Donald Glover has both a celebrated acting and musical career, but his Emmy-winning showAtlantaonly lasted until season 4. Glover not only portrayed Earnest “Earn” Marks, the music manager lead character inAtlanta, but he also served as the show’s creator/showrunner, writer, executive producer, and sometimes director.Atlantaran from 2016 to 2022, earned several accolades, and featured a brilliant cast supporting Glover, includingGet Out’s LaKeith Stanfield. While many were disappointed thatAtlantaseason 4’s finale was the end, Glover was one of the few who was ready for it to wrap up.
Atlanta’s best episodesdelved into many types of stories, ranging from heavier topics like slavery and racism, to more light-hearted subjects such as getting a haircut before an important event. AlthoughAtlantawas full of darker moments, the unique comedic angle made the show both comical and thought-provoking. Glover was the driving force ofAtlanta, but surprisingly, the actor’s preferences about the show’s end were different from its actual fate.
Atlanta Was Always Supposed To Run For As Long As It Did
Despite Glover’s Initial Plans, Atlanta Ended When The Story Was Finished
Originally, Donald Glover wantedAtlantato end with season 2, according to an interview he gave during FX’s segment of the Television Critics Association winter press tourin 2022 (viaVariety). However, this was thankfully not the case, as the show continued for two more installments before it ended.Glover stated that “When the conditions are right for something, they happen,”and that he thought the show wrapped up perfectly.Every season ofAtlantawas solid, but it would’ve been very different if it ended with season 2 instead.
The story was always planned to be the length it was, but it took four installments to achieve,rather than two. Glover also explained he didn’t like to carry things out if he didn’t “Feel any longevity,” because “Things start to get weird,” which made a lot of sense.Atlantaended at its peak, and while it was a controversial choice, Glover believed it was the right time.
Season 1, Episode 1: “First Date” (With Francesca Sloane)
Season 1, Episode 8: “A Breakup” (With Francesca Sloane)
Dragging out a narrative unnecessarily can be fatal for a TV show, and it was reassuring thatGlover also confirmed that his deal with Amazon didn’t impact his decision to bringAtlantato an end.Glover and the other writers used their own experiences to influenceAtlanta, which made the overall story feel more natural.
Glover’s Decision To Wrap Things Up With Season 4 Was The Correct One
WhileAtlantaseason 4’s alternate endingwas definitely interesting to hear about, the actual ending was much better. The show’s last episode focused on Darius, but it also saw Earn and Vanessa finally reunite, too. It was intriguing that Glover chose for Darius to take center stage in the finale, especially when he played the main character, but it also proved whyAtlantawas one ofLaKeith Stanfield’s best TV shows.Darius offered a unique perspective on the events ofAtlanta,and it was fitting that he drove the narrative in the final episode.
It would often be irritating for a TV show to usethe “it was just a dream” trope, but it strangely worked forAtlanta, andthe ambiguity of the finale was a great way to end things.The show was always rather unpredictable, and the ending reflected this, too. While some stories could’ve continued, like Vanessa and Earn’s, it’s worth asking whether extending them would’ve brought anything new to the table. AcrossAtlanta’s four-season run, audiences learned more about these characters and formed connections with them, and the show’s end encapsulated their respective journeys well.
I Would Not Mind Atlanta Coming Back In Some Form Eventually
Glover Sparked Hope For A Return When Atlanta’s End Was Announced
In the same interview with FX, Glover acknowledgedAtlantaever potentially returning to screens. The showrunner claimed that he’d bring backAtlantaif there was a reason, “Like a Christmas special.” While this narrowed down the conditions he’d require to reboot the show,Glover’s comments proved that it wasn’t impossible thatAtlantawould return at some point.While I thought that the finale was fantastic, I also wouldn’t hate it ifAtlantamade a comeback in the future.
The showrunner claimed that he’d bring backAtlantaif there was a reason, “Like a Christmas special.”
I really enjoyedAtlanta’s anthology episodes, unlike a majority of audiences, and if the show were to return for a one-off special like this, I’d definitely tune in. However, if the audience was that against another anthology episode, it’d also be great to see some more filler installments. Perhaps episodes that focused on one character and allowed viewers to catch up with who they’ve become since the finale, for example. While I have always agreed with Donald Glover’s choices withAtlanta, I’d also happily see the show return.
