Atlanta
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Atlantais a show about some black folks living in that city.
It isnt a simulacrum of Georgias capital.
Thats your core context, and all youll really need.
If the first season was any indicator, everything else is malleable.
The violence is senseless.
But its also mundane.
The scene simply notes thatthis is something that happens here: death and the day-to-daycoexist seamlessly.
Thats probably the only explanation well get.
No matter how youd thought this season would start, this wasnt it.
That may as well be any other black show on television.
(Or whatever you thought you were about to watch.)
The revolving door of Als place seems like a nebulous possibility.
And a large part of securing a spot revolves around keeping Al happy, because nowhes got money.
The man has apparently kidnapped his partner Yvonne in their bedroom over the disappearance of $50.
The concrete sprawl pulses.
The traffic provides its own soundtrack.
To that end,theres no reason to explain them.
Another thing this episode points to is money or, specifically, the lack thereof.
(At one point, Willy notes that You find out familyisbusiness.)
The episodes most tangible conflict revolves around the disappearance of $50.
payments amount to $375.
He is who people rely on.
You homeless, Earn.
He leaves Earn with a loaded, golden pistol, noting that hell need it in the music business.
Were left with images of male fraternity, and what that looks like when youre left outside of it.
A third (Tara) has her name flubbed by Earn (Regina!
), and the fourth, Yvonne, catalyzes the issue that sets off the drama at Willys house.
Then theres the little girl who confirms the existence of Willys alligator.
We dont see or hear from Van.
We hear that something happened with Earns mom.
So, theres room for improvement.
Weve got a minute to get there.
Watch it again and count.
How often have you seen that, really?
Just thinking, onscreen.
Or talking minutiae between themselves, without a clear punch line to speak of.
The mention is preceded by Earns wondering what a Hot Cheeto tastes like.
Hot, says Darius.
Ultimately, Earn is still homeless, but he ends the episode a little bit changed.
Its not worth the time.
Only, Glover and company dont seem much interested in bringing Earn to the end of his journey.
Or explaining what that journey looks like.
Or if there evenisa way out of it.
(There isnt.)
But its enough, in this first episode, to show us that these journeys exist.
Heres what one of them looks like.
