Atlanta: Season 3/ Episode 1 “Three Slaps” [Premiere] – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Rather than continue the stories of the characters we haven’t seen since mid-2018, we’re reminded of the tragedy of Davonte Hart’s story – but with an Atlanta-style spin.

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Aired	3/24/2022
Network	FX
Directed By	Hiro Murai
Written By	Stephen Glover
Introduced This Episode
Loquareeous	Christopher Farrar
Amber	Laura Dreyfuss
Gayle	Jamie Neumann
Loquareeous’ Mom	Nicole Lockley

Recap

A Punishment Like No Other – Loquareeous’ Mom, Loquareeous

Loquareeous is a rambunctious child. The kind who, because many teachers are ill-equipped to handle kids who aren’t obedient robots, is seen as disruptive. And thanks to an overzealous guidance counselor thinking Loquareeous is acting out due to abuse at home, children and family services are called on Loquareeous’ mom. This insult she doesn’t even plan to fight. Instead, she haphazardly grabs some things and pushes him right into the government’s hands.

Oh, Ya’ll Crazy For Real – Loquareeous. Gayle, Amber

For Loquareeous, there is no time period where living with Amber and her partner Gayle seemed nice. Amber thinks some flour and a microwave is all you need to make fried chicken. Gayle, who can’t manage money worth a damn, appears to have all of the kids she and Amber adopted work on the farm in their backyard and work around the house to save money. Leading to one kid always coughing and hunger being a constant pain.

Which you might think could have been helped by going to a cop or a child and family service check-up, but it doesn’t. In fact, it is implied that Gayle killed the person who was checking on the kids, and because the cop was oblivious, the abuse continues.

But with Gayle thinking it has all gone far enough, it would be better to die than struggle, she plans for the whole family to die due to a car accident. However, when Gayle and Amber let their puppy free, the kids bail, and Loquareeous stays behind to maintain their cover until he exits out the trunk. Thus leaving Gayle and Amber to die alone, as Loquareeous’ adopted siblings get found at a rest stop.

Believe Me When I Say I’ve Learned My Lesson – Loquareeous, Loquareeous’ Mom

As for Loquareeous? He goes back home, and no sooner than him walking in the door does he do dishes and shows signs that he is now quite grateful for what his mom offers him. Because reheated spaghetti beats chicken cooked in the microwave any day.

Things To Note

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. Why, of all things, was Earn having a nightmare about this?

What Could Happen Next

1. We get to the show

Review

On The Fence

Appreciating A Reminder Of Davonte Hart Yet Also Wondering Why Have This Be The Premiere?

One thing Atlanta is known for is taking risks. It doesn’t pursue convention in terms of its humor or storylines. It doesn’t even really find itself within the limits of what is expected for a Black show, despite its writers and lead actors, sometimes the director as well, being Black. Atlanta exists in its own lane where you rarely see television go unless it is part of the mystery genre.

But with that said, I don’t know why after nearly 4 years, they would open with this story. I get that we shouldn’t forget what happened to Davonte Hart and those kids killed by those crazy white women. But in my mind, this felt like something that could be part of an anthology. The kind that either re-writes Black tragedies or pushes the masses to take note of stories many have moved on from. I wouldn’t say that this is what should be presented as your season premiere to reintroduce characters who we haven’t seen in years.

Yet, if Atlanta did the expected, it wouldn’t be the show fans have come to love.

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