I'm usually down for whatever Atlanta brings to the table but this was a shockingly disappointing finale. Just weirdness on top of weirdness with a half baked explanation. Of course there were some great moments, but I expected something a little better.
26 Reviews
Wtf
riccardomantio20 May 2022
Love the show - acting and production superb . But this season feels offbeat full of mediocrity and peculiar episodes . Vans accent sounds to be like homage to British comedy allo allo. Roll on season 4 get the guys back home .
I Think This Is Underrated
gjmors21 May 2022
Yeah I get that Van is different this season. And that this as the last episode of the season is kinda weird... but I really do like this episode. I've seen a couple of women very close to me go through a phase like this when they are trying to find themselves. It's uncomfortable and can be sad and scary. I'm interested in how she's comes around in the 4th season. I thought it was a very real, very human episode told in an absurd way and it comes full circle. Donald Glover is an artist. Not everyone is going to get it.
Really Poor Finale
sumtim3s00n20 May 2022
I only began watching this show a month ago and from the description expected it to be some average musical drama in Atlanta. But many positive reviews made me curious.
And boy, the first two seasons, it was something. Very few shows like this out there today, intelligently written, dare to experiement yet still know how to capture interest and not go to far. Done with taste and skill, multilayered, exciting.
But this season... It had few ok episodes but unlike first two seasons that were a bit different than "regular shows" and tried new things, yet knew how far to take it, this season is not like that.
They took it too far.
Too far away from the original cast that are almost guest stars, too far in ways of random stories that pay off half the time at best, too far in pushing the audience away with new ideas without even worrying whether they will work. They used to know to leave some #regular# content in that made you "yeah ok, it was weird but also I like it". Now it is just "weird".
This finale especially, ( feels almost like theyre doing it out of spite saying to us "you peasants, we wont play by your rules of you wanting to see what the original characters are up to, we are far BETTER than that; and you"). Also what happened to Van,this beautiful girl that started to find herself slowly? Now she is the worst,thief,unlikeable,mean,brutally violent, completely void of intellect. Ruining her just for the sake of keeping viewers off guard or whatever bs rationalization.
It just feels pretentious, written by some selfabsorbed writers for the sake of gratifying his imagination thinking how smart he/she is.
Basically, it suxed S.
And boy, the first two seasons, it was something. Very few shows like this out there today, intelligently written, dare to experiement yet still know how to capture interest and not go to far. Done with taste and skill, multilayered, exciting.
But this season... It had few ok episodes but unlike first two seasons that were a bit different than "regular shows" and tried new things, yet knew how far to take it, this season is not like that.
They took it too far.
Too far away from the original cast that are almost guest stars, too far in ways of random stories that pay off half the time at best, too far in pushing the audience away with new ideas without even worrying whether they will work. They used to know to leave some #regular# content in that made you "yeah ok, it was weird but also I like it". Now it is just "weird".
This finale especially, ( feels almost like theyre doing it out of spite saying to us "you peasants, we wont play by your rules of you wanting to see what the original characters are up to, we are far BETTER than that; and you"). Also what happened to Van,this beautiful girl that started to find herself slowly? Now she is the worst,thief,unlikeable,mean,brutally violent, completely void of intellect. Ruining her just for the sake of keeping viewers off guard or whatever bs rationalization.
It just feels pretentious, written by some selfabsorbed writers for the sake of gratifying his imagination thinking how smart he/she is.
Basically, it suxed S.
Best end for a season finale
thepixarmemer20 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The parallel between a character's emotional state and the surreal events around them matched in energy this episode. Van clearly lost sight of who she was, and the fact she hit a man to death with a baguette, ate hands for dinner, and people peed in other people's mouths is just a projection of how mentally screwed her mind was. I love how if you want to pay attention to detail in the episode, they account for it. Like the fact Earn had 16 messages on his phone and that the white dude who killed himself earlier in season 3 appeared in the final part of the episode. I hope they aim more towards this same style for the next season instead of the standalone episodes. Those episodes are good but I feel like these are best for character development and just progression of the story that we wanna see.
Weird season
bosimmons-4478224 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This season was a little weird. Not bad there where definitely good episodes but I would overall give it a 7 because there wasn't a lot of The main characters but I can see why because well they're doing a euro tour and just showing the stand out things that happen as well as talking about real life problems and the way Donald does it is great. Not preachy not in your face just showing your things that everyone goes through of every race every gender. As well as showing how his girl has gone a little crazy while traveling.
Tarrare
lassegalsgaard22 May 2022
So, this whole season of one of the best TV shows on the air has been a big mixed bag. For all the greatness that it brought back with these incredible characters and the writing, it also tried to deal with a lot of social issues in the form of standalone episodes that either worked or felt like they preached a little too much. At this point, I'm still trying to find out what the idea behind that structure was and what they hoped to achieve with it. There's a strange sense of uneasy behavior in this season with the writers seemingly wanting to touch on important issues, but not finding it possible to do with the characters that we had. Yet, whenever they've focused on the characters that we know and love, they've managed to deliver the excellence that they usually gave us. It still offers some of the most exciting writing on television, but it has been unfocused this season. I was afraid for the finale when I heard that it was going to focus primarily on Van and the reason why she came to Europe in the second episode. I've liked the other Van-centric episodes, but this episode has the potential to be my new favorite of the series. It blew all the expectations away I had and delivered 30 minutes of rich character work that delved into the character of Van and provided the audience with an emotionally resonant focus that ended with me sitting on my couch in absolute tears.
What this episode is about is to show the signs of grief and the ways we cope with it as human beings. We don't all go to Paris and try to change our lifestyles to fit into a better existence, but we do get existential in our thoughts and wonder what the world would be like if we were someone else. The storyline of this season may not be all that clear, but the thoughtful nature has persisted, ending in an episode that utilizes the characters that we've come to love and explores them in a meaningful and emotional way.
The episode is very much a commentary on the happy face we put on to hide the darker underside of what's going on in ourselves. That's both done through the characters, but also the setting. A fine dinner party can turn out to be something way darker, while these nice-looking girls have dark secrets of their own. It's all a big attempt at showing the audience that there's almost an underlying message beneath the happiness we put out front. We're flawed beings and that won't always show, but it's almost always there if you really take the time to look.
What this show is not afraid of is giving talented people the opportunity to do what they want. Stefani Robinson has been a regular part of this show, and this script is wonderfully strange and takes some time to get into. It's weird to see this character put on this façade at first, but as the episode goes on, you realize that there's a lot under this and that we're going to get answers. And she provides them in a beautifully written final scene that puts a great capper on the episode and on the entire season as a whole.
It's also not possible to talk about the excellence of this episode without mentioning Zazie Beetz brilliant portrayal of Van at this stage in her life. She's wonderfully quirky and slightly over-the-top in this episode, but it all shows the range that Beetz has a comedic actress. And that range goes to the other side completely when it reaches the end, and she goes into a very emotional state of mind and delivers a heartbreaking reasoning for her decisions throughout the entire season. Everything about that scene felt real and the tearful reaction it got from me was also real.
"Tarrare" caps off this season with a brilliant final note and leaves a lot of questions open for the next season to hopefully disclose further. It continues the standalone structure, but it actually provides the audience with a satisfying storyline that takes one of the show's best characters on a life-changing journey through the mind.
What this episode is about is to show the signs of grief and the ways we cope with it as human beings. We don't all go to Paris and try to change our lifestyles to fit into a better existence, but we do get existential in our thoughts and wonder what the world would be like if we were someone else. The storyline of this season may not be all that clear, but the thoughtful nature has persisted, ending in an episode that utilizes the characters that we've come to love and explores them in a meaningful and emotional way.
The episode is very much a commentary on the happy face we put on to hide the darker underside of what's going on in ourselves. That's both done through the characters, but also the setting. A fine dinner party can turn out to be something way darker, while these nice-looking girls have dark secrets of their own. It's all a big attempt at showing the audience that there's almost an underlying message beneath the happiness we put out front. We're flawed beings and that won't always show, but it's almost always there if you really take the time to look.
What this show is not afraid of is giving talented people the opportunity to do what they want. Stefani Robinson has been a regular part of this show, and this script is wonderfully strange and takes some time to get into. It's weird to see this character put on this façade at first, but as the episode goes on, you realize that there's a lot under this and that we're going to get answers. And she provides them in a beautifully written final scene that puts a great capper on the episode and on the entire season as a whole.
It's also not possible to talk about the excellence of this episode without mentioning Zazie Beetz brilliant portrayal of Van at this stage in her life. She's wonderfully quirky and slightly over-the-top in this episode, but it all shows the range that Beetz has a comedic actress. And that range goes to the other side completely when it reaches the end, and she goes into a very emotional state of mind and delivers a heartbreaking reasoning for her decisions throughout the entire season. Everything about that scene felt real and the tearful reaction it got from me was also real.
"Tarrare" caps off this season with a brilliant final note and leaves a lot of questions open for the next season to hopefully disclose further. It continues the standalone structure, but it actually provides the audience with a satisfying storyline that takes one of the show's best characters on a life-changing journey through the mind.
Swing & a miss & a hit
bak555728 May 2022
OK - you gotta watch it all the way to the end. Two thirds of the way through I was ready to give it a 3 - and I'm someone who really digs Donald Glover and want to give all his stuff a chance. (love the whole cast, actually).
Anyway, I felt like there was no flow - and I still think some of the absurdity was distracting - but it all comes together at the end and adds to the complexity of the network around Earn & PaperBoi.
Anyway, I felt like there was no flow - and I still think some of the absurdity was distracting - but it all comes together at the end and adds to the complexity of the network around Earn & PaperBoi.
Identity Crisis
ahsan_mohammadi21 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The best episode of the season maybe only second to Cancer Attack.
I thought the episode summarized the overarching theme of identity throughout the season. Van, so desperate to be anyone rather than herself was excruciatingly painful, and the moment her delusion broke at hearing Lottie's name was heartbreaking and terrifying for anybody that has felt similar moments in their lives. The surreal elements here felt in place and added to the obvious, which was Van's refusal to accept the truth, that she is living a lie. The comedy was sprinkled on top just to add some levity to an otherwise bleak subject and I found them hilarious. The never ending urination scene being a personal favourite, or the baguette she takes with her everywhere, or Alex turning out to be a masochist who masturbates to his own humiliation. A great episode, best of the season maybe only second to 'Cancer Attack'.
On a general note, I had a love and hate relationship with the season. I loved some episodes and disliked others. My personal problems aside, it is important for a show of this stature to experiment, be political, be offensive, be authentic and audacious. God knows I can't tolerate seeing another star wars or marvel tv show advertised everywhere.
God bless team Atlanta, even though I don't believe in god (at least most of the times)
I thought the episode summarized the overarching theme of identity throughout the season. Van, so desperate to be anyone rather than herself was excruciatingly painful, and the moment her delusion broke at hearing Lottie's name was heartbreaking and terrifying for anybody that has felt similar moments in their lives. The surreal elements here felt in place and added to the obvious, which was Van's refusal to accept the truth, that she is living a lie. The comedy was sprinkled on top just to add some levity to an otherwise bleak subject and I found them hilarious. The never ending urination scene being a personal favourite, or the baguette she takes with her everywhere, or Alex turning out to be a masochist who masturbates to his own humiliation. A great episode, best of the season maybe only second to 'Cancer Attack'.
On a general note, I had a love and hate relationship with the season. I loved some episodes and disliked others. My personal problems aside, it is important for a show of this stature to experiment, be political, be offensive, be authentic and audacious. God knows I can't tolerate seeing another star wars or marvel tv show advertised everywhere.
God bless team Atlanta, even though I don't believe in god (at least most of the times)
And for that reason...I'm out
llscotto-753-2361522 May 2022
This is like the Emperor's new clothes of television. Donald you have a very unique way of writing surreal television, but hey what do I know, I've never written a television show. But I have a strange feeling this is a case of you having too many "yes men" around you, telling you how brilliant you are. I'm just the stupid audience, but this season has gone off the rails and I'm done.
Homages to two great foreign films
Voicing_Reason22 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Many seem to miss the references in the episode. Van's appearance is made to look like Amelie, paying homage to a great French film from the 90s. She even states that she wishes she could be (as fun and whimsical as) Amelie, a fictitious character. The extravagant dinner party where they're to eat hands is an homage to the shocking avant-garde film Delicatessen, also a 90s film. It's a funny episode not short on abstract material, which happens often in this series. The writing is sharp. Though more conservative viewers may criticize it for its stand alone qualities, it's a fine episode. If you need a linear progressive storyline, always moving forward, this episode and this series is not for you. If you're objective, you'll love it.
Tar-rrible
MrBluenote24 May 2022
Really the whole season of Atlanta has been just slightly above mediocre. Certainly not the standard they set in Seasons 1 & 2.
Writing was dismal for this episode. For me this was the least enjoyable episode from the whole series. Unusual can be good, but this show really fell flat. Maybe some liked it but for me it was a disappointment as a season finale.
Writing was dismal for this episode. For me this was the least enjoyable episode from the whole series. Unusual can be good, but this show really fell flat. Maybe some liked it but for me it was a disappointment as a season finale.
Somehow fitting season finale
GeekyBee5 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILER
I can't believe so many people gave very bad reviews to this episode which is such an accurate and clever depiction of a mental breakdown. The whole season has been somehow odd and - in a way- demanding, definitely not the kind of tv show you can watch and understand while doing something else (like most of the previous two, brilliant, season were) but it's SO clear Donald Glover, being the smart, brilliant, artist he is, is trying to address big themes in his own personal way using a satyrical surreal voice and I salute this. Atlanta is definitely one of the best, cleverest shows currently on.
I can't believe so many people gave very bad reviews to this episode which is such an accurate and clever depiction of a mental breakdown. The whole season has been somehow odd and - in a way- demanding, definitely not the kind of tv show you can watch and understand while doing something else (like most of the previous two, brilliant, season were) but it's SO clear Donald Glover, being the smart, brilliant, artist he is, is trying to address big themes in his own personal way using a satyrical surreal voice and I salute this. Atlanta is definitely one of the best, cleverest shows currently on.
It's actually a pretty great finale.
mrgil-4934714 April 2023
A pulpy, absurd, outrageous, hilarious finale for a season of television that was constantly taking us down dark rabbit holes. Given the episodic structure of season 3, I was expecting a finale that would sorta feel like " Tarrare." Something isolated from the narrative of Earn/Al/Darius, but something still very exciting and unique. It took some big swings to pull an episode of this nature off. They nailed it. It's a strange, unhinged, uncomfortably hilarious, and mysterious episode of TV. I thought it was a lot of fun. Loved it. Great direction, great performances, and a really fun script.....
AWAITING MY PPP LOAN AWARD
douglasjordane2 July 2022
THERE IS SHOCK AND THERE IS SUSPENSE. AS WITH ALL SURREAL PLOTS AND CHARATERIZATIONS, THERE IS A POINT WHEN THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE IS USURPED BY THE OVERKILL OF ABSURDITY. MEANING: WHILE YOU FIND IT INTRIGUELY ENTERTANING TO ATTEMPT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HIDDEN MESSAGE IS, THE EPISODES NEVER REALLY GET THERE. THEREFORE, IF YOU CAN NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE LOAN OF YOUR TIME IS FOR, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT OF WATCHING THIS STRANGE GENRE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
9 OF 10 STARS.
9 OF 10 STARS.
Weird for the sake of weird.
fede_448820 May 2022
The episode started with a very funny brunch scene. When a familiar character was introduced speaking with a French accent, things got intriguing. But then stuff got weird and without any direction. The payoff was unsatisfactory.
The white (and mixed)-led episodes got a mixed reception but at least they had something to say. What was the point of this again?
The white (and mixed)-led episodes got a mixed reception but at least they had something to say. What was the point of this again?
Bloody Baguette
dannylee-7808216 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
1. Van speaks French
2. Van hits someone with baguette
3. Van breaks down
This episode was amazing. It did not have much of the racial themes but it really focused on Van and what she was going through, which was all I've been asking for all season. In the beginning, I wasn't sure if it was a dream sequence because it just felt so unreal how much Van changed (kudos to Zazie). Alexander Skarsgard cameo was hilarious too. The Eiffel Tower shot is so beautiful but hilarious. It was just pure fun until Van's breakdown and return to her normal character. The whole episode revolved around how she was working in an organization that served actual hands to people and the title of this episode, "Tarrare" is also fitting given the historical context. It's like Van has consumed everything around her to create someone for disguising the pain.
I really teared up in Van's monologue. It was relatable, excellently performed. Everybody has had a feeling of wanting to run away from your life and start anew. Van actually has done that, which is better than most of us, still realize it does not really reduce her pain - it only suppresses it. I am glad we got to see a sort of ending to Van's arch because in season 4, she comes back with more presence and force.
The last scene was a little weird - some sort of double identity surreal thing going on that I am not quite understanding. Not sure if it was entirely necessary, though.
This season definitely had its ups and downs. Overall, I think the standalone episodes were good on its own but you do start to question the show's identity and coherence. I feel that those ideas should have been kept separate and used in some other development. We did get gems but maybe it was a little too much this season. Hopefully, season 4 comes back with a strong start.
This episode was amazing. It did not have much of the racial themes but it really focused on Van and what she was going through, which was all I've been asking for all season. In the beginning, I wasn't sure if it was a dream sequence because it just felt so unreal how much Van changed (kudos to Zazie). Alexander Skarsgard cameo was hilarious too. The Eiffel Tower shot is so beautiful but hilarious. It was just pure fun until Van's breakdown and return to her normal character. The whole episode revolved around how she was working in an organization that served actual hands to people and the title of this episode, "Tarrare" is also fitting given the historical context. It's like Van has consumed everything around her to create someone for disguising the pain.
I really teared up in Van's monologue. It was relatable, excellently performed. Everybody has had a feeling of wanting to run away from your life and start anew. Van actually has done that, which is better than most of us, still realize it does not really reduce her pain - it only suppresses it. I am glad we got to see a sort of ending to Van's arch because in season 4, she comes back with more presence and force.
The last scene was a little weird - some sort of double identity surreal thing going on that I am not quite understanding. Not sure if it was entirely necessary, though.
This season definitely had its ups and downs. Overall, I think the standalone episodes were good on its own but you do start to question the show's identity and coherence. I feel that those ideas should have been kept separate and used in some other development. We did get gems but maybe it was a little too much this season. Hopefully, season 4 comes back with a strong start.
Big letdown
starringajb14 June 2022
The expense of taking the cast to film in Europe seems to have cost the show in quality, too. Loved previous seasons and a few episodes this season but overall a major disappointment. This episode was the nail in the coffin for a really meh season.
Weird does not equal creativity.
yougoboy2721 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I hate the direction Van had been taken. Please write that she has a tumor or chemical imbalance that needs to be treated. This new Van is too off in my opinion. Self-destructive behavior doesn't make for interesting and fun TV. And that accent...I get it...Madonna, Tina Turner to mention a couple of stars who developed foreign accents as part of their persona but Van is a nobody. Donald Glover is really laughing AT his viewers with this BS.
Worst episode of the season
RealReviewer198119 June 2022
Van is such a boring and irrelevant character. I struggled to watch this episode. It is literally the worst of the season. Awful. Awful. Awful. Please stop wasting a whole thirty minutes by devoting it to the absolute worst character.
Almost forgot i was watching Atlanta
dojobreno9 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Seriously, what the hell was this? This episode didnt make any sense at all, what was the point of this mess? It's not funny, there's no explanation for anything that happens during this whole episode (and no, that bench scene didnt explain anything, at all), the characters are weird for the sake of being weird (which seems to be a recurring theme on season 3) and most importantly why did they ruin Van? How do you turn the most balanced character in the show into a lunatic out of nowhere? When did she even start acting like that? Who the f are those people she's around? What is this new life and why? Just why? Nothing makes sense during this episode.
Remember when Atlanta was a very experimental yet funny and entertaining show, and even the most bizarre incidents didn't take it too away from reality? Apparently those days are gone and instead we just get episodes with random and weird plots that don't seem to lead to anything. I don't want to see Van beating somebody up with a baguette or frying literal hands, i want to see the characters we became so attached to during the first two seasons be entertaining and a lot of times relatable.
Just terrible.
Remember when Atlanta was a very experimental yet funny and entertaining show, and even the most bizarre incidents didn't take it too away from reality? Apparently those days are gone and instead we just get episodes with random and weird plots that don't seem to lead to anything. I don't want to see Van beating somebody up with a baguette or frying literal hands, i want to see the characters we became so attached to during the first two seasons be entertaining and a lot of times relatable.
Just terrible.
Season 3 is like an acid trip.
jaybrownhound12 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
But this episode is like a bad batch of shrooms. Uninteresting and random. The individual vignettes largely have been fun but this misses the mark. Hands at dinner? Van with an annoying fake accent? Irritating friends from Atlanta? Hard pass.
I find van the least interesting character by a mile and an episode solely featuring here is not something I need to see. Very much seems like a cop out way to end a season
Skip it.
Here's hoping the season 4 will get the plot back.
More Darius.
More Paper Boi
More Earn.
Season 1 was good
Season 2 was great
Season 3 has been solid but this finale sours the experience.
I find van the least interesting character by a mile and an episode solely featuring here is not something I need to see. Very much seems like a cop out way to end a season
Skip it.
Here's hoping the season 4 will get the plot back.
More Darius.
More Paper Boi
More Earn.
Season 1 was good
Season 2 was great
Season 3 has been solid but this finale sours the experience.
A bit too much
cristiadu18 September 2022
Well, I like the show surrealism and absurdity. That being said, on most of the other episodes there's a meaning or a thread of sense/narrative within the chaos presented, in this one there isn't and because of that most of the episode feels completely pointless. It's not a self-contained side story nor a character development episode, it tries to be both and fails miserably by ignoring their own character personalities and trying to be over the top on it.
I don't know, I really wished I had liked this one because I love most of the other episodes and although I feel season 3 was worse than the previous two, most of the episodes hold up. This one really doesn't. It's disappointing as a season finale and hopefully they get it right on season 4.
I don't know, I really wished I had liked this one because I love most of the other episodes and although I feel season 3 was worse than the previous two, most of the episodes hold up. This one really doesn't. It's disappointing as a season finale and hopefully they get it right on season 4.
They lost the thing they had in the first two seasons
Heibbi25 September 2022
The fantastic finale of season two got our expectations high for this season, but now the main storyline is going nowhere and this episode represents the whole season perfectly. Van is being weird for no reason whatsoever and nothing makes any sense. So her teary breakdown at the end makes you feel no emotions at all. Even a cheap "It was all a dream" kind of solution to this episode would be better than the one we got.
A bad filler episode would be fine but now that the main storyline loses its meaning, its kinda difficult to be excited for season four. Maybe they should've ended at season two.
A bad filler episode would be fine but now that the main storyline loses its meaning, its kinda difficult to be excited for season four. Maybe they should've ended at season two.
Hands down, worst episode
flashinggreen-917-33185620 May 2022
I haven't been so angry at a TV show since the last episode of LOST. What the hell was this?! How did we go from two perfect seasons to a mess of ten episodes, culminating with...this? Not looking forward to season four at all.
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