The Return of Atlanta

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Okay, enough is enough. This is a plea to all those who haven’t watched Donald Glover’s Atlanta, to GO WATCH IT! You don’t need to watch the Office for the 40th time, trust us Golden Girls isn’t going anywhere, and please don’t tell us you're busy re-watching Friends. We get it, everyone has their own comfort shows, but let’s be honest here, after the 5th rewatch you don’t just “like the show”, you’re also too lazy to pick out something else. 

Atlanta’s third season just began (March 24th) and is currently airing on FX every Thursday, with episodes coming out the next day on Hulu. With only two complete seasons, Atlanta is about as approachable as it comes. There's no need to “wait for it to get good” or to sit through any seasons that completely ruin everything else about the show. The show has managed to stay engaging and wildly unpredictable for its entire lifespan. 

In a media landscape full of lifeless remakes, sequels, and unoriginal ideas, “Atlanta” operates in a lane of its own. Its authenticity seeps through the show's hilarious and often absurd plotlines and jokes, making for a viewing experience unlike anything else on television.

The show follows upcoming rapper “Paper Boi” and his cousin turned manager, Earn (played by Donald Glover). Together, with Paper Boi’s conspiracy-theory-loving best friend Darius, the trio attempt to manage the corrupt and exploitative rap scene, as well as family, work, and relationships. 

As entertaining as the show's plot is, the genius of Atlanta is its satirical tone and social critique. In a world where social messages are inauthentically forced down our throats by multi-billion-dollar corporations, Atlanta is a breath of fresh air. The show isn’t some bigger platform for “woke” Hollywood writers to preach their California liberalism, but rather a unique, comedic, and critical look into America. Glover and the other writers create a space where all elements of modern society can get the smoke. The show touches on everything from mental health and racism to social media and pop music. Although Atlanta addresses important and controversial themes, it never feels like you're being yelled at. All the issues in the show are approached with nuance and through a comedic yet distinctly critical perspective. 

 The show does its best to encapsulate the essence of modern rap and Atlanta culture. Contrary to most television portrayals of rap culture, the music in the show doesn’t feel like it was picked out by white Dads staring at Spotify’s Rap Caviar playlist. Songs by Atlanta artists like Future, Migos, and Gucci Mane pair surprisingly well with tracks from Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and even Beach House.

Perhaps Atlanta’s most important and endearing quality however is its unmistakable writing and directing style. The show bolsters an entirely black writing staff which includes both Donald Glover and his brother Stephen. Many of the writers have little to no experience in TV writing, and as a result, the show is teeming with a sense of novelty and imagination. Normal TV tropes and cliche characters are tossed aside in favor of deceptively complex and utterly ridiculous storylines and characters. Nothing is off-limits for Atlanta. One moment you’re watching Earn (Donald Glover) struggle to find money to pay rent and take care of his child and the next you’re watching people get hit by an invisible car outside of a strip club. That’s Atlanta. 

In all seriousness we get it, starting a new show can be hard. Television is often our way out of the stress and pressure that comes with school and starting a new series can feel like just another assignment. We all know that the Syracuse spring isn’t coming anytime soon though, so instead of giving into that seasonal depression, roll a joint, open your favorite snacks, do whatever you gotta do to sit back and WATCH ATLANTA.