Oh snap, Paper Boi is dodging questions, while money STAYS trying to dodge Earn…Our boi Al is on it, though! Van tries to come up in some bougie circles, but Earns too real, and not having it!

Btw, is this title sequence subliminal messaging?!

1.7: B.A.N. - did yall know DG won an Emmy for this?! Definitely a fkn masterpiece! (I’m trying to watch these ahead of posting so I can post my thoughts in the post, ANYways..) This episode had me ROLLING as always. It honestly, flawlessly, imo, combined some really thought-provoking content with genuine humor. Harrison is hilarious to me and when Paper Boi starts ripping into him after the “surgery” I about die 🤣. I think it’s a really cool way to address the over-politically-correct environment that media and social media have become. What do yall think? 

My favorite sorta hidden “message” was when the two perceptually disparate communities (trans, black rap) came together and unified against an entity/force that was clearly with divisive intent, bent on keeping the two groups against each other. The commercials are great too 🤣

1.8 The Club - Chris is SUCH a fkn ahole!! I swear there REALLY are folks like that! Drives me nuts. Even though Darius is only in this for a sec, he is great “This is meaningless.” Then goes home to eat cereal and game, fk I love that fool 🥹 may more of us be like him fr. 

My favorite line is right after Paper Boi smacks Chris: “🫢🤩 That boys gonna be a star!” I fkn LOSE IT every time hahahaha!!! 

This episode really touches on so much of the unseen side of being on the come up/being a performer—the getting shorted by event managers, fake folk using you for clout, even the scene w/ Earn and the bartender where she’s talking about the guy being exclusionary to make those girls feel more special—it’s kinda goofy. I’ve grown up with/around performers most/all of my life and regardless of the genre or even if it’s acting, music, comedy, etc, the basic parts of the negative side are the same, imo. 

This episode had so many good jokes in with the main storyline and definitely built the momentum of PB growing as a star. 

Do yall think that moment when he’s kinda looking at the ppl in his section like “who tf are yall” is any kinda foreshadowing to anything? It almost looked like to me like he was fkd up like in Amsterdam but nothing else stood out so maybe I’m reaching?

Can’t forget the ghost whip 😂 first time that took me out! I think that’s the first definitive indication we get that this is more surrealism than realistic fiction. 

Ps am I alone in LOVING how Al handled that BIDness?! “I AIN’T A BANK I DON’T TAKE FKN CHECKS!” 🤣😂🤣

1.9 Juneteenth - Mannnnnnn, the start of this already had me feeling some kinda way—roll up out another girls bed to go with Van to play hubby..smh

Craig….lmfaoooo, Craig! This man is wild but does actually exist in the wild! 😵‍💫 the part with his interpretive painting “it’s the ONLY interpretation” 👀 ik it’s meant to be over-the-top, but there are def situations, maybe not all at once, but even as a Latina I’ve experienced to an extent. 

When Earn and Van start pretending to work together, you see a little glimpse into how they might have been before all the BS

“Is Vin Diesel black?” 🤣🤣🤣 nice subtle commentary imo🤷‍♀️

Honestly this episode was SO FKN GREAT for calling out SO MANY of the sorta cliche tropes (another ex: the pastor), this subtlety while being so in your face is honestly a big reason why I love this show so much 🥹

Anyways, that’s my lil take on the first rewatch for me! What are yalls thoughts? 

Also PS didn’t post the music bc these were much less music heavy but I will for the future ones!

Next sesh is JUST the season 1 finale 😍 much love ATL fam 💙



Subside-Rewatch, Session 3: 1.7, 1.8, & 1.9 B.A.N, The Club, Juneteenth