With an incredibly crowded market of high quality TV shows at the moment, studios are needing to resort to a variety of different gimmicks to make their shows stand out. While nothing beats a good story and solid production values, there are so many shows that provide these aspects that if you want your show to be a hit, you need to try something different. And while it’s difficult to judge this new FX series Atlanta on one trailer, it certainly seems to be promoting itself as a new gimmick in the TV market.
Now, that’s not to say the show doesn’t look bad. It’s a simple concept of ‘Two cousins work through the Atlanta music scene in order to better their lives and the lives of their families’. It’s nothing ground-breaking, but still looks well made. The trailer especially has the feel of a solid hip-hop music video, with nice split screen shots highlighting the life of the city of Atlanta and presenting the likely vibe we can expect from the show.
However, that is also the problem I have with the whole concept. The style fits well for a music video or a short trailer such as this one, but for a whole show? I think it’s a bit much. I have no doubt that the final product may look a little different, but I’m seriously hoping this is not the real deal. The trailer also doesn’t really show much about the characters or what the show is about. And at four minutes, that’s quite bad. Hopefully this is simply just a bit of a teaser to give a feel of the music and setting and an alternative trailer will be released helping us get to know a little bit more of the series.
Additionally, every episode of the 10-episode season is directed by Hiro Murai, the Tokyo-born music video director who has collaborated with the show’s star Donald Glover on several Childish Gambino (Glover’s hip-hop alias) music videos. Which unfortunately confirms my suspicions that this show may come across more like an extended music video rather than something that can hold your attention for an extended period of time.
However, maybe I’m just old and this type of show actually appeals to you. You can view the trailer below:
Atlanta is set to premiere its first two episodes on September 6, 2016.
Last Updated: September 6, 2016
