Stars Reveal True Meaning Behind DTF St. Louis Title

David Harbour, Jason Bateman, and Linda Cardellini discuss the emotional depth behind the raunchy-sounding limited series.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 7:03pm

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While the title of the HBO limited series DTF St. Louis may suggest a show focused on casual hookups, the stars of the series - David Harbour, Jason Bateman, and Linda Cardellini - reveal that the show delves much deeper into the messy emotional lives and relationships of the three main characters. The actors discuss how their characters are each searching for deeper connections, even as they make the risky decision to use a dating app for married people. The show subverts expectations, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and the complexities of long-term relationships.

Why it matters

DTF St. Louis provides a nuanced look at the inner lives of seemingly ordinary people, challenging assumptions about relationships and infidelity. The show's exploration of midlife crises and the desire for something more in long-term marriages resonates with broader societal themes around the evolving nature of modern relationships.

The details

The series follows a love triangle between three friends - Floyd (David Harbour), Carol (Linda Cardellini), and Clark (Jason Bateman) - who join a dating app for married people in search of excitement and connection. However, as the characters become entangled, the show delves into their complex motivations and the unintended consequences of their actions. Harbour's character Floyd, for example, is torn between his desire for adventure and his loyalty to his friend Clark, even as he grows increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. The actors discuss how the show subverts genre expectations to tell a more intimate, character-driven story.

  • DTF St. Louis premiered on HBO on March 1, 2026.

The players

David Harbour

An American actor known for his roles in Stranger Things and Hellboy, who portrays the character of Floyd in DTF St. Louis.

Jason Bateman

An American actor, director, and producer known for his work in Arrested Development and Ozark, who plays the character of Clark in DTF St. Louis.

Linda Cardellini

An American actress recognized for her roles in Freaks and Geeks and Dead to Me, who portrays the character of Carol in DTF St. Louis.

Joy Sunday

An actress who plays the role of Jodie in DTF St. Louis, a character who questions and observes the other characters.

Steve Conrad

The showrunner and creator of DTF St. Louis, known for his work on shows like Patriot and Perpetual Grace, LTD.

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What they’re saying

“I think a lot gets revealed later, as you see — they've [Floyd and Carol] been married for... How long have they been married? Is it like 10 years or something? ... Eight or 10 years. And so, you get to see some backstory about the beginnings of that marriage.”

— David Harbour (ScreenRant)

“At the time we meet him, early on, he's talking about the umpire gear; they're having problems because she wears this umpire gear around the house, and it really turns him off, and she won't stop wearing it when she's gardening and doing other tasks around the house. So, there's a simple aspect to it as well, but the other thing is, I think Floyd is kind of a sweet guy.”

— David Harbour (ScreenRant)

“He's got communication problems, but he also, I think, wants to impress his friend [Clark] and connect with him, because one of the most joyous times I think he has with DTF is when they're making their profiles, or when Clark is excited about it.”

— David Harbour (ScreenRant)

“Well, my character is desperately searching for a more significant connection with someone in his life than he's able to establish or maintain with his wife. That sort of atrophied into a place of desperation for himself. And so he makes this decision, and that decision, and we get to see the results of his mishandling of those relationships, and this idea of growth is sort of misguided.”

— Jason Bateman (ScreenRant)

“I really just fell in love with Steve's universe, and I love dry humor. I mean, one of my favorite comedy shows is King of the Hill, and I think this was just the dark version of it, where you see people living out and being themselves in their private lives. And it was so special and heartfelt the way he approached it.”

— Joy Sunday, Actress (ScreenRant)

What’s next

The series will continue to explore the fallout from the characters' actions in future episodes, as the judge decides whether to grant bail for one of the central characters.

The takeaway

DTF St. Louis subverts expectations by delving into the complex emotional lives and relationships of its characters, moving beyond the show's raunchy-sounding title to explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and the challenges of long-term marriage. The series provides a nuanced, character-driven look at modern relationships.