The contrast of their physical appearance adds a bit of connectivity to the situation, it shows how we all can relate on the same level internally no matter the fabric of the situation.
If you strip away all of the surrealist elements, my interpretation is that this interaction is the peak of Paperboi’s career. A lot of Atlanta demonstrates the actual workings of the music industry, the difficulty in staying relevant and the eventual flame out of your career. Al mentioned earlier in this episode that he didn’t even really see him as a rapper, but because he made success off of it, he’s come to terms with being viewed as a rapper solely for the rest of his life. He needs the phone, because the phone reminds him that he actually has the potential to create good art instead of industry rap schlock. In this scene, Al realises in Wiley’s song that he has actually succeeded as an artist. He connected with a person from an entirely different world of his own through his music, and despite the flame out of his career and the eventual end to his money, he has done something significant. That’s why he is able to move on from the phone in the end
I actually went to school with Sam Blenkin, I remember we played opposite each other in an am-dram production of Frankenstein. Brought a tear to my eye watching the same kid I used to play guitar with in his parents kitchen doing so so well. Reach for the stars Sam!
I discovered him in this episode of Atlanta, and I'm currently watching Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, where Sam makes a great appearance. I hope Sam has a great long career. He has serious acting ability.
As an actor, I know how extremely difficult it is to play these secondary roles. Atlanta is a freight train and he jumped on like he's been doing it his whole life. For the first time in over 10 years, I was so blown away by his overall performance, that I had to tell everyone I knew. Watch Sam Blenkin in this episode. I had never heard of him, but what he did in this episode was nothing short of incredible. Profound respect and I am rooting for him. I know he has a very bright future and I can't wait to see him again. and yes, he was great again in The French Dispatch.
Absolutely. He had me raptured from the first moment he was on the screen. He was incredible playing this role so many different ways (straight-ahead, Afro-surrealist, he did it, he didn’t do it, etc.). And then when he broke out the guitar and capped it off with this song? Genius.
i think we can all agree here on two things: 1. this scene was a surprising yet incredibly moving exchange between Al and a reflection of himself 2. *FUCK SOCKS*
Don’t know if “fuck socks” is even the right idea. Socks was looking out for himself off the top, but he definitely regretted his decision at the end. He wanted to belong just like everyone else
Brian Tyree Henry absolutely stole this season. Say what you want about the season overall but his performance and the episodes that revolve around him were so great.
This shows how deep Donald Glover's storytelling goes. He makes these weird episodes that go so much deeper than what we see, and it sticks for a reason. He is one of a kind, both performances are incredible.
Donald doesn’t write the best episodes IMO. He actually says some pretty dumb stuff in interviews. The rest of the writers and directors do a lot of work to carry the show.
He's not just Al's ghost, but they're ghosts of each other, which I think is what the reflection line is all about. Wiley has real heartfelt talent, but he has no fame or respect or status. Al has all that fame and money and respect, but he is unable to express his heartfelt self through his art and fame-driven lifestyle. Wiley is here as a messenger as if to say, "Is this what you really want?" His own sense of connection to Al, him seeing the "other side," is him saying that he sees Al as who he could be if not himself. And by showing that to Al in his song, Al can see that Wiley is who Al would be if not Al. They're mirror opposites.
Wiley is a piece of Al's self that has been buried beneath his Paperboi persona, thus a ghost. Wiley's appearance is exactly how Al sees that part of himself. Al is insecure which is the real reason why hes so worried about his phone. Al's real art is on that phone… "is there something special about this phone?.". Wiley starts off saying things like "we all have to die sometime. maybe my end should come at the hands of Paperboj" (Wiley/Al vs Paperboi). When Wiley says "were you told as a child you talk white.. must have made you feel separate. its interesting when people aren't allowed in the universal group" he is throwing shade at Earn and Paperboi while also hinting at his metaphysical nature. He's saying that Paperboi is hiding the real Al.. so that part of him does not exist in this universe. Earn looked past Al during his search for community and friendship and now money. Earlier in the episode Al tries to start a conversation with Earn but Earn is too busy to talk unless Paperboi has a question about ginger beer. So everything Wiley been saying has struck multiple chords in Paperboi. When Wiley looks PB in the eyes and says "I don't think you'll get what you want that way" he finally understands and tells himself (Wiley) a secret about his creative block. Al "was never really into rapping". Everything is then confirmed with the birthdays and Wiley/Al lyrics which is why PB is in shock and lets Wiley leave "you were my mirror my best friend we used to be one and the same. i swear i saw the other side i never wanted less because i don't want more of vou". I think it means he threwaway the real part of himself that he doesnt like and now that part of him is "on the other side" Veg. The idea of twin flame/soul fits as a replacement for this "self theory" too but based on this season I think Wiley is the ghost of Al's self
You know what’s also crazy? To think about it, it’s pretty ironic how Wiley is a ghost and is white. No racism at all, but I find it to be an art form that Glover uses to show the pure side of Al in the past.
My thought about it is that he’s going to do something shitty to the group. You saw how he stirred up the talk between Darius and MK, then he got them inside Sock’s car
I think Wiley is a ghost and that this is actually Al’s melody being reflected back at him. That goes along with the rest of the weird events in the episode and the underlying themes of exploitation by white people throughout the season. I definitely still wish it was a full song though. That kid has a gorgeous voice for sure. Watching Al’s face with the interpretation of this episode hits me hard. Heartbreaking and beautiful end to an episode
I think they're the same person. Throughout the episode Wiley kept referencing things that only Al understood, Al interpreted this as Wiley having gone through his phone, but it was really Wiley knowing EXACTLY how Al thinks and feels. Wiley said that he didn't sympathize or empathize with Paper Boy's album; he says he understood and that he felt it. We attach ourselves to these external manifestations of desire, like Al attaching his future success to the lyrics in his phone, without realizing that we readily have everything we need inside of us already. Wiley found his voice in Paper Boy, and Al found his voice in Wiley.
Nah, they're just two incredibly similar people, the joke is that the person Al connects with the most is some white boy from Europe, they were both hurt by a Rose/Rosie, Al dreamed of box top chevys in high school and probably so did Wiley, Wiley probably just knew his phone number from some fanboy internet forum, and the song at the end is Wiley's attempt to help Al recapture what he thought he lost when the phone went missing The whole episode is set up to hint at him being a ghost, but it's just a misdirect Plus there already was a ghost (white Earn) this season, people like to claim Donald Glover is some super genius, well, geniuses don't typically reuse the same idea over and over
Lyrics: there's a fire on the mountainside I can see the smoke risin' the ocean blues, they already do they say the tide is turning I swear I saw the other side and never wanted less because I don't need more I don't want more You were my mirror, my best friend we used to be one and the same but now my hero's gone and left me here to play this evil game I swear I saw the other side and never needed less because I don't need more I don't want more of you
I saw this episode right after a horrible divorce period around July. I was shocked, just stared for a while and listened over and over again for at least two weeks. While losing your best friend, also seeing her turning into a really awkward stranger is taking its toll. This song was the final nail in that coffin and started a restoration period. In that regard, I really owe the show owners my deepest thanks. Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry and Sam Blenkin, thank you for this scene. It got me work for a better life, alone. Thank you.
I dont know who you are brother/sister but I'm just going through this right now, I'm going through a divorce and I feel like I've lost my best friend from the past 10 years, I didn't want any more or any less I was happy with her and us but she wasn't, she left me, just watched this episode and couldn't stop myself from bursting and immediately something in me wanted to work on myself and become the best possible person I could be, so I never have to feel this again. if you see this I would love to hear how everything has gone for you ?
This song knocked me off my seat. Al's reaction. Brian Tyree Henry is an incredible actor. This whole show. The season. It's as good as anything gets. Afro-surrealism and its depth of profound beauty is art in its purist form. This is evolution and I am in love. Donald Glover, Hiro Murai, the whole cast and everyone involved, thank you for enriching my life. Peace and Love!
I always thought that this song was "Al's voice" that he was talking about and that the lyrics were referencing earn in the second verse "You were my mirror, my bestfriend" But these comments opened up my eyes. I love the Atlanta community!!!
This entire season made me catch my breath. Simply exquisite. And after a second viewing I realized that just like Season 2 was about "Robbin' literally and metaphorically, this season is about ghosts. Seen and unseen.
Is it just me or does anyone else think Donald Glover and Jordan Peele need to colaborate and blow our minds completly. Hey remember you heard it here first. Oh and please put me in one of the collabs.
Currently watching “Loch Henry”: the new episode off Black Mirror and I rushed over to this video to confirm if this was the same face and voice. Brilliant, brilliant actor.
Try this tab I just made and let me know what you think, not entirely sure how correct it is but I got it to sound relatively similar, I think tunings a half step down.
There's a fire on the mountainside I can see the smoke arising The ocean blues, they already do They say the tide is turning [Chorus] I swear I saw the other side I never needed less Because I don’t need more I don't want more [Verse 2] You were my mirror and my best friend We used to be one and the same But now my hero's gone and left me herе To play this evil game [Chorus] I swear I saw thе other side I never needed less Because I don’t need more I don't want more
My interpretation of the scene is Willie represents what Al could be if he wasn’t shape by his environment and allowed to express who he truly is and the art he enjoys making for himself instead of fame and money like paperboii . Willie represents the side of Al that he had to kill/bury to survive in his environment while willie was allowed to be himself and thrive Al had to make a persona and become it to live the life he envisioned . Which is why willie knows shit about paperboii that Al doesn’t tell anyone. Like his favorite childhood car and his childhood heartbreak rose , I think Al & willie had a similar heartbreak Al with rose and Willie in 8th grade which was why he felt the song because it made him think of how he felt with rose and after experience that he’s comes to a new understanding of Willie through music , when they normally wouldn’t have connected before. Before Al opens up to him Willie says I don’t think you’ll get what you want that way . Meaning Al won’t find the true answers he looking for (his phone or why he thinks his phone is so important). So Paperboii send Earn out and starts to open up to Willie because he’s the only person that actually sees and listen to Al this episode (on a emotional level )as Al instead of paperboii we’re seeing the end of Al as he becomes paperboii because as he states “it’s to late for him to do anything else…. & that I finally hear my voice “ . I take that as before he was making music for the community/ to get him fame and Fortune but he’s beginning to realize the bigger he gets the more alone and isolated emotionally he’s becoming , everyone around him is worried about either his success or their come up instead of him as a person.
How I took Willie song is . “There’s a fire on the Mountain side I can see the smoke rising” -the mountain representing both their relationships (Al with rose and Willie n his heartbreaking) and the relationship coming to an end and they see the smoke arising that will eventually claim all that is beautiful on the mountain and leave it burden and dead . “The ocean blooms they already do they say the tide is turning”- what was a beautiful relationship has now turned and become something ugly and harmful . “You were my mirror and my best friend we used to be one in the same but now my hair is gone and my hero left me here to play this evil game” - could mean the relationship they were in they View their partner as a piece of them like their literal reflection as if they see them and their partner and once their partner left I was gone there was no one left and they were empty in their reflection. & now without them they’re left to play the same games that hurt people in order to protect themselves from that pain. It could also Represent Al killing the side of him that wouldn’t survive in the hood “I swear I saw the other side and never wanted less because I don’t need more I don’t want more of you” - Al seeing how the other side (fame ) actually works and moves he doesn’t wanna be apart of it anymore seeing what he has to lose to become paperboii ( connections , being able to walk in his hood, making the art he actually likes, pretending be for the culture but really milking and personifying the Black plight in America for the mainstream audience. Now seeing what fame or love comes with they don’t want anything to do with it.
@@jujuBeanRemo wow this was so nicely written. I also wanted to add my point of view because we share a lot of similar ideas on how we interpret this song. I wanna add i think that part of this song has something to do with Al's mom. Like you said he had to kill a part of himself that wouldn't survive in the hood but before that he at least had his mother. Al had his mom. And when he lost her i think every crumb (or piece he could keep) of his authentic self disappeared and we can trace this back to the episode of "woods" when Al realizes he can't be chill Al anymore. When he's grieving and in so much pain that he doesn't know how to get out of it anymore ( an example of this is when it zooms out and shows us the growing forest of the wood and how it just kept going. there was so much forest) But it finally clicks to him. The only way to get out of the woods is to get out as Paperboi. Al was hurting and grieving about losing his mom, Al was annoyed he couldn't walk around atlanta and be a normal chill dude like he could before but Paperboi didn't. Paperboi wasn't thinking about these things. Paperboi was living the rich rapper lifestyle and Paperboi's only focus is to do his job. And when he got out of the woods he got out by being Paperboi. Later on in this scene a fan ask him if he can take a picture with him even though Al was bleeding and hurt but Paperboi said yes and took the picture with him. Thank you for sharing this i always have questions about the scenes i watch (especialy when i comes to atlanta) and even though i can somewhat grasped some of it I never can put it into words. I finally realize why woods and this scene had me crying profusely but cause of you and i finally can. Even though there is no right or wrong way to interpret this i think the way you explained it feels the closest to me. Thank you.
@@leviismyhusband5411 I appreciate your reply and view on this scene and the wood’s scene I had the same feeling when watching that scene and to read you put it into words makes me feel like others do too. Got me thinking about writing video essays on shows I like similar to this to grow a like minded community and hear their thoughts on it
Ill never forget how unexpected this moment was for me.. this song hit in a way that gave me Pause.. and the shocking twist at the end. The the reasoning behind it. This show is TOP TIER. 😎
i feel like he was being genuine, not petty. his whole song is about wanted to be seen, it’s so tender and sincere. it would feel weird to have a heartfelt moment like that just to turn it around and have him be an asshole in the last second (especially when we know that he didn’t take the phone)
If anyone is interested , the Chords: (As far As i can Tell. Works to sing on for me + guitar is tuned a half step down ) Verse 2 Times : Bb A7 Dmin Hook: F E Amin F/C Esus4 into E But Feel free to explore different variations ( specially on upper Extensions im Not too Sure ) and corrections are Always welcome
@@dmfd_rosieperez9847 Wiley is a piece of Al's self that has been buried beneath his Paperboi persona, thus a ghost. Wiley's appearance is exactly how Al sees that part of himself. Al is insecure which is the real reason why hes so worried about his phone. Al's real art is on that phone… "is there something special about this phone?.". Wiley starts off saying things like "we all have to die sometime. maybe my end should come at the hands of Paperboj" (Wiley/Al vs Paperboi). When Wiley says "were you told as a child you talk white.. must have made you feel separate. its interesting when people aren't allowed in the universal group" he is throwing shade at Earn and Paperboi while also hinting at his metaphysical nature. He's saying that Paperboi is hiding the real Al.. so that part of him does not exist in this universe. Earn looked past Al during his search for community and friendship and now money. Earlier in the episode Al tries to start a conversation with Earn but Earn is too busy to talk unless Paperboi has a question about ginger beer. So everything Wiley been saying has struck multiple chords in Paperboi. When Wiley looks PB in the eyes and says "I don't think you'll get what you want that way" he finally understands and tells himself (Wiley) a secret about his creative block. Al "was never really into rapping". Everything is then confirmed with the birthdays and Wiley/Al lyrics which is why PB is in shock and lets Wiley leave "you were my mirror my best friend we used to be one and the same. i swear i saw the other side i never wanted less because i don't want more of vou". I think it means he threwaway the real part of himself that he doesnt like and now that part of him is "on the other side" Veg. The idea of twin flame/soul fits as a replacement for this "self theory" too but based on this season I think Wiley is the ghost of Al's self
Al's white Shadow Self. Just like how Earn has his white Shadow Self, Earnest. Wiley knows Al's number because he _is_ Al. Also, this is just speculation, but I think that this is the song Al heard and recorded on his phone.
Also this episode made kind of made me realize how long-term songwriters feel when they hear their work in artists, years later. Wondering who that person was who originally wrote this 15 years ago.
This moment is why Al doesnt find his voice again. And thats okay. Things die. Its the whole point of season 4 he is trying to find something he wants now that he has made it. And he just wants to be with his friends. He 'doesnt want more, doesnt need more'. This was paperboi coming to terms with the fact that his career will be over soon. He did it. He succeeded. He can let that part of his life go.
If you've watched closely to the episode paper boi talks about a girl he loved in highschool rosey he competed with in highschool with a guy named booki who ended up moving, wiley talks about moving away because he fell in love with a girl named rosey also and his mom made him move away before he sing this to paperboi. Happenchance my theory this is that boy who moved away who stole the phone for the British dude at the end of the episode who throws the phone away. Confirming it to wiley as he knew paperbois phone number reciting it prior. The song was one in the same as paper boi was more then likely rapping about it in the recording on his phone. I dont know I just deeply feel wiley is booki from highschool who loved the same girl as paper boi
Hey Alexander, thanks for the chords! Can you explain what you mean by tuning the guitar down (how much?) and tuning the chords up just means playing higher in the frets right? Yeah sorry if it's obvious to you but thanks for the help!
