"Atlanta Season 2" Just Enough Hope to Get By

 


    Man, Atlanta season 2 is a big depressing mess that I was surprisingly invested in. I mean let me give you a rundown on the topics of some of the episodes. An odd episode about Van and Earn being in a German place where they face not only racism, but the big elephant in the room that is their relationship. Then there's the big looming of question about what in the world is Al going to do about Earn being his manager. He clearly is afraid of the mistakes he's doing, and appreciates loyalty, but when it hardly leads to the success he wants, it makes you start to question how long the status quo is remaining.

    I mean, I'm going to be honest, my issues with the first season are not resolved, it is still mostly just a show that is barely head together by the synopsis of "Earn is just another black man who is trying to get by while he manages his cousins rap career". I don't know, there's nothing wrong with having what basically equates to a couple of vignettes that are a commentary on social issues involving black people, but like, it really does feel like sometimes the "main" cast of Atlanta barely appears for more than half of the seasons actual runtime.

    Honestly, I think it's kind of great that they're leaning into these vignettes, these sort of escapades that involve the main characters are actually quite enjoyable. Like, while it was weird to see a Darius only episode involving a piano and two black? or was it white dudes either way it was kind of good but at the same time I was oddly captivated for the whole ordeal. It's just, I was actually kind of  hoping to see episodes about management and the rap business.

    I feel like part of my confusion is because I'm not the most familiar with black culture. Like I wouldn't consider myself white, but obviously I've never lived as a black person. I mean of course I'm a person of colour, but at the same time intersectionality doesn't work like that. I really can't relate in the way I want to, but I don't know if I have to if I want to understand it.

Final Score: 65/100

    Yeah, it's good. What can I say? Should I be a bit more lenient on this show? Eh, it hasn't fixed any of the issues I had with it, though one could easily argue that not knowing how to sell the show to friends is a bit of a weak selling point. In fact, if I had to say anything, I'd argue it's just leaned into itself more than ever. It's eccentric, it's bizarre, it doesn't really feel the need to conform to some major overarching storyline like many other drama's do. It still really does feel like it's the passion project of Glovers, and it's one I personally enjoy.

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