Donald Glover's show Atlanta is finally on British screens. If you haven't checked it out yet, here's why you need to drop everything and watch it ASAP...
Donald Glover is literally everywhere at the moment - he's starring in new Star Wars film, guest hosting Saturday Night Live, getting cosy with SZA in her new video and, obviously, all over the internet thanks to This Is America. He's also, rather unexpectedly, on BBC Two thanks to the fact the channel bought the UK rights to his dramady series Atlanta.
Now, I've been illegally streaming Atlanta since it premiered in the US in September 2016 ( sorry not sorry), and let me tell you, you are missing out if you haven't given it a watch yet.
For those who don't know, Atlanta follows aspiring music mogul Earnest ‘Earn’ Marks (played by Glover) as he tries to navigate the Atlanta hip-hop scene while managing his cousin, Paper Boi’s, rap career.
And although that might all sound pretty standard sitcom fodder, believe me, it’s SO MUCH MORE than just another easy-watch box set.
Here’s why Atlanta needs to be top of your summer viewing list…
It’s a treat for your eyes
Whether it’s the inside of an apartment, a prison cell or a parking lot, every scene is shot with style and purpose. This comes as no surprise when you learn that the series is directed by Hiro Murai – who also happens the be the man behind This Is America and countless other tasty music videos for the likes of Earl Sweatshirt, Flying Lotus and David Guetta.
Personal highlights (indulge me, I’m a film student) include the shooting of Earn’s baby mama Van’s apartment, the sweeping aerial shots, and the wandering tangential nature of the camera. The spaces through the show are shot with an intimacy and closeness that really draws you in.
It keeps you on your toes
Much like the video for This Is America, Atlanta is full of subtle surreal moments - like an in-depth conversation about the logistics of using a rat as phone, or the moment when a grown man in a Batman masks knocks on Paper Boi’s door, asks if he’s in, and then runs away. These bizarre, unexpected, and unexplained moments create an atmosphere where literally anything can happen, and really keep you on your toes as a viewer.
It’s funny without being obvious
While Atlanta is pitched as a comedy, the laughs in the show come in the form or witty observations on everyday life rather than crass slapstick gags. Take, for instance, the moment in the third episode when Earn gets into it with a fast food worker who won't serve him a kids meal – “Sometimes I just don’t want a full meal, y’know?” – yes Earn, we really do!
The soundtrack’s banging
Obviously Glover wasn’t about to let his show go down with a flat soundtrack, and immediately after I gassed through the first season I was on Spotify searching for episode/series playlists. There are absolute heaters laced throughout the show – from recent tunes by the likes of Migos, Young Thug, and Gucci Mane, to smooth soul classics from icons including Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Bill Withers.
It’s basically the perfect balance of styles and moods, and takes you from partyin' to placid and back again in a matter of minutes.
The cast is full of ones we should've been watching
Atlanta holds some of my favourite characters I’ve seen on TV for a long time. The core trio - Glover, Brian Tyree Henry (who plays Earn's cousin Paper Boi) and Lakeith Stanfield (Paper Boi's best friend, Darius), have a unique chemistry and bring a sensitivity to their roles that makes their performances both memorable and compelling.
Then there’s Zazie Beetz's portrayal of Earn's on-again/off-again girlfriend Vanessa. Zazie (who you might have spotted in Deadpool 2) plays the character with a strength and kindness that leaves you in awe of her magnificence. Yes, I might have a bit of a crush on her – and what?
It doesn’t shy away from the big issues
In episode three, Earn says: “I just think we need a chance as humans to fail in order to discover what actually works. People don't think there's a process to being happy.” And if that don't make you think then you ain't paying enough attention.
The there’s the way the show tackles racism. A constant theme throughout the series, Glover and his team of writers constantly come at it from different angles. From the white staffer at the local radio station who casually drops the N-word in front of Earn but self-consciously refuses to repeat it in front of Paper Boi and Darius, to the surreal depiction of Justin Bieber as a black singer which forces the viewer to ask how his attitude and behavior would be perceived if he were African American – the show is relentlessly thought-provoking.
It's properly groundbreaking
Atlanta’s not just a good watch – it’s actually a properly groundbreaking series. Not only is it scripted by an all-black writing team (which is virtually unheard of), but it also earned Glover an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series – making him the first African American to win the award.
Catch Atlanta on BBC2 at 10pm on Sundays or anytime on BBC iPlayer.
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