20 biggest TV moments of 2018 we’ll never forget
By Sundi Rose
“Teddy Perkins” – Atlanta
What happened: I hate to throw the word genius around, but I have to say, I think Donald Glover just might be among the most brilliant creators of our time. Season 1 of his show Atlanta was a marvel on its own, following the lives of three African-American men trying to make it in Atlanta’s music scene. However, season 2 took a more creative and postmodern turn, and he really flexed his muscles as a television auteur in its storytelling and production.
The sixth episode of the show’s second season, titled “Teddy Perkins,” drove this point home, as it completely upends the conventions of the genre. The episode follows Darius, played by Lakeith Stanfield, as he drives outside the city to pick up a piano he bought on Craigslist. Once he gets there, he encounters a strange, enigmatic figure who might be characterized as “Michael Jackson in his later years.”
Why it’s so important: The most remarkable part of this episode, aside from its narrative methods, bottle-episode structure, and innovative camera work, is that Teddy Perkins is Donald Glover in whiteface. The effect is chilling and distancing, and truly speaks to the kind of work Glover is doing in the sophomore season of the hit series.
How to watch it: FX is among the more elusive networks. It often won’t make its most recent seasons available on Hulu or its website, forcing you to use their app, FXNow. You can access it with a small fee or with most cable providers, and that’s going to be about the only way to watch this episode.