Atlanta
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And the question this time around is exactly the same: Is Earn alright?
Is he really okay?
Will Al accept that his life is truly about to change?
The driver is late, cruising to the tune of gospel.
How could he have expected anything less?
In the background, Lottie notes that she hates lemons.
We learn that Als on his way to a European tour, supporting Clark County.
Luke hooked it up.
They are literally flying out that evening.
I should be, he says.
Its a reminder of their working relationships tenuousness, in case weve forgotten where things stand.
You think youre slick, says Al.
Youre gonna jam me up.
Ill get rid of it, says Earn.
With that, Earn slips the piece into his backpack.
Hes already onto the next thing, asking after Dariuss expired passport.
In that way, were given the episodes underlying conflict.
Yes, Al needs a lawyer, but it doesnt immediately benefit Earn if hes ultimately fired.
He is juggling 11 different balls at once.
The next ball is the biggest in Earns life: Lotties education.
(Shes so big now!)
Lotties excelling in everything.
Her teacher recommends that they enroll Lottie in a private school.
So now Earn and Van are paying for private school.
Earn notes that the tour money should cover the tuition.
Shed hoped some of it would be passed to Lottie.
And Earn tells Van that shes smart, too; maybe its actually hers.
Before he takes off, Van asks Earn if hes all right.
And theres genuine concern.
Im fine, says Earn, Just, you know, stupid shit.
Okay, says Van.
Darius knows a guy.
The spot theyve found themselves at caters to a specific clientele.
And black people just dont have the connections that my cousin has.
With that, the conversations over.
Dariuss $350 passport will be ready in about two hours.
(Earn is dropping money all over the place in this episode.)
And during the wait, Darius asks Earn the episodes recurring motif: Hows it going?
I know youre always at peace with everything, says Earn, but my whole worlds falling apart.
He tells Earn that Als world is changing up with the quickness.
But Al will always provide for the people he cares for and Earn says he doesnt want handouts.
He wants to provide.
Earn adds that hes getting better at managing, and Darius agrees.
He really does see it.
But, says Darius, learning requires failure.
Als just trying to double-check youre not failing inhislife, he adds.
I mean, yall are black, so yall both cant afford to fail.
In this way, the shows unspoken tensions are brought into existence.
Its good fucking writing.
Before they depart for the flight, were gifted with a reprise of last seasons sofa shot.
From our view, we can see that the leaves are turning.
Robbin Season is finally over.
He bullies his way past Clark and Troy, in an effort to get to the plane.
He forgot to take it out.
So, for what could be the very first time this season, Earn makes a decision.
He doesnt just let the bad thing happen to him.
We watch as he clears security, with Al and Darius in tow.
We hear a siren blare behind them.
We see Clark and his manger held back by the beginnings of a scuffle.
Earn doesnt turn around.
And none of the men stop.
As Earns uncle noted in the seasons first episode, hewouldneed the gun for the music business.
But it turns out there are many different ways to fire a weapon.
On the plane, Paper Boi quips that hes never really left Georgia before.
Then, he takes a quick glance at Darius, whos sitting in the opposite aisle.
You aint gotta say shit.
Just know, says Al, thats exactly what Im talking about.
Niggas do not care about us, man.
Niggas gonna do whatever theyve gotta do to survive, because they aint got no choice.
We aint got no choice, either.
You my family Earn.
You the only one that knows what Im about.
You give a fuck.
Nearly imperceptible, Earn nods.
Aight then, says Al.
Darius starts the hype for the trip.
All of us watching silently will the plane to take off from the fucking ground.
He doesnt speak until Al calls him out.
The cops took him.
When Clark adds that the gun they found was gold, Darius looks upward, putting the pieces together.
Shit was clean though, says Clark.
Wish it was mine.
So, almost immediately, Als words are codified: Our heroes really are all they have.
Theyll live or die by what theyre willing to do for each other.
Because you disagree with one another all you want to, but you never attack your own.
And Tracy trusted that his bond with Al was stronger than blood it wasnt.)
Would that this were true of every show.
Its singular exchanges surpassed other series entire plotlines, with casual gestures stronger than their whole narrative arcs.
It was aggressively better.
Because now it is here.
There are kids watchingAtlantathe same wayAtlantascreators paid witness to their respective influences.
Now they have this in their repertoire.
This beautiful, layered thing.
And we all of us were here to see it.
May it live a long life.
