We get it. Donald Glover (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Community) has been busy. A successful music career, Star Wars… the list goes on. We have been waiting years for Atlanta’s creators to get a move on, and finally, our wait is over. That’s right, folks. Atlanta has returned for a third season. It’s difficult to imagine that a years-long pandemic would benefit burgeoning rapper Paper Boi and those in his circle. Nevertheless, the grind continues, and fans of the series have been speculating about where an already tumultuous music career, coupled with the unique stresses of the modern world, might take the characters we’ve long been rooting for.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
But for a moment, let’s put aside Bryan Tyree Henry’s (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Godzilla vs. Kong) character Paper Boi, and can we just ignore the colossus that is Donald Glover, i.e., Childish Gambino? We need to take about Darius and how we’re happy to see LaKeith Stanfield (Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah) return to portray our favorite character in Atlanta season three.
The Talented Mr. Stanfield
Atlanta arguably launched the career of the show’s primary focus point, rapper Paper Boi, portrayed by Bryan Tyree Hill. LaKeith Stanfield, on the other hand, was inarguably a generational talent even before his turn on the popular show. He garnered critical acclaim for his turn as a troubled youth in Short Term Twelve, and since then, he has only advanced from the indie scene to more mainstream success. Fans will recognize LaKeith Stanfield from his role in Get Out (2017) as the brainwashed victim of a kidnapping and his arguably Oscar-worthy turn as an FBI informant in Judas and the Black Messiah. He’s even put his hat in the ring to play the Clown Prince of Crime in Gotham City.
Any television creator worth their salt would be hard-pressed to ignore this staggering resume. Though at times a comedic foil, Darius is undoubtedly brought to life by one of the most talented actors on the set of Atlanta and is essential to the success of future seasons.
Classic Comedy
However, let us, for a second, look past the undeniably thespian prowess of one LaKeith Stanfield. Where would Atlanta be without its comedic foil, Darius? Honestly, you just have to watch the very first episode of the series to know how essential LaKeith Stanfield’s Darius is to the comedic dynamic of Atlanta. In one particular scene, Darius asks Earnest’s (Donald Glover) father, Raleigh Marks, portrayed by actor Isaiah Whitlock Jr. (The Wire, Chappelle’s Show), if he, Darius, can measure a tree in Raleigh’s yard, though they’ve just met for the first time. Raleigh, understandably, declines, saying, “Nah, not right now.” One would be hard-pressed to find absurdist comedy on that level anywhere other than Atlanta.
Another perplexing scene in Atlanta shows Darius showing his marksmanship at a gun range. While dog owners might cringe at the familiar target Darius chose, the stilted (ultimately racist) reaction of the gun store owners, and LaKeith Stanfield’s perfectly delivered expression of confusion at his ejection from said store, is yet another example of the actor’s comedic range. Of course, violence against animals is to be condemned, but if the unnerving specters of previous Atlanta seasons are to return, perhaps a steady hand and consistent aim will be a necessity.
Additionally, LaKeith Stanfield, as Darius, has proven himself able to carry entire episodes of Atlanta all by his lonesome. For example, one of the series’ most-discussed episodes, “Teddy Perkins,” which is the sixth episode of the second season. Following an advertisement for a free piano, and despite the warnings of his friends, LaKeith Stanfields’s Darius heads to an eerie remote mansion. What follows is not for the faint of heart unless one’s heart doctor suggests a healthy dose of mega-celebrity Donald Glover in jarring makeup and prosthetics. The episode “Teddy Perkins,” though one of the most discussed in Atlanta’s run, is likely one of the least revisited. Nevertheless, no press is bad press, and if Darius finds himself in comparably horrific situations in season three, fans will be thoroughly entertained.
Alas, all good things must come to an end, and Atlanta is no exception. Although LaKeith Stanfield returned for Atlanta season three, his days on the show are numbered. This third installment of the series is slated to be the penultimate; Atlanta will not return after season four. Fortunately, setting a definitive end date will allow the Atlanta crew to wrap up the show’s myriad unresolved storylines or ignore the loose ends entirely, given their obvious penchant for leaving audiences befuddled. It’s impossible to say what wild adventures season three will bring about. One can only hope that Darius continues to maximize the madness.
