Atlanta
Summary
Atlantastar LaKeith Stanfield recall the intense secrecy behind the show ’s wildest episode . Although it was ab initio presented as a story about Earn ( Donald Glover ) reconnecting with his cousin , the rapper Paper Boi ( Brian Tyree Henry ) , to become successful , Atlantashowed its singular strangeness early on . Along with Paper Boi ’s friend Darius ( Stanfield ) and Earn ’s ex Vanessa ( Zazie Beetz ) , the quadruplet found themselves in several unique billet . Still , in the overall history of the FX clowning , " Teddy Perkins " arguably made the strongest opinion . The half - 60 minutes horror sees Darius inflict a mansion to pick up a free piano . While there , he encounters the unsettling Perkins .
As part ofWIRED ’s " Autocomplete " video series to promote his new movieThe Book of Clarence , Stanfield shared some sixth sense onAtlanta ’s Teddy Perkins . In particular , the Oscar candidate recalled the acute secrecy around the fact that it was actually Glover , the show ’s whiz and creator , who was playing Perkins . Stanfield also shares , in the quote below , how Teddy ’s true identicalness was spoiled for him :
I was on Atlanta , and I was train to shoot the day before and I saw on the call sheet , there was this guy wire phone Teddy Perkins . And it was Teddy Perkins being played by Teddy Perkins , so I was like , “ Who is the histrion ? ” And production was like , “ Teddy Perkins . ” I googled “ Teddy Perkins ” and I was like , “ Who is this ? ” , and nothing came up , and I was very confused . I was like , “ He ’s an actor , how long has been acting ? ” Next day , I show up on lot , there ’s no one in the constitution lagger except me , so I ’m like , “ Okay … ” . So , I go to the set , and there ’s this guy standing with his back to me , he has long hair . He turns around in this unknown way of life , “ This is Teddy Perkins . ” I ’m disconnected , because I still do n’t know who this is , and I ’m like , “ Hi , how are you ? ” He ’s like , “ [ weakly ] Hi , how are you ? ” And then I looked at his feet , and his understructure were standing in a similar fashion that I know Donald mostly stands in , so I think that that was weird , but I did n’t really think much of it . His eyes were gloomy , he did n’t bet like him up close , and then one of the crew members finally told me , “ [ whispering ] That ’s Donald . ” I was in the same time in awe and shock as I was disappointed , because then the illusion was go and I thought , “ How effective would that illusion have been if I had just not have it away who this person is ? ” And the whole casting and work party had conspired for me not to know , it was successful up to that point , and I still have not and will not release that soul ’s name .
“Teddy Perkins” Was Pretty Weird (But Atlanta Set A Precedent)
Even though the series debut as seemingly being about success in the tap mankind , a thread that would be revisit from time to time , sign ofAtlanta ’s stake in deviation and subverting arithmetic mean could be seen from the premiere instalment . Earn meets a man on a motorbus , and , in an odd encounter , the stranger start up to muse philosophically . This unique sensibility is carried forward for the eternal rest of the funniness ’s run , especially in the last two seasons .
It ’s in time of year 3 that the main foursome ’s involution is relatively scaled back . or else , Atlantatakes on a more anthology approachto tell stories that do n’t seem to connect to Earn , Paper Boi , Darius , and Vanessa . While they are more present in the show ’s last season , with each role getting a measure of gag rule , the funniness still finds place to do something truly inspired , such as an alternating history where a shameful human beings was the CEO of Disney , which double as a protection toA Goofy Movie .
The groundbreaking , genre - shifting Atlanta divert expectation and provided unique , mentation - provoking content . Here ’s our ranking of its 4 season .
TheAtlantaseason 4 ending , which conclude the show , also raises doubtfulness and leaves a lingering encroachment . The show could be a evenhandedly straightforward dramedy about competition , gall , friendship , and family . At the same time , it would also take incredible swings like " Teddy Perkins , " which few other series would . The absence of its originative glint , after come to an destruction in 2022 , is still experience .
Source : WIRED
