The Teddy Perkins episode of Atlanta is one of the most talked-about episodes of the show. This episode, written and directed by Donald Glover, explores the themes of isolation, race, and identity through the character of Teddy Perkins, a reclusive musician who lives in a large mansion.
Directed by Hiro Murai, the episode begins with Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) receiving a message from a mysterious person named Teddy Perkins, inviting him to his mansion to pick up a piano. When Darius arrives at the mansion, he encounters Theodore Perkins (played by Glover), a pale and eerie figure who wears whiteface makeup and a wig. Perkins is reclusive and speaks in a soft, whispery voice, making Darius feel uneasy.
As the episode progresses, Darius learns more about Teddy and his troubled past. Perkins reveals that he and his brother Benny were abused by their father, who was obsessed with their musical talent. Left traumatized and alone, Perkins has been living in isolation ever since, working on his music and obsessing over his brother's legacy.
This story might be starting to sound familiar. It's widely accepted that Season 2 Episode 6 is a haunting exploration of identity and the lasting effects of trauma through the lens of none other than superstar Michael Jackson. But to reach this conclusion, it helps to have an understanding of the young performer's upbringing.
Teddy reveals a mannequin representing his father, who he recounts forced him and his siblings into up to six hours of piano practice a day. Joe Jackson is even name-dropped in the same scene in reference to his exploitative and abusive character that young Michael took the brunt of.
Michael went on record to recount the beating he received from his father, who often referred to him as "big nose." He recounts that he and his siblings hated and feared their father so much they would go as far as picturing him in a coffin or fainting in his presence.
Perkins, who is listed as playing himself in the end credits, is a character deeply conflicted about his race and relationship to his father, who seems to idolize. He wears whiteface makeup and a wig to hide his own identity, but he also obsesses over his brother's blackness and his own lack of it. Perkins is a character trapped by his own trauma and unable to move past it.
The episode ultimately ends in murder-suicide and a powerful exploration of the human psyche when Benny appears from within the elevator and shoots both Teddy and himself with a shotgun. It's a deeply unsettling and disturbing episode that leaves a lasting impression on viewers, from Darius' outfitting reflecting that of Paul Sheldon in Misery. Glover's performance as Perkins is masterful, and the episode is a testament to his cultural and writing prowess.
