Atlanta is an American comedy-drama television series created by and starring Donald Glover, who also serves as a writer and director. Atlanta portrays two cousins navigating the Atlanta rap scene in an effort to improve their lives and the lives of their families. FX ordered the pilot to a 10-episode season in October 2015. Two weeks after the series premiered on September 6, 2016, FX renewed the series for a second season. The second season, titled Atlanta: Robbin' Season, premiered on March 1, 2018. In June 2018, the series was renewed for a third season, to premiere in 2019.
The show has received critical acclaim and various accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy and Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy for Glover, and two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Glover's Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series was the first ever awarded to an African-American.
Besides Glover, Atlanta stars Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz. The series' executive producers are Glover, Dianne McGunigle, and Paul Simms.
Video Atlanta (TV series)
Plot
The series follows Earn (Donald Glover) during his daily life in Atlanta, Georgia, as he tries to redeem himself in the eyes of his ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of his daughter, as well as his parents and his cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), who raps under the stage name "Paper Boi". Having dropped out of Princeton University, Earn has no money and no home, and consequently alternates between staying with his parents and his girlfriend. Once he realizes that his cousin is on the verge of stardom, he desperately seeks to reconnect in order to improve his life and the life of his daughter, Lottie.
Maps Atlanta (TV series)
Cast and characters
Main
- Donald Glover as Earnest "Earn" Marks, a young Princeton dropout turned manager trying to get his cousin Paper Boi's rap career off the ground. Earn is cynical and highly intelligent, yet often makes reckless decisions. He struggles with intermittent homelessness since the pilot episode. It has been strongly implied since season one's episode "The Streisand Effect" (where Earn expressed to Darius how desperate his situation is) that Earn's financial status has possibly caused him to become depressed.
- Brian Tyree Henry as Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles, an up-and-coming rapper trying to understand the line between real life and street life. He is Earn's cousin.
- Lakeith Stanfield as Darius Epps, Alfred's right-hand man and visionary. He is a first-generation Nigerian-American. He is a gun enthusiast.
- Zazie Beetz as Vanessa "Van" Keefer, Earn's on-again-off-again girlfriend and the mother of their daughter Lottie. Van is a former grade school science teacher. The episode "Go for Broke" indicates that she is a feminist. Van is biracial Afro-German who speaks fluent German, as is Beetz. Van grew up in Helen, Georgia. Van often feels that people in her life don't value her as a person.
Guest and recurring roles
- Introduced in season 1
- Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Raleigh Marks, Earn's father and Alfred's uncle.
- Myra Lucretia Taylor as Gloria Marks, Earn's mother and Alfred's aunt. Also appears in the Robbin' Season episode "FUBU."
- Harold House Moore as Swiff, a co-worker of Earn's.
- Griffin Freeman as Dave, an acquaintance of Earn's who works at a prominent radio station and the significant other of Van's childhood friend Christina. Also appears in the Robbin' Season episode "Helen."
- Brandon Hirsch as Devyonne Johnson, a famous actor who resides in the Atlanta area. Also appears in the Robbin' Season episode "Champagne Papi."
- Emmett Hunter as Ahmad White, a mysterious being who appears to Earn and airs strange advertisements on television.
- Cranston Johnson as Deshawn, Alfred's friend and confidante.
- Lucius Baston as Chris, a shady club promoter who tries to swindle Earn and Alfred.
- Alano Miller as Franklin Montague, a pretentious talk-show host who dislikes Alfred.
- Niles Stewart as Antoine Smalls, a young black man who identifies as a 35-year-old white man named Harrison Booth.
- Freddie Kuguru as Zan, a chauvinistic internet personality who antagonizes Alfred.
- Austin Crute as Justin Bieber, an obnoxious and extremely popular teen pop star.
- Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff as the Migos, Alfred's drug suppliers.
- Introduced in Robbin' Season
- Khris Davis as Tracy, Alfred's recently paroled friend who is currently staying on their couch. He and Earn often clash personalities.
- RJ Walker as Clark County, an egotistical, commercialized rapper that Alfred befriends. Darius and Earn view him as an industry plant.
- Matthew Barnes as Lucas, Clark's well-connected manager.
- Katt Williams as Willie, Alfred's father and Earn's uncle. He owns an alligator named Coach, which is the reason for his nickname, "Alligator Man."
- Robert Powell as Bibby, Alfred's flakey barber.
- Derrick J. Haywood as Benny Hope, a reclusive pianist who Darius attempts to buy a piano from. His brother, Teddy Perkins, was the main antagonist of his titular episode and was played by Donald Glover himself in whiteface.
- Kevin Waterman as Florida Man, a sinister entity, referred to by Darius as an "Alt-right Johnny Appleseed," who commits a variety of strange crimes in Florida as part of a plot to keep black voters out.
- Michael Vick as himself, an ex-NFL quarterback who challenges club-goers in "Money Bag Shawty" to foot races against himself.
- Tim Johnson as Prescott, a frat boy with a fondness for hazing, with whom the characters cross paths. He is a fan of Alfred's and an avid fan of snap music.
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2016)
Season 2: Robbin' Season (2018)
Production
FX first began developing the show in August 2013, and then the pilot was ordered to series by FX Networks in December 2014. It was directed by Hiro Murai and shot in Atlanta. It got picked up to series with a 10-episode order in October 2015. Glover, who grew up in Atlanta and also works as a musician, stated that "the city influenced the tone of the show".
The series is also notable for having an all-black writing staff, which is virtually unheard of in television. The writer's room consists of Donald himself, his brother Stephen, and members of his rap collective 'Royalty' including Fam Udeorji (Donald's manager), Ibra Ake (Donald's longtime photographer), and Jamal Olori. Stefani Robinson, a writer for Man Seeking Woman, and Taofik Kolade round out the writer's room.
In January 2017, the series was renewed for a second season, however, FX announced the series would not return until 2018 due to Glover's busy production schedule. A third season was announced in June 2018, slated for a 2019 premiere.
Reception
Critical response
Atlanta has received widespread acclaim from television critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the first season an approval rating of 97% based on 67 reviews, with an average rating of 8.56/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Ambitious and refreshing, Atlanta offers a unique vehicle for star and series creator Donald Glover's eccentric brand of humor--as well as a number of timely, trenchant observations." On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 90 out of 100, based on reviews from 36 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle gave it a highly positive review, writing: "The scripts for the four episodes made available to critics are as richly nuanced as anything you'll see on TV or, to be sure, in a movie theater. You will not only know these characters after only one episode, you'll be hooked on them, as well. In so many areas, Atlanta sets the bar exceptionally high." Sonia Saraiya of Variety also praised the series, declaring it a "finished, cinematic, and beautiful production that may be one of the best new shows of the fall."
The second season received further critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 99%, based on 50 reviews, with an average rating of 9.08/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Donald Glover continues to subvert expectations with a sophomore season of Atlanta that proves as excellent as it is eccentric." On Metacritic, the second season has a score of 97 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Accolades
Ratings
Season 1 (2016)
Season 2 (2018)
^1 Live +7 ratings were not available, so Live +3 ratings have been used instead.
References
External links
- Official website
- Atlanta on IMDb
Source of article : Wikipedia
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