Ever since the release of FX’s Dave, it has garnered understandable comparisons to the network’s earlier show, Atlanta, in that they both follow a male protagonist maneuvering through the music industry and their experiences within it. Comparing these two shows isn’t holistically a bad thing since they deal with the same idea, exploring day-in-the-life scenarios that culminate into a larger plot that pushes the characters forward, what makes these shows different is their choice on who’s experiences they decide to tell.
Donald Glover and his team helm “Atlanta.” The “Black Twin Peaks” uses the idea of ‘getting into the rap game’ as an allusion to rap culture and how black people are treated within that culture. The story’s structure is more akin to a dream rather than a straight forward narrative. A lot of Atlanta’s episodes thrive off the microcosms of the plot instead of the story itself. Using storylines that punctuate or critique prevailing black ideologies run rampant throughout the show and pulls it off effortlessly.
Atlanta also leans into existential horror. Never frightening, Atlanta can pull of an uneasiness that’s difficult to replicate. Paperboy getting lost in the woods, The gang getting stuck in that frat house and the infamous Teddy Perkins episode, are all different aspects of uneasiness the show can communicate to an audience that may not have an outlet for these experiences outside of living them. A lot of the “horror” falls flat because most of the situations are only frightening if you’re black. The synopsis of ‘low life manager attempts to help his cousin become a famous rap star’ is shallow and brilliant window dressing for what the show presents; An examination of modern black culture and it’s many complexities.
Lil Dicky’s “Dave” is window dressing. I love how aware Dave Burd is. The show isn’t more than what is presents, and for that, I can’t hate it. The show is a soft biography of the rise of the rapper, Lil Dicky. It chronicles his journey from parody rapper to a mainstream act while maintaining his “quirkiness.” Dave’s confidence in himself is inspiring, but it always comes down to, “y’all just gotta trust me,” and everything works out in his favor. If you’re not a fan of Lil Dicky, his character will become very annoying very quickly. Dave’s hypeman is portrayed by his real hypeman, Gata, and has the best episode in the season. Gata (who’s never acted) delivers an emotional performance in a topic about mental health that’s handled beautifully. This is the show’s highpoint, and even though it tries, it never reaches the same height after episode 5.
I understand why people compare Atlanta and Dave due to them both dealing with rap acts playing a version of themselves (on the same network, ironically). Still, it’s unfair to even put Dave on the same pedestal as Atlanta. Outside of “white upper-middle-class white guy tries to be a rap star,” there’s no depth outside of this synopsis, and that’s great. It’s not a love letter to Hip Hop; It’s not about the vampiric tendencies of the music industry; It’s not about how white acts get more opportunities over blacks; It’s just about Lil Dicky getting famous, and if that’s something that you’re into, you shouldn’t be ashamed about enjoying it.
Atlanta is an experience for our culture and uses it’s medium as a conduit to communicate and explore ideas in an absurdist space. Dave is a show you enjoy while you’re high; it’s not bad, but it’s nothing to brag about either (other than episode 5). Comparing these shows can become dangerous due to them not having anything to do with each other, and lumping one with the other is an unhealthy tendency people seem to make and eventually make a fight when there was none. You should be able to enjoy Atlanta and Dave without comparing them, but you should know which is the better show.
it’s ‘Atlanta.’