Atlanta: The Big Bang
September 7, 2016 9:56 AM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe

"Paper Boi? Who the hell is that? I swear everybody want to be a rapper now-a-days smh. Song is bumpin tho." Atlanta focuses on two cousins with different views on art versus commerce, on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene; "Earnest 'Earn' Marks" (Donald Glover), an ambitious college drop-out and “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), who wants to becomes a star. [Glover is also the the creator, writer, executive producer, director and music supervisor.]
posted by filthy light thief (12 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
The first two episodes aired back-to-back last night (Aug. 6, 2016). FX posted the first episode and a bunch of promos from the first ep on YouTube (playlist), though the episode is age-restricted (and possibly region-locked).
posted by filthy light thief at 10:04 AM on September 7, 2016


My quick take: I'm really enjoying it, and it has a nice balance of seriousness with humor, where Glover is in the middle. He has good lines, both for comedy and tragedy. Darius (Keith Stanfield) feels a bit like Glover's Troy Barnes with the really wacky bits:

Earns: Look, I'm not asking for money.
Paper Boi: You should be, ain't you homeless?
Earns: Not real homeless. I'm not using a rat as a phone or something.
Paper Boi: Don't be racist, man. That make you schizophrenic, that don't make you homeless.
Darius: Wait, wait, not if it worked, man. No, if you could use a rat as a phone, man, that'd be genius. I mean, there's like five rats for every one person in New York alone. Everybody would have an affordable phone. Yeah, man, I mean, it'd be messy, but... worth it.

I could totally see Troy saying something like that, but with more of the cartoonish humor found throughout Community.

But on the whole, it's more grounded than Community by leagues. But thanks to Darius and some moments from others, it's not played 100% serious.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:30 AM on September 7, 2016


Another pitch for Atlanta, from The Atlantic:

Atlanta’s Magic Is in the Details
Donald Glover’s new FX show captures the surrealism and the daily grind of a city in the midst of cultural renaissance.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:43 AM on September 7, 2016


I tried to put this show up here last night, but I don't really know how fanfare works.

This is one of the best things I've seen in a while. There's only a couple of TV shows I watch and this is going to be one of them.
posted by bongo_x at 12:00 PM on September 7, 2016


This is one of the best things I've seen in a while. There's only a couple of TV shows I watch and this is going to be one of them.

I agree. I'm intrigued by it - I'm not sure where it'll go.

I tried to put this show up here last night, but I don't really know how fanfare works.

For new FanFare shows, you have to find the specific show on IMDb and request that the shows be added to FanFare, which then takes a bit of moderator involvement. Once approved, you'll get an automated MeMail saying the show is available for posts.

You might have already completed proposing this show, as I requested to add the show to FF this morning when I didn't see it up already, but when I checked back in later I saw it was already added, though I didn't get the automated MeMail telling me it was added.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:22 PM on September 7, 2016


I did try and add it last night, but I didn't get the email. When I checked today there it was.
posted by bongo_x at 12:40 PM on September 7, 2016


My wife will check out new shows, but I am mostly uninterested. This was on in the background and I got sucked in. Immediately afterward she watched the whole thing again, which is surprising since it's not the kind of show I'd think she'd be into.
posted by bongo_x at 12:42 PM on September 7, 2016


This is on my to-watch list (provided I can find a Canadian workaround) because I like Donald Glover and I have never stopped missing Atlanta, even after all this time I've been away. (I'll see you soon, ATL! November, baby!)
posted by Kitteh at 12:53 PM on September 7, 2016


It was great. It ticked off a few boxes, though I do take points off for some of the language. But overall, I liked it enough to watch it multiple times.
posted by cashman at 8:59 PM on September 9, 2016


I feel like Earn is Troy from the darkest darkest timeline.
posted by bleep at 4:05 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Finally watched this: it was so great! Lakieth Stanfield is hilarious (that whole homeless/rat exchange was delightful). I appreciate everyone's dry delivery. Brian Tyree Henry is really good, the way he subtly builds his character's anxiety. I'm super excited to watch the whole season..
posted by latkes at 12:44 PM on September 19, 2017


It's really good. I was thinking a new season must be coming up, with your new comment, but no:

In January 2017, the series was renewed for a second season, however, it will not premiere until 2018 due to Glover's busy production schedule.

Anyway, kudos to Glover for the two Golden Globe wins: the first Black director to win in the comedy series category, and one for best comedic actor.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:06 PM on September 19, 2017 [1 favorite]


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