Atlanta Recap: Can Darius Be Stopped (Hopefully Not) – Episode Four

***While not a conventional recap for BNP as we discuss the impact of each episode, please note there are full spoilers for episode four, “The Streisand Effect” *** Season: 1 / Episode: 4 / FX Network William: Nicole, we have now witnessed 4 episodes of Atlanta and it might be my favorite 30-minute show on TV, considering I don’t watch too many 30-minute TV shows these days. It is funny (sometimes) and dramatic (mostly) and absolutely weird (always) in the way that the show Louie is, that came before it. Except, ya know, Black as hell. Starting with that opening scene behind the club, what part struck you most: Zan’s initial appearance or Darius’ “fuck it” attitude about it? I’m going with the confusion and ambiguity of Zan’s race and him dropping the N-bomb repeatedly, coupled with Paper Boi’s reaction. Like, he doesn’t think Zan is Black, but he can’t really deny Zan is Black if Zan says that he is. I thought it was a brilliant, yet brief commentary on the governance of language within the community.

Nicole: Darius. Hands down Darius’ reaction was my favorite. He strolls up, Zan does that fake ingratiating gatekeeper thing that hangers-on do, and Darius is ready to do… something, but can’t resist the siren call of that free Zan hat. And then it’s Darius’s turn to get got for the ‘gram, (like Paper Boi did in episode 2 with the cop). And it’s not lost on me that Zan’s Instagram is ZanLivesMatter. (There is a real live account with that name on both IG and Twitter, but sin…