Inside the ‘absurdist’ ‘concept album’ that is ‘Atlanta’ Season 3
The last time a new episode of “Atlanta” aired was in May 2018. And obviously, much has changed since then — if not “Atlanta” itself, whose third season, premiering Thursday, opens with a stand-alone horror story before shifting the action to Europe. (A fourth and final season has already been shot and is set to premiere later this year.)
Created by and starring Donald Glover, the show follows the exploits of his character, Earnest “Earn” Marks, a college dropout who returned home to Atlanta and has been struggling to find direction in his life. He latches onto managing the rap career of his cousin, who goes by Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), while dealing with his on-again, off-again relationship with Van (Zazie Beetz), mother of their daughter, Lottie. Also in their orbit is Paper Boi’s friend and right-hand man, Darius (LaKeith Stanfield).
In the time since the previous season, the cast’s careers have all taken off in different directions, with Glover achieving greater fame as a musician working under the name Childish Gambino, while Beetz, Henry and Stanfield have all pursued successful film careers.
What remains intact is the series’ eccentric, unpredictable allure. Among the key collaborators in crafting its incredibly bold and free storytelling — taking time out for an episode where Paper
