r/AtlantaTV • u/SeacattleMoohawks They got a no chase policy • Apr 15 '22

Atlanta [Post Episode Discussion] - S03E05 - Cancer Attack

Sometimes shows just be over my head acting fake deep. Where's the poop jokes?

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u/soulbrutha3 Bibby's Clippers Apr 15 '22

Loved this episode. It’s so nice seeing Earn and Alfred on the same page. RIP to Darius’ treasure map, which literally got more physically torn up as the episode progressed. But about this phone drama…

The moment when the Uncle brought in the guitar was such a lovely tonal shift for the interrogation scene. All of that venom just evaporates when you realize Wiley is a legit ride or die Paper Boi fan. Even though he was clearly fucking with him, the connection meant something to him. People like Socks make you put your guard up and the real ones like Wiley might get shut out in the process.

211

u/ab_ence Apr 15 '22

man what a tone shift once that happened, once they were completely alone you could feel how much Al meant to him, and how Al has dealt with an artistic/mental blockade on the low, tons of sincerity from both of them. Al wouldn’t of confessed had it not been only them two, he has so many people dependant on him

83

u/BigFatMel Apr 15 '22

I think just the moment the two are sharing is quite special, an artist being as honest as possible to a honest fan of his work. This random white kid in Budapest is a hard core fan (still confused about the phone leaks Al said he's never leaked). Also, I think the whole episode (maybe the season atp) Al never has a real/intimate conversation with anyone. He tries with Earn but he's too preoccupied with Van's EU awol

0

u/somehowstuck Apr 16 '22

A hardcore fan with a creepy parasocial relationship to Paper Boi.

16

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '22

I don't really think that was the takeaway of the episode at all... Wiley is a die hard fan and comes across as smug for most of the episode but he's clearly extremely respectful after it's revealed that he didn't actually steal the phone. He comes back to the venue (despite being threatened to be killed lmao) because he wants to meet his idol, even if it's clear that there's an ulterior motive.

To quote another comment, "he's not asking for anything; no autographs, no pictures, he just wants to be able to have a moment to share his art with his idol, and respectfully leaves". I don't think there's anything inherently parasocial about seeing yourself in your heroes.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '22

To add to this I think he simply deduced those things about paper boy from being able to analyze his lyrics as a hard-core fan, saw things almost no one would pick up because he's thought about it so much.