‘Atlanta’ EP Stephen Glover on the show’s legacy and if the final installment was all a dream

SPOILER ALERT: The following story reveals plot points from the finale of FX’s Atlanta series.

effects Atlanta Wrapped up Thursday night, and aside from the typical fanfare of a series finale, the episode does something again Atlanta does it best by subverting the idea of ​​what exactly a series finale should be.

The episode, aptly titled It Was All A Dream, sees Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) confront reality in a sensory deprivation tank and ultimately question the events of the entire episode. After several bizarre encounters that turn out to be dreams, Darius manages to help Earn (Donald Glover), Al (Brian Tyree Henry) and Van (Zazie Beetz) escape from Black’s sushi restaurant after the owner tries to frame them as to take hostage.

As the episode progresses, the main characters all share the screen for the last time and discuss their days – but viewers wonder if anything really happened. On another show, the answer might be obvious, but As executive producer and writer Stephen Glover told Deadline, “Everything felt so dreamlike… Atlanta anyway.”

Glover spoke to Deadline about the legacy of Atlantafinding the right way to end the series and why we’ll never know if Darius was really still in that sensory deprivation tank.

Reporter: As you approach the finale, how did you determine what the proper farewell would be? Atlanta?

STEPHEN GLOVER: The idea was, ‘Let’s just make this a fun episode.’ So it came from a fun idea that we’re building on, not trying to carry the weight of oh, this is the last episode. You have to do something crazy or strange.’ I think we talked about the last episode: king of the hill. This is just an ordinary episode.

Reporter: The series has gone through some major swings in terms of changing genres throughout all four seasons. The finale feels much more Atlanta return to its roots. Was that a conscious discussion about how you wanted the final episode to feel?

GLOVE: I think it was really just that idea that made Season 3 so amazing [season]. It’s outside of Atlanta, and all these maximalist things are happening. Then it’s like going back to Atlanta, and it reminds you how familiar it is. Season 1 and 4 are very similar, but there are differences. People are rich now. People think differently about their lifespan. I think it came naturally because I just wanted to look at this idea, go out into the world and see all these things, and then come back home.

Reporter: Let’s talk about Darius and the Sensory Deprivation Tank. How did you decide fat Judge Judy would be his indicator that he was still in the tank?

GLOVE: I think we just saw a fat Judy meme. We said, ‘It would be funny if this was your story in a dream world.’ We just made it so it’s quite a funny meme. I find it hilarious.

Reporter: There are several times when he thinks he’s awake and he’s not. Hard to say, because Darius of all people would end up in such a situation. Another is the scene where he and London are arrested.

GLOVE: We talked about the idea of ​​someone drinking a whole bottle of vodka water and pretending it’s not vodka, and it’s just funny. We thought about what was going to happen, gave each other a big laugh, or really made fun of that part. We always love the idea of ​​subverting expectations. Even in the “Crank That Killer” episode with Roberto, we finally see something where you see Roberto’s private life, and then he gets pushed through the window. TV can be so formal sometimes, and people realize they’ve seen things so many times. It’s pretty easy to make people believe you’re going to do a thing if you’re just playing fair, but that’s one of the fun things we’ve loved since the show started.

Reporter: We wonder if Darius is still in the detox tank at the end of the episode. It’s almost like a start Moment. Why leave the public without this closure?

GLOVE: I do not think so That deep, but I think there was one performance where everything felt so dreamy Atlanta anyway. [Whether it’s] real or fake, everything feels real to you anyway. I think that’s exactly the idea that we ran away with – this idea of ​​getting your friends together and having fun and eating Popeye’s and laughing. It’s like, is this a dream or are you manifesting these things that you wanted anyway? It can feel like a dream.

Reporter: You said it wasn’t deep, but I want to digress based on this answer.

GLOVE: Yes, I went into it a little deeper. [That ending] just feel good It was a big part of Season 4, with that fun feel.

Reporter: We’ve seen Van and Earn have a pretty intense conversation about moving to LA, but we haven’t had the same type of conversation between Earn, Darius, and Al. Are we to assume this happened off camera?

GLOVE: He talked to Alfred a little bit about it in the Farm episode, but I think it’s one of those things where we know how it’s going to go. It’s not like they’re going to stop him. His mind is formed. I think there’s that feeling of growing and being okay, and even though things are different, you can still enjoy the moments when you’re together. Like the nostalgia of getting together for Thanksgiving and how your whole family is there. It reminds you that all other things don’t matter how long ago it was or whatever.

Reporter: This season has had a lot to do with legacies and what to do with your success once you find it. I wonder how you feel about inheritance Atlanta and where do you leave it?

GLOVE: I think we’re definitely going to come out with something that people will talk about and hopefully influence the next generation. I am proud of many of the things we have done. It was the first time I wrote on TV. There are many things that I think we did very well. I want to take the spirit of the show and express it in everything I do. I think the legacy is the same for other people too. You can do irregular things. You’d be surprised how many people are looking for something different, something new. Be prepared to take those swings.