When IndieWire named the 20 best directed television dramas of the 21st century, Steven Soderbergh’s Cinemax series “The Knick” ranked in the #3 position. Suffice to say, Soderbergh knows a thing or two about masterful TV direction, so consider his latest tweet about Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” to be extremely high praise indeed.
Soderbergh took to his Twitter page following the April 5 episode the FX series, entitled “Teddy Perkins,” to praise the series with a bold affirmation. The half hour has been praised by critics as one of the series best, with IndieWire’s own Hanh Nguyen giving it a perfect A grade in her review, and Soderbergh agrees with the acclaim.
“Tonight’s episode of ‘Atlanta’ is the most beautifully photographed half hour of TV I’ve ever seen,” Soderbergh wrote. “In addition to being completely bananas.”
The episode centered exclusively on Lakeith Stansfield’s Darius, who visited an old mansion to buy a piano from a peculiar man named Theodore “Teddy” Perkins, played by Donald Glover wearing what can only be described as a white-face mask. The episode took “Atlanta” firmly into the horror genre and then some. Show regular Hiro Murai directed the half hour.
“Atlanta” Season 2 airs Thursday nights at 10pm ET on FX. Soderbergh’s latest release, “Unsane,” is now playing in theaters.
Tonight’s episode of ATLANTA is the most beautifully photographed half hour of TV I’ve ever seen. In addition to being COMPLETELY BANANAS.
— Bitchuation (@Bitchuation) April 6, 2018