Diarra from Detroit gives: What if Veronica Mars but in Detroit? And that’s what got us hooked. Coming to BET+ tomorrow (March 21), this wild new detective series highlights the specific cultural rhythms of “The D” the same way South Side captured “Chi”—with wit, an undeniable love for the city of origin, and everything that makes it such a juicy bite of life. Diarra Kilpatrick, who sets the rhythm and the blues of the show, serves up a character who is as layered as she is fascinating and as real as she is obsessed.
Our lead, Diarra Brickland, is a school teacher by day and an unintentional detective by night. Pulling us in with incisive narration, she unravels the mysteries that Detroit seems to cook up specifically for her. Here’s the thing, when a woman from The D, who is in the middle of a D-vorce, gets strung out on “the D” there’s nothing left to do but solve a thirty-year-old mystery. Those are the rules. And that’s the accelerant that makes Diarra’s life a lethal blend of grading papers, dodging bullets, mystifying her friends, freeing naked Russians, and getting embarrassed by those damn kids.
The show enters the genre of women-led mystery, throwing back to the clever humor and detective skills of Veronica Mars, while also incorporating the location-based comedic scenarios of shows like Nora from Queens (season one) and the previously mentioned South Side (genius). Similarly, this show’s brilliance isn’t just about the laughter—Diarra from Detroit also integrates a dark edge reminiscent of Killing Eve, creating a multi-dimensional narrative that’s both exciting and captivating, keeping viewers hooked as they switch between laughter and suspense.
Oh and wait for that Phylicia Rashad x The Temptations scene (because I too wonder about the temptational use of “feet”)
Going further beyond the shenanigans and chicanery: Diarra from Detroit intricately intertwines the haunting themes of missing children, the quest for their whereabouts, and the wounds their loss leaves in our communities. Diarra suspects that her elusive date is caught up in the whereabouts of a child who mysteriously disappeared in the 90s. This suspicion propels her into the realm of amateur detective work, highlighting the series’ focus on tracking crime and the unresolved anguish surrounding cases of missing children.
The narrative also covertly delves into the psychological ramifications of divorce and the upheaval caused by major life changes. As Diarra navigates her post-divorce reality, the series depicts how we sometimes immerse ourselves in outside world challenges as a means to sidestep our sorrows. The question becomes: Is the mystery real or is Diarra just deflecting so she doesn’t have to deal? That poignantly satirized minefield is what makes the show even more intriguing.
Diarra from Detroit is a “cheers to my girls” cocktail of relatable shenanigans, amateur sleuthing, and a sinister edge that makes you wonder if you’ll spin out from laughs into shivers at any moment. Kilpatrick, who previously enchanted us with American Koko brings the same wit and charming writing to her new show. One of the best episodes of Geek Girl Riot was when we chatted with Kilpatrick for a full hour. Her kindness, charisma, and insight are undeniable—that is the inner glow lighting up her performances and her pen.
RIOTUS 