NYWIFT Blog

#SummerHours TV Episodes to Watch: Atlanta: “Value”

Goodbye, winter caps—hello, summer hats! It’s that glorious time of year where many of us can switch from content creators to content consumers. NYWIFT members Mellini Kantayya and Kathryn O’Kane have put together #SummerHours, a series of fun summer books, movies, and TV shows by or about women.


By Kathryn O’Kane

This award-winning series by Donald Glover is about a Princeton drop-out who returns home and tries to manage his cousin’s burgeoning rap career while marginally helping his on-and off-again girlfriend Van with their toddler. But that’s just the premise. The show’s magic (figuratively and literally) lies in the low-key ensemble cast that Glover has curated. Just watch Brian Tyree Henry embody the complicated cousin Alfred aka Paper Boi, a rapper unsure of his new-found celebrity. The New York Times says “Atlanta is one of the best cast and most brightly acted shows of any kind on TV.”

I recently attended a Q&A where Glover described the show as “Twin Peaks for rappers,” and I’d say that’s pretty apt. Just spend some time in the location itself where Country meets City meets Black Hollywood meets the Bible Belt. The half-hour comedy is as funny as it is weird, and Glover is proud of the weirdness.

Atlanta.png
Auben Wise as Jayde (left) and Zazie Beetz as Van (right) in Atlanta for FX (2016)

The entire series is binge-worthy, but for the purpose of #SummerHours, the episode to watch is “Value” written by Stefani Robinson. As the AV Club observes, “It makes such a huge difference to know that someone with insights about how black women communicate contributed to an episode that mostly consists of black women communicating and mis-communicating.” “Value” takes a break from the main narrative with the guys and settles in with Van reuniting with an old friend from college. The eight-minute dinner exchange between the two women is gripping – there’s a class thing at play here as well as gender politics. And the whole scene drips with the authenticity of two friends “who love each other but don’t really like each other.”

Atlanta will be available to stream on Hulu ahead of its second season premiere in 2018.

(Cover photo by Bridgette Matthews)
PUBLISHED BY

busyk

busyk Kathryn O’Kane is a director and producer with over 20 years of experience in television and advertising. She directed season 2 of the Emmy nominated series The World According to Jeff Goldblum for Disney+. She was the showrunner of the James Beard award-winning Netflix series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and she produced six seasons of the Emmy award-winning series Friday Night Tykes. Her episodes of Iconoclasts for Sundance and Oprah Presents Masterclass for OWN have won NAACP Imagine awards. Kathryn has crafted short form narratives as diverse as Mission Juno for NASA, segments of AMC’s Talking Dead, and commercial assignments for Apple, Meta, United Airlines, and SAP. Kathryn served two terms on the board of New York Women in Film and Television, championing equal pay, diversity and inclusion, and safety in the workplace. She is a member of the Directors Guild of America and Television Academy. Learn more at www.busyk.com.

View all posts by busyk

2 Comments

Mellini_Kantayya

This was one of my favorite episodes from this (exceptional) series too.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*

Related Posts

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Marci Clark

NYWIFT is excited to welcome new member Marci Clark! Whether you were tuning into MTV during the mid-90s or consider Super Bowl ads to be immersive entertainment, there is a good chance you’ve engaged with remarkable content in which Marci has left an indelible mark! Marci is now Co-owner & Chief Marketing Officer of a location agency, The Scout Source, representing over 800 production-friendly locations in the Tristate area. Check out her blog feature where we converse about the evolution of her dynamic career in the film and television industry as a marketing professional, her talent and enthusiasm for linking content creators to incredible location sites for them to shoot their projects, and the iconic cartoon character who she “butted heads” with (no pun intended)!

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Rachel Cheung

Welcome to NYWIFT, Rachel Cheung! Rachel is a dynamic writer and producer born and raised in New York City and Long Island with Chinese and Irish roots. With a BFA in Film and Television from NYU, she has honed her craft through diverse experiences, including roles as an assistant to the President of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences and at WME in the Brand Partnerships department. Rachel's background enriches her unique perspective in the industry, driving her storytelling prowess. Get to know her in our latest interview!

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Ashley Pickett

Welcome to NYWIFT, Ashley Pickett! Known for her dynamic roles on screen, Ashley is an actress expanding her creative horizons into screenwriting. Her latest project is a short form series delving into the complexities of women navigating the dating pool. Ashley describes herself as a warrior with a tender heart, embodying a blend of resilience and adaptability. Her storytelling is inspired by personal experiences and a deep understanding of human emotions, aiming to capture authentic narratives that resonate with audiences. Continue reading to dive into how acting influences her writing, as well as more on her short form series, The Serial Dater.

READ MORE

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol 2024 Tribeca Festival World Premiere

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol had its World Premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival on Saturday June 8th in The Indeed Theater at Spring Studios in New York City. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol picks up where season one of the series left off, following fan-favorite characters Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride). They both confront old demons while she fights to find her friend and he struggles with his decision to stay in France, causing tension at the Nest. Fans of The Walking Dead Universe are eagerly awaiting to see best friends Carol and Daryl again. Tammy Reese had the honor of covering the red carpet and interviewing Reedus, McBride, and Scott M. Gimple, who are all Executive Producers. Watch her video interviews here!

READ MORE
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
css.php