Atlanta

This show was the first in years where I planned to watch it when it aired despite me setting the DVR to record it. The same way people geeked out on Game of Thrones, this show just struck my funny bone with the obvious situational humor and subded dark tones intertwined in it all. The basis of the show is about a upcoming rapper set in modern day Atlanta and his cousin who wants to be his manager. But what makes the show great is how the story is told. The storyline works like a drama but the perspective works like a comedy. This is much like the movie and show Parenthood; the storyline is not really a comedy but misery loving company can be funny. Atlanta works out the same way with the plot filtered through the lens of dark humor seen in Married with Children and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The show is well acted, well written, surprising, engaging, and most important it is funny.

As a long time fan of Glover from Community, his stand up comedy, and even to his rapping (Childish Gambino), I was of course excited to see this show.

As a pale white guy from Ohio, I still found the show to be very enjoyable and with the way they did the first episode, it has a monumental chance to be successful. Darius cracks me up with how he thinks, he's exactly the type of quirky person you need in this type of show (assuming I know how it's going to continue), but he is basically the Daryl of Walking Dead. Everyone will love him and if he ever dies the show may go downhill without him.

Since I've been a fan of Donald since Community I may be a tiny bit biased, but he yet again seems to be a superb actor and I already felt connected to him and wanting him to 'win'.

It's no surprise Donald will turn this into an amazing series because he is a great actor and writer.

Just please don't kill Darius. How will we ever have rat phones if he dies?

There is a lot about this program that I shouldn't relate to. I don't live in America, I'm not black, I'm gaining a few years on the cast. But through impeccable writing, casting and acting Atlanta draws me in to a world that finds a strange yet utterly compelling way to tell a story. The comedy and tragedy mix as happens in real life. The often brutal reality of being young and black and poor in America fuses seamlessly with more existential themes of growth (personal and professional), family, race, power dynamics, legacy and much more. This work is beautiful in both a comedic and dramatic sense.

Atlanta is such an incredible and must see show! Donald Glover is just an amazing talent who seems to do no wrong and who leads an all-around amazing cast! Donald Glover plays a character named Earn who's cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry) is an up and coming rapper named Paperboy on Atlanta. Earn takes over as his manger as he grinds to make Paperboy one of the top hip-hop artists in the world. Those two along with their friend Darius (the underrated LaKeith Stanfield) get in all sorts of events. He also has a girlfriend Van (Zazie Beetz) who they have a child together. Some people didn't like season 3 as much because every other episode wa it's own story that didn't involve the stars of the show. It also took them away from Atlanta and over to Europe so it doesn't have the same feel. Even though it's not as good as the first two season I still liked it. I really can't say anymore about this phenomenal show except to go watch it!

Atlanta, created and written by the multi-talented Donald Glover presents an intriguing, dynamic chemistry between an enigmatic Earn Marks (Donald Glover) and the stern, hostile, hood-driven city of Atlanta. A college drop out, Earn Marks seems to be living life at the bottom of a pit; a broke father, estranged by his parents and engaged with an absurd relationship with a girlfriend who mothers his daughter (unclear) - everything seems bleak. However, when news breaks out that his cousin Alfred 'Paper Boi' Miles (Brian Tyree Henry) is now the new hot rapper on the block, Earn drops everything he is doing to pursue the job of being Paper Boi's manager.

Even after having watched 3 episodes of the TV show, I still find it tough to pinpoint exactly what genre this absurdly riveting series falls under. While it pushes towards the drama section, the show is ridden with comedic bits. From the cinematography, to the acting, to the script, so far I have nothing but praise for Atlanta. Moreover, I cannot understate the rounded quality of the characters, to which I cannot end this short review of Atlanta without mentioning Darius (Keith Stanfield).

The eccentric nature of Darius is precisely exemplified by the first meeting between Earn and Darius in Episode One (The Big Bang): Darius holding a plate of cookies, wearing a cooking robe and a bandanna, with a knife ready to attack in case of an intruder. Even though he is consistently under the influence of cannabis, from time to time, Darius exudes of intellectual and spiritual wisdom. As in Episode Two (Streets on Lock) when speaking about the violent altercation of the previous night, Darius explains "As humans we are always close to destruction, life is (selfish) but a series of close calls… I mean how would you know if you were alive, unless you are willing to die."

The TV Show Atlanta is an avant-garde in the African-American film industry and seems to be following the same footsteps of top quality shows like Power and How to Get Away With Murder. Donald Glover has created a grabbing story which only begs for more.