Safe Return Doubtful

Atlanta – an episode of an American TV Series (aired 2018)

Teddy Perkins is the sixth episode of the second season of the American comedy drama series Atlanta.

Atlanta was something I read really good reviews of last year. Since then I’ve watched season one, but only now, midway through season two, begin to appreciate just how good it is. 

That’s down chiefly to two people involved with its production. Donald Glover writes and stars in it. He is an extremely talented musician as well as being a comedian, writer, producer and director. He performs his music under the name of Childish Gambino. 

The series is based around the relationship of college drop-out and music manager Ernest ‘Earn’ Marks (played by Glover) and rapper Alfred ‘Paper Boi’ Miles as they navigate the weird hip-hop scene of Atlanta. 

It really doesn’t sound like the sort of thing I’d be interested in, but that’s would be reckoning without the talents of Glover. It goes to show, that something that is well-written, no matter what the subject matter, can entertain. The more I watch of this, (and there are another two seasons) the more I appreciate it. As of the last few episodes, I rank it right up there at the best of the last few years. 

The other person that makes it so great is the Director Hiro Murai, one of just a few episodes he directed. If the name is familiar, it is because he works on <i>The Bear</i> also, and comedy drama that has won many awards, and that I have mentioned a few times. Something else that is ‘right up there’ as the best TV in the last few days. I’m currently midway through season 3, and it is as tremendous as the first two series. 

Back to Teddy Perkins.. In a break from the usual, Glover and Murai combine in something with more of a horror bent. A member of ‘Paper Boi’’s team, Darius, arrives to collect a free piano having seen it advertised on a message board. This leads him to a mansion owned by a pale, idiosyncratic man with a mask-like face named Teddy Perkins, played by Glover in ‘whiteface’. Teddy exhibits strange and unsettling behavior during their conversations. He claims that he has a brother, Benny, whom he watches over. Teddy will not let Darius meet Benny, as he uses a wheelchair and has a skin condition that makes him extremely photosensitive. 

I won’t say any more – just, seek it out..  

The two shows I have mentioned, Atlanta and The Bear are part of a new wave of comedy dramas that really aren’t supposed to be funny. They are short pieces of wonderful drama, and should be respected as such. 

They should not be missed.  

IMDb score 9.7 / 10 – My score 10 / 10