FX’s profanity-laced hit series Atlanta returns for its second season, and what a nonsensical premiere it was. On top of Katt Williams owning a pet alligator, the new episode introduces us to a new alt-right boogeyman: the Florida Man.
The March 1st premiere “Alligator Man” kicks off what the characters refer to as “Robbin' Season.” Robbin' Season is a period of extra on-sight robbery summed up by Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) as “Christmas approaches, everybody gotta eat.” Such an apathetic view on theft can only lead to trouble down the line, but for now the characters have other problems.
When driving to meet with his uncle, Earn (Donald Glover) hears the story of Florida Man from Darius. In this scene, he weaves a tale of an “alt-right Johnny Appleseed” and a conspiracy theory that would make Alex Jones blush.
Darius: How's your parents?
Earn: (Clicks tongue) Good. Good. They're driving to Florida right now to visit my uncle who's dying.
Darius: Oh, Florida, huh? Better make sure you tell them to watch out for Florida Man.
Earn: What's Florida Man?
Darius: Florida Man is responsible for a large percentage of abnormal incidents that occur in Florida. Think of him as a... Alt-right Johnny Appleseed. No one knows his true identity, date of birth, what he looks like. That's why headlines always say, "Florida Man." "Florida Man shoots unarmed black teenager." "Florida Man bursts into ex's delivery room, and fights new boyfriend as she's giving birth." "Florida Man steals a car, goes to Checkers.""Florida Man beats a flamingo to death." "Florida Man found eating another man's face."
Earn: No. No.
Darius: Yes. Yes, it's true.
Earn: No.
Darius: Him, the state government, fucking cahoots.
Earn: Why would anyone even do that?
Darius: (Chuckles) To prevent black people from coming to and/or registering to vote in Florida, Earn. Come on.
Earn: Of course.
Darius: Yeah.
I’ll give the show this. They treat the story like a tall tale, because it’s just as crazy as one. The only thing crazier would be people buying it as true. Sadly, if Twitter is any indication, the truth is stranger than fiction.
Florida Man is such a smart joke all the way down to Darius saying it’s a plot to stop getting black people to move there so they don’t register to vote #AtlantaFX
— Alex. (@justalexbruh) March 2, 2018
“Florida man shoots unarmed black man, beats up boyfriend while his girlfriend is giving birth, beats up a flamingo, eats people’s faces...
— A.Diddy (@TheeAtip) March 2, 2018
Me: He lying like a mf
Ern: why would he do that?
“To keep black ppl from coming to and registering to vote in Florida!!
Me: #AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/gir2QfzoxH
I believe in the Floridaman conspiracy. It’s a thing. #AtlantaFX
— “he do got an alligator.” (@KiaSpeaks) March 2, 2018
And that kicks off the first episode of Atlanta for 2018. After something called “Robbin' Season,” I’m sure we’re in for a long new season.
