two, AfterEllen's reviewer noted the improved acting and production values and (in keeping with the lesbian focus of the website) expressed appreciation of the central position of the lesbian characters and storyline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Thea Gill in particular has been singled out by reviewers for praise for her performance as Diana Childs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name = Corson/>

Series director Sam Irvin has relayed that the fan base is expanding beyond the niche of the LGBT community. "There are gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight people on this show, and certainly maybe more gay and lesbian characters than most shows, but it seems to appeal to a mainstream heterosexual audience, too."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At least one straight reviewer disagreed, not because of the sexuality but instead finding the show too "over-the-top."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

[edit] DVD releases

DVD Name	Episodes	Release Date	Special features
The Complete First Season	2	August 8, 2006 (Region 1) January 1, 2008 (Region 2)	"Backlot" featurette
The Complete Second Season	5	June 5, 2007 (Region 1) February 25, 2008 (Region 2)	Deleted scenes "On the set" featurette "Men of Dante's Cove" featurette "Women of Dante's Cove" featurette "Out Actors" featurette "Backlot" featurette
The Guilty Pleasures Collection	7	December 4, 2007 (Region 1)	Unaired pilot