The Best Episodes of Atlanta
Last Updated: Feb 18, 2019
Two cousins, with different views on art versus commerce, on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene; Earnest 'Earn' Marks, an ambitious college dropout and his estranged cousin, who suddenly becomes a star.
#1 - The Big Bang
Season 1 - Episode 1
The series opens with a confrontation between local rapper Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles and a man who breaks off the side view mirror of Alfred's parked car. Alfred's cousin Earn tries to mediate the situation while stoned sidekick Darius has a sensation of déjà vu. Working a deadend job and trying to co-parent with Vanessa "Van", Earn approaches Alfred about managing the rapper since he has connections. Though Alfred sees Earn as a leech, Earn finds a way to get his song played on the radio. But just as they listen to the song on Alfred's car radio, a man walking by suddenly snaps off the side view mirror, resulting in the incident at the opening (hence the déjà vu) which ultimately culminates with a gunshot.
9.00
#2 - Teddy Perkins
Season 2 - Episode 6
Darius is trippin in this one. Y'all know I woulda been left.
8.23
#3 - Barbershop
Season 2 - Episode 5
You know how you need a fresh cut but your barber is always on some wack stuff? He's lucky I only trust him.
8.05
#4 - The Jacket
Season 1 - Episode 10
Earn loses his jacket, which has imporant items to him, after a night of partying. The Uber driver, who is a drug and weapons dealer, has it but ends up getting shot by police while wearing it. Later, Paper Boi gives Earn a generous 5% pay which he gives to Van. Earn's coworker comes by and returns the important item he desperately needed—a key which unlocks the storage facility space he is living in.
7.98
#5 - Crabs in a Barrel
Season 2 - Episode 11
Sometimes you gotta go where the money goes. But it be feeling like something is holding me back. Like I can't leave.
7.98
#6 - The Club
Season 1 - Episode 8
An NBA star named Marcus Miles is in the same club as Paper Boi, hogging the drinks, women and limelight, which aggravates Paper Boi. Additionally, their promoter is avoiding paying Earn, who attempts to chase him down throughout the night. Eventually, Paper Boi strong-arms him and takes his money. Later, another shooting happens (outside of the club), which the police link to Paper Boi on the news due to his "armed robbery".
7.95
#7 - North of the Border
Season 2 - Episode 9
We might have to make that move tonight. I heard there's a pajama party and Paper Boi is gonna be there.
7.95
#8 - Juneteenth
Season 1 - Episode 9
Earn wakes up in another woman's bed and Van comes by to pick him up for a Juneteenth-themed party which she believes will help her establish good networking. The luxury home's owner is a rich White man who is shown to know quite a lot about Black culture in an anthropological way and his bourgeois Black wife. To impress the party's attendees, Vanessa and Earnest have to pretend they are a married couple who love fine art. Earn ends up going off on the homeowners when the wife insults Paper Boi and his hip hop management career. On the drive back home, Earn and Van have sex in their car.
7.95
#9 - Alligator Man
Season 2 - Episode 1
Ayyy! We back in the city but thangs feel a little different. Must be Robbin’ Season. Free Paper Boi!
7.92
#10 - FUBU
Season 2 - Episode 10
Y’all youngins don't know nothing about this. This one takes me back to middle school. Shout out Miller Grove!
7.90
#11 - Money Bag Shawty
Season 2 - Episode 3
Earn is out here making that money. Too bad he still look broke as hell. This whole city runs on stunting, you feel me?
7.90
#12 - B.A.N.
Season 1 - Episode 7
A satirical episode, Paper Boi features as a guest on a talk show called Montague, being part of a discussion on the media's indictment of Black culture and its intersection with trans people. Commercial parodies play throughout the episode during the breaks of the talk show.
7.87
#13 - Sportin' Waves
Season 2 - Episode 2
Trappin ain't easy, ya dig? Shout out to all my credit card scammers in the club tonight.
7.81
#14 - Woods
Season 2 - Episode 8
Why Paper Boi always got an attitude? He rich, right? That's why I can't feel bad for these celebrities.
7.81
#15 - Streets on Lock
Season 1 - Episode 2
Issues like police brutality, mental illness, and transphobia are addressed as Earn awaits bail after the boys get arrested for their shooting incident.
7.79
#16 - The Streisand Effect
Season 1 - Episode 4
Paper Boi deals with a social media troll, internet criticism, and exploitation; While Earn tries to trade his phone for quick cash, Darius sets up an investment for the future.
7.77
#17 - Go for Broke
Season 1 - Episode 3
Earn goes on a date with Van even though he's broke; Paper Boi proves he might have what it takes to hustle. Migos guest star.
7.76
#18 - Nobody Beats the Biebs
Season 1 - Episode 5
Justin Bieber, who is depicted as an African-American, makes an appearance in Atlanta at a celebrity basketball game, rubbing Paper Boi the wrong way. Meanwhile, Earn sneaks his way into a high-powered agents meeting after being mistaken for someone else.
7.71
#19 - Value
Season 1 - Episode 6
Van meets her WAG friend Jayde for dinner and they clash over their respective lifestyles. Later, they smoke weed and reconcile, but Van forgets she is scheduled for a drug test the next day. She tries to use her daughter's urine, but spills it and finally admits to her boss that she's smoked, who understands but has to fire her.
7.68
#20 - Champagne Papi
Season 2 - Episode 7
Yeah girl, we gonna party tonight! But if you don't post about it, did it really happen?
7.53
#21 - Helen
Season 2 - Episode 4
When you go outside the city white people be acting different. That's why I can't even go to Marietta. Too weird.
7.45