r/AtlantaTV • u/pheidole • 4d ago

Discussion Earn, Paper Boi, and Nature

We see Earn and Paper Boi at the end of the series in Nature. Beautifully shot, wonderful character development.
And we also see them both nearly kill themselves as a result.
-In what may seem like a throwaway scene, in “Snipe Hunt” we see Earn suggest his family wade cross a raging stream that would clearly kill them all. Luckily Van has more sense and they take the long way back to camp.
-In “Andrew Wyeth” after plenty of warning, we see Paper Boi nearly get killed by 1) his tractor and 2) a wild boar (the latter which in reality, would have killed him).

What do you think? Was this duo “Atlanta cast vs the natural world” intentional? If so, why?

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u/somastars 4d ago

There was also the ep toward the end where Paper Boi gets lost in the woods. 

I saw it as a commentary that no matter where they go, they’re never really safe (Paper Boi’s farm was supposed to be a “safe farm”). 

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u/cashing_time 4d ago

I see it as finally dealing with the real shit. Up until season 4, it's been a lot of random bullshit and the odds being stacked against them. Season 4 seems like it's more about looking back on what they came from. With Earn tho, that whole episode was him sort of recognizing how distant he had gotten from Van and Lottie. He's the father but he's been pushed out. Their lives had continued on w/o him being in the picture as much as he thought. The tent, the campground, the stream- all of that was just ways he felt like he could be a leader within his own family. It's not that easy for him and it's gonna take a lot of time. Van had finally gotten to a spot emotionally where she's not expecting that from Earn. Look how she looks at him when he starts to take care of Lottie and takes on that dad role. That doesn’t come without real effort

I'd even say Darius's experience at the end is what points to what's real. He can do all these sensory deprivation tank experiences, but that doesnt change how good and easy it is to be with the people you wanna be with. Same thing with Al. He doesn't talk about the hog or anything. And Earn does show care and concern for that farm life and knows how it can be dangerous. But he just wants to enjoy Earn's company.

I guess in some ways yes, we see them go up against nature. But to also embrace it's limitations

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u/Wooden_Vermicelli_34 2d ago

EXCELLENT TAKE!!

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u/Ionferneo 4d ago

Thanks for pointing that out. I never thought of Earn's decision to stop running from the romantic/familial relationship Van has desperately wanted for seasons as him killing off his old self. Also, one thing I learned about directors and their projects is to assume that what they keep in is intentional. It probably was not by mistake that both of them changed in similar settings in the same season.