Donald Glover stars in and produces “Atlanta,” a comedy-drama on FX. FX recently renewed the series for a second season, just two weeks after the premiere on Sept. 6.
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Screenshot taken from “Atlanta” on FX Now
Donald Glover stars in and produces “Atlanta,” a comedy-drama on FX. FX recently renewed the series for a second season, just two weeks after the premiere on Sept. 6.
FX’s new show, “Atlanta” has created a massive amount of buzz. It was well deserved. This show is like nothing many of us have ever seen in our lifetime. It’s a look into the collision of art, culture and reality in the black community. However, it’s done with the right amount of levity as to give fans some comic relief. Furthermore, the show isn’t dependent upon a bunch of characters and jokes that are based in reaffirming stereotypes. Everything about this show is special, from the writers to the main cast to the celebrity cameos. There wasn’t a facet of the show that showed a lack in detail.
The “B.A.N.” episode displayed this show’s range and overall excellence with built-in satirical commercials, all of which were side-splittingly funny. The one that stood out to me was an animated cereal commercial. There was a wolf trying to steal cereal from small black children. Once the kids win, I’m expecting the commercial to end. Instead, a large white law enforcement officer shows up to arrest the wolf. He beats the wolf mercilessly shouting, “Stop resisting.” The little kids try to defend the wolf and the officer draws his weapon on a little girl. A stare-down ensues and the commercial ends with the producer cutting away to a real life version of the cereal.
Moments like these add to the show, but they weren’t the meat and potatoes of “Atlanta.”
Writer, director and star of the show, Donald Glover, really put forth an amazing effort in this project. Glover’s character, Earn, is the center of the show, often seen wearing many hats. He dropped out of Princeton; however, his Ivy League knowledge shows periodically throughout the episodes. He is also the manager of his cousin, rapper and local hood celebrity “Paper Boi,” played by Brian Tyree Henry.
There are constantly highs and lows in their relationship that are explored on an episode-to-episode basis; many of which arise from the fact that they have very different demeanors. While he and Paper Boi are family, they were raised in very different environments and their habits are adaptations; Paper Boi was the never-made-it-out-of-the-hood archetype.
Even though he shows this side, there are also times where Henry’s character displays a broader range of emotions than what was thought to be possible. His odd friend Darius normally accompanies him. His origins are unknown, but his ignorance to common knowledge facts and Earn’s reaction to it is often good for a few laughs per episode.
Earn is also technically homeless so he lives with his on-and-off again girlfriend and mother of his child, Vanessa, played by Zazie Beetz. He isn’t exclusive with Vanessa, but she’s constantly there for him.
The show could’ve taken a very disappointing turn by making Vanessa a one-dimensional stereotypical baby mama or Earn’s spineless proverbial punching bag, but it didn’t.
Vanessa’s character is instead as complex and layered as Earn. She held a job as a teacher for a few episodes, and she has her own boutique.
She is almost a guardian angel of sorts for Earn, but she still does her own thing. In one episode, she went out of her way to make it clear that Earn was not the only one who was seeing other people. She also demands a lot out of Earn for the sake of their daughter. Beetz, as well as the rest of the cast, did a wonderful job with this script.
The guest appearances and auxiliary characters are also reflective of the show’s all-black writing staff. The show had guest cameos from people as well-known as the rap group Migos, all the way down to social media celebs like Bankroll PJ. These characters help make Earn’s everyday struggles somehow seem refreshing.
The only problem I see with this show is how it follows season one up. The season ended with Earn going to sleep in his storage room, which shows how lovable of a protagonist he is, still living a real life. It’s almost hard to imagine how they improve from this. Like many fans, I am anxiously waiting to see the follow to this smashing success that was season one.