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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
While last week’s episode of Donald Glover’s FX comedy-drama series Atlanta proved to be divisive, we return to Europe to continue the Paper Chase tour. The team gives us a ghastly balance of comedy and drama, setting up even worse circumstances for next week (but we’ll get to that when the time comes). The fifth episode of the third season is titled, “Cancer Attack”. It is written by series supervising producer Jamal Olori, with Hiro Murai on the director’s chair.
In this review, I will be discussing Atlanta Season 3 Episode 5. There will be no spoilers here, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion to avoid any possible revelations.
Plot Synopsis
According to FX Networks, here is the logline for Atlanta Season 3 Episode 5.
Sometimes shows just be over my head acting fake deep. Where’s the poop jokes?
FX Networks Press Room
Discussion
Following their baffling party with a billionaire two weeks ago, Alfred/ Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) and his posse of Atlanta natives find themselves working together in an attempt to solve the mystery of a venue. How often do we get a mystery-centered episode of a sitcom television program? We had the missing purple pen from the “Cooperative Calligraphy” episode and the Ass Crack Bandit from the “Basic Intergluteal Numismatics” episode of NBC’s Community as well as the missing jacket from “The Jacket” episode of Atlanta (aka the Season 1 finale) — both of which Donald Glover stars; not to mention nearly episode of both How I Met Your Mother and Rick and Morty.
As always, Atlanta continues to oscillate between laugh-out-loud comedic moments and dead silent drama in nearly every scene. They help in the episode’s pacing, but after my second viewing, I realized this may not be enough to lend to the setup of the bigger reveal. Allow me to break down the episode without diving so much into plot detail; this way, we can further avoid spoilers.
Perspective
This series is not Atlanta without its points of view. On one hand, you must pay attention to Murphy’s cinematographic framing, Green’s production design, and Coombes’s set decoration. Everything is in its place; and with the story provided, it is almost as if the writers’ room is asking you to get off your phones and pay close attention.
While many people’s critiques of “The Big Payback” were that Atlanta should focus more on Earn (Glover), Alfred, Darius (LaKeith Stanfield), and Van (Zazie Beetz), Murphy’s cinematography suggests otherwise. He frames scenes in such a way that decenter characters and consequently leave open space. Not only that, but at some points, we see that there is a clear division between Black and white. That is not done without intention…
For an episode that lasts 31 minutes and 38 seconds, “Cancer Attack” tells a much longer and more detailed narrative than you are led to believe. It is also imperative that we consider character perspectives. Darius might possess a role that is more crucial to the mystery, although that is just my educated guess. It may not appear like he’s developed as much as the series’ other three protagonists. However, given his Gothic experiences in “Teddy Perkins” and “Sinterklaas is Coming to Town”, he is one to be neither ignored nor underestimated; he does clock in on rather intriguing stories, which I appreciate as the series progresses.
Time is of the essence, and when you take into consideration that Alfred and Earn are busy individuals in the rap industry, there is a heavier layer of stress dropped on us as viewers. Business — busy-ness? — does get acknowledged in the episode’s first act, so be mindful of that as well.
Be Cautious of the Internet
Atlanta also is not Atlanta without its discussion of the Internet’s impact; Donald Glover fans should know better than to forget this. If you’ve seen the promotional teasers and television spots for the episode, you would know what the mystery concentrates on. Alfred has lost his phone. His reasons for embarking on the search have to do with his connection to it. In order to explain this without revealing huge spoilers, I must refer to Maurizio Lazzarato’s critical text, Signs and Machines: Capitalism and the Production of Subjectivity.
The philosopher theorizes that we are all components of a much larger megamachine: capitalism. As cogs, we are each rendered a human/machine. In his first chapter, Lazzarato begins by explaining that we are subjects who go through social subjection in order to be enslaved by the machine. In layman’s terms, we assign ourselves roles — or so we believe — in order to take part as members of society. However, we cannot do this without desire; and according to Lazzarato, it is “desire on which even knowledge, information, and cultural production depend”.
I mean, how can you be a modern rapper without typing out your bars and verses into the Notes app (for iPhones; or whatever application there is for Android users)? More so, as human beings, we have grown to become attached to our devices. Why, you may ask? Individually a part of ourselves exists within them. Furthermore, one character in the episode brings up the concept of the social machine, or what they refer to as “the universal group”. By fulfilling these roles and working towards a goal or goals, we integrate ourselves into the machine. These days, there does not seem to be any other way to do it, to achieve success and a purpose.
The Crew of Atlanta
Donald Glover, Paul Simms, Dianne McGunigle, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, and Stefani Robinson serve as the executive producers of the series. Janine Nabers serves as the co-executive producer, while Alex Orr, Cass Marks, and Kaitlin Waldron serve as the producers. Ibra Ake, Taofik Kolade, Jamal Olori, and Francesca Sloane serve as the supervising producers. Jordan Temple serves as the co-producer.
Alexa L. Fogel stars as the casting director, while Kate Rhodes James serves as the casting director for the U.K., France, and the Netherlands. Francesca Bradley serves as the casting associate for the episode, while Kathryn Zamora-Benson serves as the U.S. casting associate.
Stephen Murphy returns as the director of photography, while Kyle Reiter serves as the editor of the episode. Jen Bryson and Cameron Ross return as the assistant editors.
Jen Malone and Fam Udeorji return as the music supervisors, with Whitney A. Pilzer as the associate music supervisor.
Jonathan Paul Green serves as the production designer of the episode. Lynda Armstrong serves as the head of the make-up department, while Shunika Terry is the head of the hair department. Celia Yau serves as the costume designer. Sophie Coombes returns as the set decorator.
The Cast of Atlanta
Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, and LaKeith Stanfield star as Earnest “Earn” Marks, Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, and Darius Epps, respectively. Zazie Beetz is credited as Vanessa “Van” Keefer.
Sean Gilder plays Folk, while Hugh Coles portrays Socks. Samuel Blenkin portrays Wiley, Folk’s apparent nephew.
Hristo Lolov appears as a 2nd runner. John Ramm plays a guard at the venue. Sokol Cahani plays a security guard officer. Lev Levermore plays a paramedic. Toby Dixon plays a cancer kid, while Eddie Toll and Beatrice Engel play his parents.
Performances and Character Developments
Henry can be quite a talent as the fictional rapper, Paper Boi. With his cousin Earn having gone through a similar situation, this issue is much more severe as it could mean an end to his career as a musical artist. He proves acceptable as the “bad cop” alongside Earn’s “good cop”. Upon my second watch of the episode, I noticed something about the way he participates in the investigation. This season, I’ve noticed there is a huge difference between Alfred and Paper Boi, and in this episode, the actor allows to channel both parts to that character. He even allows himself to take over, so much so that at one point towards the end, you forget who is speaking in the scene: Henry or the character(s).
Coles is remarkable as Socks, a character from “The Old Man and the Tree” who tends to get out of line. I could argue that his role serves as the substitute for Tracy, played by Khris Davis last season. Coles portrays Socks excellently. He is someone who is trying to get the job done by all means necessary. Tracy was evidently a wild card in “Robbin’ Season”. Meanwhile, Socks is truly a card that is tricky to lay on the table and gamble off. It would be interesting to see what his larger role is in the latter half of this season.
Blenkin is such an interesting character as Wiley. When dialoguing with Alfred, he acts as if he is some Arkham villain to Batman, or Stanley “Stan” Mitchell is to Marshall “Eminem” Mathers; of course, it is not that severe. He comes off as cryptic in the way he speaks his words in the room, but he’s more of a slave to something higher, possibly fanboy culture.
Final Thoughts on This Week’s Atlanta
In my final analysis, after two viewings I can conclude that the answer to this mystery is right in front of our very faces. What looks to be something as simple as the case of a vanishing phone only signals something that is defined as deeper beneath the surface. We must no longer pay attention to the foreground but also to the background; if we can heed the machines, then we must not forget about the signs that exist, especially in our grey matter. Indeed, every atom and particle of the episode counts, so do not let the writers gaslight you into thinking otherwise.
To present you with a hint would be to give away the biggest surprise. Instead, let me just say that it all lies within Darius’s encounters with phantasms. While Atlanta Season 2 was subtitled, Robbin’ Season, fans of the show should be aware that Glover has not given us the overarching theme of Season 3. We have seen Tobias Segal appear in the season premiere, “Three Slaps”, as an unnamed white man, only to later return in “The Big Payback” possessing the name “E”. (I must give huge credit to Tucker of Streamr for helping me confirm this; although, at this point, many people know this as well.) Remember: when one door closes, another opens… Or is that not the case here?
If the Atlanta team does not win in the upcoming Emmys season for Best Drama Series, then I do not know what more there is to say.
Donald Glover’s Atlanta Season 3 is now on FX and streaming via Hulu!
Have you seen Glover’s series? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more comedy and drama-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Also, read my spoiler editorial on “Cancer Attack”. This article explains the episode in greater detail!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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