Crabs in a Barrel
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Episode 11
- "Walk in the Way" by Ray Barnette & Larry Hall
- "I Shall Be Released" by Nina Simone
| "Crabs in a Barrel" | |
|---|---|
| Atlanta episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 11 |
| Directed by | Hiro Murai |
| Written by | Stephen Glover |
| Featured music |
|
| Cinematography by | Christian Sprenger |
| Editing by | Isaac Hagy |
| Production code | XAA02011 |
| Original air date | May 10, 2018 |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Crabs in a Barrel" is the eleventh episode and season finale of the second season of the American comedy-drama television series Atlanta. It is the 21st overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Stephen Glover, and directed by executive producer Hiro Murai. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on May 10, 2018.
The series is set in Atlanta and follows Earnest "Earn" Marks, as he tries to redeem himself in the eyes of his ex-girlfriend Van, who is also the mother of his daughter Lottie; as well as his parents and his cousin Alfred, who raps under the stage name "Paper Boi"; and Darius, Alfred's eccentric right-hand man. In the episode, Earn, Alfred and Darius prepare to leave for a European tour with Clark County as headliner. Before this, Earn and Van are informed about an important progress on Lottie.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.553 million household viewers and gained a 0.3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances, character development, writing and set-up for the next season.
Earn (Donald Glover) takes Lottie to a meeting with Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry) and an entertainment lawyer. Despite the lawyer claiming to represent multiple singers, Alfred later confides to Earn that he wants a Jewish lawyer, as he feels that he is being robbed by the lawyer. Alfred also has to prepare for a European tour, which will be headlined by Clark County (RJ Walker).
Earn also helps Alfred and Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) with packing their things for both a move and getting ready for the tour. During this, Alfred informs Earn that he found his golden gun and tells him to get rid of it, and Earn decides to put it in his backpack. He then goes with Van (Zazie Beetz) for a parents-teacher meeting at Lottie's school. Her teacher informs them that Lottie is a gifted student and that they should place her in a private school to accommodate her interests. Outside, they discuss the options, with Van telling Earn to be more present for their daughter.
While checking on the men helping with moving Alfred's stuff, Earn decides to accompany Darius to a passport agency as Darius' passport is expired. At the office (which is in a Jewish part of the city), Earn talks with the man attending them, who claims to have a cousin who is a good (presumably Jewish) lawyer. When Earn asks if he knows a "black lawyer" as good as his lawyer, the man claims that there is but that the black community does not have as many connections like his uncle did for his cousin. Earn then gets a message from Van, who tells him that she is considering moving with her mother and Lottie. Earn then asks Darius if Alfred will truly fire him as manager. Darius states that he improved as manager and even if Alfred fires him, he will always care for Earn as family. He says he wants to give Earn a "chance to see the world" by taking him to Europe.
Earn, Alfred and Darius spend a moment at the couch before leaving for the airport. At the airport, they rendezvous with Clark and Lucas (Matthew Barnes) as they prepare for the flight. As they pass their bags through security, Earn discovers that he is still carrying the golden gun. He smoothly slips it into Clark's bag. Moments later, Earn passes safely through security, and he joins Alfred and Darius as the security machines beep and a TSA agent calls out, demanding to know "whose bag is this?". Before the flight takes off, Alfred tells Earn that he saw him place the gun in Clark's bag. Alfred is not angry, he actually praises him for his actions, saying that they care for each other while other people just care for themselves. Suddenly, Clark appears on the plane without his manager Luke, claiming that TSA found a gun in Luke's bag. Earn tells Alfred that he placed the gun in Clark's bag (not Luke's) and Alfred sighs. Meanwhile, Tracy (Khris Davis) arrives at Alfred's house and starts knocking repeatedly, unaware that Alfred and the others have already left.
Production
Development
"Sometimes you gotta go where the money goes. But it be feeling like something is holding me back. Like I can't leave."
In April 2018, FX announced that the eleventh episode of the season would be titled "Crabs in a Barrel" and that it would be written by executive producer Stephen Glover, and directed by executive producer Hiro Murai. This was Stephen Glover's eighth writing credit, and Murai's fourteenth directing credit.[1]