Atlanta star and co-creator Donald Glover says season 3 is a Black fairytale. When viewers caught up with the acclaimed FX series, which last aired a new episode in May 2018, Earn (Glover) and his cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), known as the rapper Paper Boi, were ready to board a plane and begin a European tour. And as the long-awaited Atlanta season 3, the duo will be learning to navigate new surroundings alongside Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz).
Atlanta season 3 trailers have previewed Paper Boi’s wild European tour. Other teasers for the series have offered a distinctly eerie vibe, alternating between dreamy and nightmarish. It’s a tone familiar to fans of Atlanta, as the show routinely veers from its ostensible main plot about the rap world to tell memorable side stories and offer distinct standalone episodes. Promoting the arrival of Atlanta season 3, which will make its FX debut on March 24 with two episodes, Glover promised more of what has made his show such a roaring success.
Speaking at the SXSW premiere for Atlanta season 3, which will also be available Fridays on Hulu, Glover spoke about why the show would end after Atlanta season 4. And, building off comments made by Atlanta writer Stefani Robinson, Glover described the series as a “Black fairytale.” Robinson mentioned how the show was like a group chat brought to life, followed by Glover giving a similar view of the series. You can read his quote, via Variety, below.
“We just wanted to make a Black fairytale. I remember sitting in the writers’ room and being like, ‘What do we write about?’ We just wanted to do short stories. Something I would want to watch.”
The short story quality Glover describes will be present in the Atlanta season 3 premiere. Titled “Three Slaps,” the episode will barely feature the core four characters. It will instead follow a young boy by the name of Loquareeous (Christopher Farrar). “Three Slaps” is said to feature parodies of real viral videos, though the larger focus will have its basis in the real-life tragic murder of Devonte Hart. It’s a difficult needle to thread. But, according to critics who have already seen the episode, it’s deeply moving.
Atlanta has featured a few key stories, which recur throughout – whether it’s Earn’s fluctuating relationship with Van or Alfred’s struggles with fame. Some of the series’ most shining moments, though come from its episodic and self-contained approach to storytelling. The strange and delightful “Teddy Perkins” installment comes to mind. But so too does “Woods,” which is a beautiful mediation on grief lifted up by Henry’s performance. Then there’s the Emmy-winning “B.A.N.,” which was the brilliant narrative blend of parody and channel surfing. Atlanta contains multitudes, in other words, and it’ll be great to have it back.
Source: Variety