Written by John Edward Betancourt ![]() It really is quite impressive, how the modern documentary and the modern docu-series for that matter, are so supremely cinematic in nature. Which is not a knock upon them by any means… since we are treated to stunning visuals now, and incredible editing and a story that does indeed educate from beginning to end and manages to keep us captivated as well. Courtesy of all of those elements. But while the modern documentary/docu-series are quite incredible and appealing in nature, we would be foolish to not point out that there are drawbacks to having them present stories about our world in such a slick manner. In that, they sometimes feel a little manufactured, akin to a product, and that’s problematic when the genre has always been viewed as a showcase for our world as it is, complete with commentary, and it is possible that this era of peak television has helped for some to lose sight of that… but not all. Because there has suddenly been a surge of documentaries that are eager to buck the modern trends and bring the genre back to its roots, and it just so happens that STARZ is now home to a documentary series in that vein. For Down in the Valley truly is something quite special. For this docu-series, which is in many ways an extension of the hit series, P-Valley, takes the time to explore life in the South. Which at first glance seems to be no big deal, since we know the South is steeped in tradition, good food and an aesthetic that you will not find anywhere else in these United States. Which are facts we’ve seen put on display by plenty of other documentaries. But this… this docu-series handles things differently, because it’s not about our overall collective knowledge of the South… it’s about what life in the South, REALLY looks like and what people REALLY experience day to day, and that brings forth, one brilliant documentary series. In fact, it can be said with confidence that there is nothing else like this on the airwaves. For it really is devoid of major of all the trappings we discussed a moment ago. Granted, there is a focus per episode, and a story to tell… one that host Nicco Annan sets up and guides us through. But Nicco really is just a host, and he asks poignant questions that allow for others to tell their stories and discuss their lives and explain what life is like in the South, and we learn… so much because of that. For now, we hear it from the source, and we are privy to all the emotions that come with that kind of honesty, and that allows for us to learn that life in the South, does not resemble those topical visuals. No instead, this is a corner of the nation that resembles the rest of America, with its own proclivities of course, but many of the struggles are the same. Courtesy of episodes that ponder upon our nation’s current relationship with sexuality in every arena, and explore the power of tradition and so much more. But that is the point of this story, to showcase the stories we gloss over when we think of the South, to properly point out that the American experience is far more universal than we give it credit, and that these are the stories we need to be telling in a nation that is divided and steeped in ideology over what really matters: the lives and stories on display here. That makes this show, an absolute must-see. For it is powerful, poignant and unlike any other documentary on the airwaves. Courtesy of the fact that it strips away the glamor and gloss of the genre and focuses on real people and their real stories and real struggles to present life in the valley as it truly is, and thankfully, you don’t have to wait much longer to really experience life in the South. For the first episode of Down in the Valley is available to stream on the STARZ app now, and the first two episodes will air on the network this Friday, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you see this stunning docu-series, nor we can we wait to share our interview with Showrunner Shoshana Guy and host Nicco Annan… as we count down the minutes to the full premiere of this refreshing and revolutionary documentary series.
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