Atlanta Season 4 Episode 6 Review: Crank Dat Killer
Atlanta Season 4 Episode 6, “Crank Dat Killer,” takes us down the path of conspiracy theories, serial killers, and coveted black market sneakers. It’s one of the show’s strongest outings.
“Crank Dat Killer” hearkens back to the days when “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” dominated the airwaves and spawned countless YouTube videos of folks dancing to it. Atlanta‘s finesse regarding pop culture commentary is second to none, and this episode is no exception.
ALFRED: ‘Cause I ain’t no hipster living with his sister’s girlfriend’s cousin picking boysenberries or some sh*t.
As usual, the outing starts with a simple premise, then the narrative snowballs from there as our leads are thrust headfirst into unexpected, breakneck-pace territory. Alfred embarks on a frenzied journey with Brian Tyree Henry knocking it out of the park.
“Crank Dat Killer” deftly addresses America’s obsession with firearms and gun laws as Alfred finds himself the target of a killer. As the man starts firing at Alfred, a handful of other mall patrons whip out their guns, sending bullets flying in the perpetrator’s direction. It brings to mind the conversation surrounding open carry laws and how Americans keep their weapons close to their chests.
The writers craft a tense, thrilling five minutes as Alfred weaves in and out of danger, trying desperately to avoid getting shot. Henry, as always, embodies that fear and anxiety, immersing us in Alfred’s world at that moment.
DARIUS: He is but a man with many shoes. The neighborhood knows him as Shoe Man. So, he’s kind of like Sock Man, except for shoes.
Atlanta expertly balances comedy and drama, sprinkling in moments of levity amid the chaos. So, while the button on Alfred’s traumatic mall trip comes as no surprise, it’s hilarious all the same. After politely avoiding a fellow rapper, Some Guy Named Doug, Alfred now finds SGND is his savior. Thus, he repays his hero by recording a song with him. Henry portrays Alfred’s reaction to Doug’s request perfectly. It’s hysterical.
Meanwhile, Earn and Darius partake in a far less risky trip that seamlessly ties in with Alfred’s adventure. They visit the Shoe Man for rare (and expensive) sneakers. (The Sock Man is a real thing, by the way — look it up.) However, Shoe Man doesn’t want monetary payment but compensation of a different kind. He wants Earn and Darius to kiss.
We’re not talking about a quick peck on the lips: the man wants them to kiss for eight minutes. Watching Earn and Darius try to negotiate with Shoe Man regarding how long they must smooch for these shoes is delightful. It’s not even in an “Ew, kissing dudes is gross” way. Earn and Darius are simply two good friends who don’t want to kiss each other for sneakers.
EARN: I’ll kiss you if you want for these sneakers, but I think we’re above this. I think you know I’m right.
That said, Darius seems more into it than Earn, and I wouldn’t say no to Atlanta giving Darius a boyfriend before we bid farewell to this crew. LaKeith Stanfield and Donald Glover hit those comedic beats like the pros they are. Shoe Man’s surprising demise linking with Alfred’s terrifying ordeal without any of our leads knowing is such a fun storytelling angle.
Overall, “Crank Dat Killer” is a solid addition to the Atlanta canon, blessing us with a narrative that shines a light on most of our main characters. The plot goes from zero to 100 in minutes and doesn’t let its foot off the gas, with strong performances from the cast and moments of hilarity to keep us laughing.
It’s nice to see everyone together. We need another episode with the guys plus Van to appease the viewer gods. After all, it is the final season.
Stray Observations:
- If you look closely during the scene when Alfred finishes recording a track, you’ll see Solar Opposites playing in the background, which is another Hulu series.
- Darius and Earn laughing at the beginning of the episode is enough to cure sickness, famine, and poverty globally.
- Do you think Pug from She-Hulk would be jealous of Shoe Man’s extensive sneaker collection?
- The Soulja Boy cameo is a nice touch. Here’s hoping he fled safely to his farm and evaded the Crank Dat Killer’s murderous ways.
- The mermaid discourse on Alfred’s Twitter feed must be a nod to those bigoted masses who claim Halle Bailey can’t play Ariel because she isn’t white. Hats off to Atlanta for including that subtle detail.
- Love the mention of Lipstick Alley!
What did you think of this episode of Atlanta? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Atlanta airs Thursdays at 10/9c on FX, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.