Streets on Lock

After the premiere episode of "Atlanta," I was excited to see how they would follow it up. With the premiere being something that I had never seen before, and something that was so funny that I didn't know what to do with myself when it was done, I was so excited for the second episode. This time, it is Donald Glover's brother Stephen who is writing, and if the talent runs in the family, this episode could have the potential to be even funnier than the premiere was. I also hoped that the episode would expand on the weird element of the premiere, because while the premiere had some weird moments, it was only the scene in the bus that felt like something out of "Twin Peaks." I hoped that they would be able to expand on that, and after having seen the second episode, I can only say that they managed to do so much more and make this the funnier episode. It's been some time since I have laughed that hard at anything.

Just like the premiere, this episode had such great writing and the perfect amount of comedic moments to up what they did in the premiere, without making it seem forced. The screenplay for this particular episode offers up what every second episode should; it explores more of the world that we were introduced to in the premiere. Glover makes these suburban areas in Atlanta look like one of the weirdest places in all of America, and it's so brilliant, because it makes the audience invested in the place. It's a real place, that in many ways probably mirror the real place very well, but to someone who has never been there, it seems like the weirdest fictional place ever.

I like that the writers are concentrating on develop these characters more than anything else. This episode was very much about developing Paper Boi and make him adapt to this newfound fame. And something that Glover did was put Earn in prison, so the audience wouldn't ask "where is Earn?" while watching. And the prison setting was incredible funny. They made prison seem like the funniest place on Earth, even though there was also a lot of social commentary involved in these scenes. So, there was this great balance of making it very funny, but also very realistic. However, I will say the comedic moments in these scenes were genius.

The further exploration of Atlanta was also great, and we got introduced to so many weird new characters that seems like something out of "Twin Peaks" or "The Twilight Zone." That's a smart way for the showrunners to make the show too serious, even though there are a lot of very serious undertones. It's these small moments with these weird characters that makes the humor, and it might not land for some people, but for someone like me who loves everything that someone like David Lynch does, this is pure gold.

Once again, the performances were really great, and especially Glover who plays every scene very subtle, even though the people he surrounds himself with in prison are not that. There is a very funny conversation between an ex-couple where Earn is caught in the middle of the two, and while he plays it realistically, the two are like something from another place. Some of these people are messed up, and I love that they are.

Glover has really managed to pull me into this show that I didn't have any expectations for. I love everything that I have seen so far, and I cannot wait to watch more and see the insanity that they come up with in the remaining eight episodes.

This is like a normal day in life of a black man trying to find his way up... Okay, we can say that being on top is nothing compared to the real, insightful aims in life; but still, it is to be experienced by billions of people.

More to that, a black man's journey upwards will reveal more challenges than the white men 'd encounter. Therefore, in Donald's work we see the story to be as close to the truth as he can possibly do...

The scenes where the dialogues take part between all kinds of "black people" is realistic as their accent as well as their phraseology are in point. Their closer bonds between themselves than their relations with "white" people were portrayed well.

It certainly is a problem in the society that people will divide their ways based on the culture backed up by the skin colour... But still, you feel close to the characters as if you are in those scenes. In a word, this is a success for the show!

The show's originality can be discussed upon as it is not the first show to delve into "rap" or "black lives matter" zone; but its approach is kind of dark and new. We've got to keep its tracks!..

Finally, their acting skills with respect to coolheadednes and aplomb are what anyone would remember this show by!.. Well!..

I give this episode a "8,8." Yes!..

"...Yet We desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them leaders and to make them the inheritors..."

The Gracious Koran, the 5th Verse of the 28th Chapter (called "The Stories"). Amen.

Paper Boi and Earn are in the police cells waiting to be processed.

With a song and being on the edge of fame, Paper Boi is processed and gets bail in not time, even a detective asking him for a selfie. Paper Boi feels uncomfortable, later on when he sees some kids playing with guns, he feels the need to give them an anti violence message.

Earn is not so lucky, he does not get bail immediately. He closes his eyes in the cells and gets told off by an officer that he cannot fall asleep until he is processed.

The people in the cells are almost surreal, the standout is the guy who sees his ex-girlfriend not knowing that he was a transvestite.

More funnier than the episode but again feels more like a drama.