Hilariously absurd or absurdly hilarious. We're back on track-mixing dark comedy, drama, and philosophy in grounded 30-minute episode. Feels like only 'Atlanta' can pull something like this.
9 Reviews
Finally heard from Lottie
philipgriffin-245821 April 2022
Simply a 2022 comedy masterpiece
alejandroviramontesjuarez7 April 2022
You cant get better comedic media then this. So down to earth poking fun at absurd real life situations in a dramatic way. I find this type of content easily relatable with as a minority myself. You can really tell how Donald Glover has a grip on the strange reality of not fitting in with modern society. Really magnifying the daily struggles some people have on a daily basis as a misfit.
You don't need new tricks when you've mastered old ones
reynoldswraptpe1 April 2022
On paper,this episode is an 8. It's got a touch too many punchlines you can see coming. But in practice? This was a 10.
Atlanta knows what it is and what it can do. 4 years off and rave reviews from critics and fans will give you plenty of time to dig into what works and what doesn't. The only difference is now, the show knows how to keep the audience on their toes without even trying.
A casual reference of "Tales From The Hood" had me already waiting for that other shoe to drop and twist Atlanta into full blown horror mode again. Combine that with talk of ghosts and Hiro Murai's atmospheric direction and I wasn't sure if I was tense through moments that I can now look back on as hilarious.
I started to let my guard down, and then the show gives us that Earn and Van scene where the real horror of people either spiraling or losing their sense of center brings the dread for the future creeping back into this seemingly goofy episode. Now I have at least 3 different levels of ways I can look at this episode on rewatch.
Long ago, Donald Glover compared season 3 to Ye's "Graduation Day" and explained it by saying it would be the most accessible season of the show. I get what he meant now. It's that mixing and matching of everything Atlanta knows it can do - the horror episode, the abstract episode,the goofy episode, the systemic episode, the deep episode, etc. - into something amorphous and new that not only serves itself, but what has come before it and what will come after. The first 2 episodes informed this episode and vice versa.
The elements thrown in here have me off-kilter again and not knowing whether this will be defined solidly as a "_______ episode" by the time the season is done, or if it will still be somewhere in that mysterious middle ground.
This is the season of being along for the ride. The brakes are little bit iffy and the seatbelt catches before you get a chance to buckle it sometimes, but the driver knows where they're going. That's why it's called a tour.
Atlanta knows what it is and what it can do. 4 years off and rave reviews from critics and fans will give you plenty of time to dig into what works and what doesn't. The only difference is now, the show knows how to keep the audience on their toes without even trying.
A casual reference of "Tales From The Hood" had me already waiting for that other shoe to drop and twist Atlanta into full blown horror mode again. Combine that with talk of ghosts and Hiro Murai's atmospheric direction and I wasn't sure if I was tense through moments that I can now look back on as hilarious.
I started to let my guard down, and then the show gives us that Earn and Van scene where the real horror of people either spiraling or losing their sense of center brings the dread for the future creeping back into this seemingly goofy episode. Now I have at least 3 different levels of ways I can look at this episode on rewatch.
Long ago, Donald Glover compared season 3 to Ye's "Graduation Day" and explained it by saying it would be the most accessible season of the show. I get what he meant now. It's that mixing and matching of everything Atlanta knows it can do - the horror episode, the abstract episode,the goofy episode, the systemic episode, the deep episode, etc. - into something amorphous and new that not only serves itself, but what has come before it and what will come after. The first 2 episodes informed this episode and vice versa.
The elements thrown in here have me off-kilter again and not knowing whether this will be defined solidly as a "_______ episode" by the time the season is done, or if it will still be somewhere in that mysterious middle ground.
This is the season of being along for the ride. The brakes are little bit iffy and the seatbelt catches before you get a chance to buckle it sometimes, but the driver knows where they're going. That's why it's called a tour.
Damn just damn...
prathapt-3669420 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode from start to finish just had a weird unidentifiable strangeness to it(In an awesome way). At it's core I think that is where Atlanta excels.
Each of our protagonists had such an interesting journey. To add to that being placed in a surrounding that was strange just added to the overall mystery of whats going on in this episode.
The underlying themes of this episode blew me away, Addressing apartheid in such a creative way was mind blowing for me. The theme of ghosts sticks in this episode too and is woven in beautifully.
This whole season has a very interesting approach on racism in truly a witty and impactful way. The tree was so symbolic and could be interpreted in so many ways. The theme of white guilt and racism was shown on screen in such a thought provoking way that I can't describe in words how many nuances Atlanta gets SPOT ON!
Lastly the line "Racism and capitalism hard to separate innit" drove the message of the episode home more than anything. Who better to deliver the line than Jai Paul an artist who in my opinion is one of the most amazing and unique sounding artists to ever grace the game.
Childish is truly a GOAT for having Jai appear no lie I haven't been that shocked and happy ever in my life!!!!
Atlanta is already an amazing show and I cant wait to see what the season brings us.
Each of our protagonists had such an interesting journey. To add to that being placed in a surrounding that was strange just added to the overall mystery of whats going on in this episode.
The underlying themes of this episode blew me away, Addressing apartheid in such a creative way was mind blowing for me. The theme of ghosts sticks in this episode too and is woven in beautifully.
This whole season has a very interesting approach on racism in truly a witty and impactful way. The tree was so symbolic and could be interpreted in so many ways. The theme of white guilt and racism was shown on screen in such a thought provoking way that I can't describe in words how many nuances Atlanta gets SPOT ON!
Lastly the line "Racism and capitalism hard to separate innit" drove the message of the episode home more than anything. Who better to deliver the line than Jai Paul an artist who in my opinion is one of the most amazing and unique sounding artists to ever grace the game.
Childish is truly a GOAT for having Jai appear no lie I haven't been that shocked and happy ever in my life!!!!
Atlanta is already an amazing show and I cant wait to see what the season brings us.
A Bit Slower But Still Good
joshdoty1 April 2022
Pure genius!
rnbandhiphopworldcom8 July 2022
Firstly, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Atlanta team in the UK! That age old "two nations divided by a common language" couldn't be more apt in this episode! It had me howling with laughter.
The dead pan facial expression of the main cast when confronted with the raw non filtered British English dialect used by the UK actors was not only the genuine article but made the whole episode very endearing to me being a black person born in the UK with as much family in the USA as I do in the UK.
I never ever thought the creators of this show could top the previous seasons but I can personally say, this episode and season alone has now placed Atlanta firmly into one of my all time favourite shows categories.
The dead pan facial expression of the main cast when confronted with the raw non filtered British English dialect used by the UK actors was not only the genuine article but made the whole episode very endearing to me being a black person born in the UK with as much family in the USA as I do in the UK.
I never ever thought the creators of this show could top the previous seasons but I can personally say, this episode and season alone has now placed Atlanta firmly into one of my all time favourite shows categories.
Balance is a mf
dannylee-7808210 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
1. Darius talks with a girl
2. Van pushes people into pool
3. Alfred cuts a tree
This episode was fun and absurd, just the way I like it. It's reminiscent of the episode where they go to a college party and experience some bizarre things. They've completely upgraded since then, being in a billionaire's house. I don't know how they managed to weave so much into this episode starting from social commentary on racial movements through Darius' encounter with MK, Earn and Van's relationship, and Alfred's absurd encounter with Fernando. It maintains its humor but also remains sharp throughout. I do miss the shorter formats as this episode was 35 minutes long.
This episode was fun and absurd, just the way I like it. It's reminiscent of the episode where they go to a college party and experience some bizarre things. They've completely upgraded since then, being in a billionaire's house. I don't know how they managed to weave so much into this episode starting from social commentary on racial movements through Darius' encounter with MK, Earn and Van's relationship, and Alfred's absurd encounter with Fernando. It maintains its humor but also remains sharp throughout. I do miss the shorter formats as this episode was 35 minutes long.
Loved every minute of it
Criticalstaff12 May 2022
The first two episodes felt like a distraction. Unique and refreshing, yes. But barely interesting; not as riveting. It felt in many ways more as a way to reunite with our favorite characters: Earn, the straight-man of the group, the underachiever with a heart of gold. Paper Boi, the big mean gangsta rapper who is actually charming and sensitive. Van, the moral compass of the group and the most in line with her emotions. And Darius kinda the wildcard eccentric one, half Dwight Schrute, half Kramer.
Now, I personally think that this episode is where this new (finally) season gets going. The first were more about tone and setting the environment more than they were about overarching plot. More when and where and less what and why. However, these party episodes are really where Atlanta shines. It is where the show is capable of creating great entertainment but also ponder on some more meaningful questions. Whether the show answers them or not is irrelevant, what is enjoyable is how these familiar characters grapple with them. The Drake mansion episode or the Oktoberfest episode were kind off built on the same premise. Take these characters that we know, put them in a strange setting that is at the same time recognizable but also off-putting and weird and unique. And let them loose. Let them chat people up and explore these self-contained universes is pure delight. This is in my opinion, where Atlanta is the strongest and it is the first episode of this season where I connected with it.
There is nothing I dislike with this episode. It finally brought all the characters together and let them just be for a while. It is just cool to see them chill. Despite all the shenanigans and all the zany characters they encounter, the episode is an opportunity for the main characters to sit down and talk with one another. It allows itself to re-center on the group. They reconnect with one another, we reconnect with them too. It gives a reset to the relationships between its core members.
In my view, this is the best modern TV can offer by the way; it is not the flying dragons nor the invariable sitcoms with white people sharing an apartment. It is a small group of people that we identify with talking with each other. Put out an interesting and unique setting, or background where our heroes can get lost, or grow/change/learn and I am hooked.
Now, I personally think that this episode is where this new (finally) season gets going. The first were more about tone and setting the environment more than they were about overarching plot. More when and where and less what and why. However, these party episodes are really where Atlanta shines. It is where the show is capable of creating great entertainment but also ponder on some more meaningful questions. Whether the show answers them or not is irrelevant, what is enjoyable is how these familiar characters grapple with them. The Drake mansion episode or the Oktoberfest episode were kind off built on the same premise. Take these characters that we know, put them in a strange setting that is at the same time recognizable but also off-putting and weird and unique. And let them loose. Let them chat people up and explore these self-contained universes is pure delight. This is in my opinion, where Atlanta is the strongest and it is the first episode of this season where I connected with it.
There is nothing I dislike with this episode. It finally brought all the characters together and let them just be for a while. It is just cool to see them chill. Despite all the shenanigans and all the zany characters they encounter, the episode is an opportunity for the main characters to sit down and talk with one another. It allows itself to re-center on the group. They reconnect with one another, we reconnect with them too. It gives a reset to the relationships between its core members.
In my view, this is the best modern TV can offer by the way; it is not the flying dragons nor the invariable sitcoms with white people sharing an apartment. It is a small group of people that we identify with talking with each other. Put out an interesting and unique setting, or background where our heroes can get lost, or grow/change/learn and I am hooked.
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