Now that we’re previous the midseason mark, I can confidently say this closing season of Atlanta is outpacing the earlier one by a mile. The critiques of modern-day tradition are sharper, the comedy is more and more on level, and Brian Tyree Henry’s performing is such a pleasure to observe. Over time, his portrayal of Al has created a captivating, superbly developed character arc that provides to the present’s success. I really feel that manner about Zazie Beetz’s, LaKeith Stanfield’s, and Donald Glover’s characters, too, however this episode is a showcase for Henry’s expertise.

We’ve seen Al remodel from an area rapper to a bona fide celeb who books stadium excursions. His rise to fame is aspirational for a lot of — just like the younger man who’s barely in a position to present for his household whereas ready patiently for his large break, satisfied that each one it takes is one second to go from mall food-court worker to rap famous person. Al understands the privilege and rarity of his state of affairs, which has catapulted him to a brand new life, albeit one which comes with a brand new set of issues and that’s nonetheless dogged by his previous. Now that he’s a public determine, the selections he made years in the past have a good greater probability of affecting his future. There was no manner for him to anticipate {that a} YouTube video from the prehistoric yr 2007, a time earlier than social media turned the soul sucker it’s right now, would come again to chew him within the ass.

Within the Atlanta universe, a Lipstick Alley conspiracy principle attributes many of the latest murders of Black males to the Crank Dat Killer, a assassin who appears to be focusing on those that made movies doing the “Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)” dance. Al is initially unaware of the conspiracy (as a result of he nonetheless depends on cable TV for his information), however when Earn and Darius rejoice in by no means having made a video of themselves doing the dance, Al’s thoughts goes to his personal YouTube add, which he made with one among his outdated buddies on the peak of the pattern. Though he claims to be unbothered by being a possible goal of the killer, Al instantly asks Earn to get the video scrubbed from the web. It has solely 25 views, however he desires to keep away from followers discovering the put up and hyping the killer.

Earn and Al enterprise to the studio after their dialogue of Al’s “Crank Dat” video. Being the gifted artist he’s, Al data his tune in quarter-hour earlier than an undesirable customer pops his head into the room: a fellow rapper who goes by Some Man Named Doug and whose incessant requests for collaboration Al has been going out of his option to keep away from. (Al admits to Earn that whereas the man’s extremely variety, his music downright sucks.) Al goes so far as pouring the remnants of his alcohol onto the studio tools as an excuse to dodge Some Man Named Doug’s request to make one thing on the spot.

Shortly after leaving the studio, Al rewatches his “Crank Dat” video in his automotive and finds a latest remark with the skull-and-crossbones emoji by an account whose profile image is solely the letter A. Okay, Fairly Little Liars! Understandably, the cryptic remark makes Al fear much more, and he turns into consumed by the thought that the killer could come for him. The following day, he calls the particular person as near the supply as he can get: Soulja Boy himself.

Though it’s not as nice because the Gunna cameo of some weeks in the past, we get an onscreen look from Soulja Boy as he talks to Al. Soulja admits that his personal concern of being focused by the Crank Dat Killer is inflicting him to flee to his “secure farm,” and he advises Al to do the identical as a result of, “like a superb nigga, secure farm is there.” Unable to really feel secure even in his own residence, nonetheless, Al goes to the mall incognito and grabs a pretzel. The server acknowledges him as a result of solely a well-known particular person would suppose that sporting sun shades indoors and a hat with out a emblem whereas frantically trying over their shoulder is inconspicuous. Al goes outdoors to eat his pretzel when he notices a automotive pull up with the GPS loudly saying the arrival to the specified vacation spot … which occurs to be precisely the place Al is.

The driving force exits the automotive and stares ominously at Al, yelling “Paper Boi!” at him. Al runs, his paranoia main him to consider that is the Crank Dat Killer, and ignites a full-on chase by means of the mall. Simply as Al is seemingly secure and hidden, pretending to buy at a kiosk, the person opens hearth on him. All the mall erupts into insanity as one other shopper (pushing a stroller?!) begins taking pictures again. Extra folks with weapons take part, compounding the anxiousness in my thoughts over how free our nation’s gun legal guidelines are. Amid the flurry of bullets, Al retains on making an attempt to flee. For some purpose, the struggling aspiring rapper who works on the meals courtroom decides that is the proper second to show his abilities in entrance of Paper Boi. Terrified and stuffed with adrenaline, Al pushes the younger man right into a glass store window.

Including much more madness, Earn and Darius are on the mall too, assembly within the car parking zone with a mysterious shoe plug who can get them a pair of unique Nikes which have been inconceivable to seek out as a result of nature of the reselling beast. He operates out of a van and is understood across the neighborhood merely as “Shoe Man.” He presents them the Nikes of their sizes, delighting Darius and Earn till they’re knowledgeable of the worth: As an alternative of cash, Shoe Man desires to see Darius and Earn make out. Earn begins off unequivocally towards the notion of offering a sexual service for the sneakers, however Darius is keen to make the sacrifice. I imply, I’d too, relying on the pal and the shoe. However I’m responsible of the mind-set Earn is vital of: I’ve paid disgusting quantities of cash for a few of my sneakers even when I do know deep down I’m placing an extreme worth on trainers (that I wouldn’t dare run in). All of us have our vices.

Earn and Darius begin to haggle with the person, debating precisely what number of minutes of kissing are required for the sneakers earlier than asking for privateness to speak it over. Earn makes a convincing argument towards going by means of with the kiss, however it’s not convincing sufficient to speak Darius (or himself) out of it. The weirdo shoe plug returns; performs “All My Life,” by Ok-Ci & JoJo; and will get a snug view of the pair in his rearview mirror. Darius puckers his lips and Earn begrudgingly leans in and kisses him again. As their lips meet, the ruckus from the mall spills out into the car parking zone and the Shoe Man will get shot within the head. Shocked, Darius and Earn take their sneakers and hurry out of the van to keep away from any implications within the taking pictures.

Al remains to be looking for security amid the pictures flying within the mall. He makes it out to the car parking zone and is hiding behind a automotive when, of all folks, Some Man Named Doug occurs to seem. Al rapidly will get into his automotive and emphatically thanks him for saving his life. To Al’s disappointment, Some Man Named Doug is definitely on his option to the studio, leaving Al no selection however to hop on a tune, unable to say no to the person who rescued him from a shoot-out. The beat feels like one thing my 1-year-old nephew and I’d make on one among his Fisher-Value toys, however Al is indebted to his savior.

Darius, Earn, and Al convene at Al’s residence on the finish of the episode, and Darius informs them that the Crank Dat Killer has been recognized as some random man and never whoever was chasing Al on the mall. That shooter seems to be somebody Al had beef with from highschool. Darius asks what occurred, and Al merely says he thinks the person was nonetheless mad. Al peeps Darius’s sneakers and compliments them, to which Darius replies that he needed to “do a li’l one thing” for them however it was price it. All three males go away the main points of their impossible-to-explain day to themselves whereas listening to Paper Boi and Some Man Named Doug’s trash collab.

• When Al is sitting outdoors the mall having fun with his pretzel, a gaggle of younger boys is there recording a TikTok dance. It’s a good way to indicate the cyclical nature of Black tradition and traditions. Though it was a attain for Darius to check Al’s video to the religious nature of Black dance, he’s proper — one factor we’ve at all times carried from our African ancestors is our love for the enjoyment and neighborhood of dance.

• Atlanta is not any stranger to visitor appearances from polarizing celebrities, e.g. Liam Neeson and Chet Hanks, and now we will add Soulja Boy to the checklist of questionable cameos. I agree with the argument that he had a big half within the popularization of YouTube and is a trendsetter, however I’ve at all times discovered him a bit slimy after his former girlfriend got here ahead alleging abuse.

• I’ve a confession, one I can’t consider I’m admitting, however I observe Earn’s philosophy on the information: I get my breaking information and discourse from Twitter, conspiracies and gossip from Lipstick Alley or Reddit, and if I’m inquisitive about a particular matter, I do my very own seek for articles. I’m sorry, however I can’t afford all these paywalls and cable subscriptions when Black Twitter has stored me extra up to date than CNN ever has.