Signal23 continues to improve in its attempts to deliver solid storytelling. Look, the sound editing is terrible, there are never any "background extras" in any scene to enhance authenticity, and all the sets are much too tight and lacking in realistic detail (Josiah's mom's apartment is way too clean and tidy to be taken seriously for her character). That said... there is a wonderful story here. One filled with the realities of figuring out one's sexual orientation, the realities of how black people experience the life in America, and the realities of being forced to accept the cards that life deals.
The fight scenes and effects (oh that awful catsup blood!) are subpar. And worse yet, it seems that filming was delayed at times because the main actor changed his dreads during the filming so he literally leaves a room with one scalp style, and re-enters another room seconds later with a completely different hairstyle and length, and this continues to alternate throughout the movie. The reality seems to be that there was not much of a budget. And that's ok. Hopefully series like this will provide Signal23 with increased funds so that it can increase quality as it grows.
If you can put aside that this series was obviously made with a low budget... you will discover that its story is beautiful and haunting. This series has a real story to tell, and it delivers. It doesn't hold back on the realities of being a black teen struggling to find his place in the world that exists. It also doesn't become squeamish when portraying the realities of sex and abuse.
With better funding, this series could have ranked a 10. I commend Henderson Maddox for telling this tale as he was able to with the funds he had. And I'm hopeful that he has a vision of continuing to unveil human journeys that are unique, yet still shared. Well done.
