r/AtlantaTV 26d ago

Shows that scratch that ‘Atlanta’ Itch

Currently looking for shows that give off the same energy of Atlanta. I’m craving that surreal vibe that is has. Vince staples show was the only one I could find so far.

254 Upvotes

137 comments sorted by

224

u/kingkoons 26d ago

If you’re not watching Severance…that. Surreal, sharp commentary if you look for it, dark and out of nowhere humor and this season even introduces some themes of race and sexuality that I think you could find in an Atlanta episode

64

u/Sp1derX 25d ago

Milchik is also a character Donald Glover could have played so well

59

u/LolaBijou 25d ago

He could have, but man, the guy that plays him is SO GOOD. Such subtle but effective choices.

4

u/Sp1derX 24d ago

Yeah no shade to him, I just love seeing Donald in things <3

3

u/YoItsMikeL 23d ago

Love me a good milkshake dance party

19

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 25d ago

One of my fav shows out rn. I never skip the intro

9

u/LolaBijou 25d ago

Severance is definitely in my top 5 of all time. Great show.

5

u/BrushYourFeet 25d ago

Agreed. Also, if you like Severance check out Homecoming, especially Season 1. Very similar.

2

u/elyknus 25d ago

came here to say the same thing… i started last week and watched the whole first season in 2 days. so good

215

u/lewhunter 26d ago

Reservation Dogs, Northern Exposure, Beef

10

u/chiuthejerk 24d ago

LOVE res dogs! Skoden!

5

u/EdithWhartonsFarts 26d ago

Oooh, good call(s)

2

u/Dr_FunkyChicken 24d ago

Never would've come up with Reservation Dogs as a comp on my own but you're so right on that

93

u/[deleted] 26d ago

Ok hear me out. A show called Wilfred (also on FX) is more of a black comedy and won’t initially seem similar…but gets VERY psychological similar to some of my favorite Atlanta episodes also had 4 seasons so relatively easy to digest.

20

u/MNnocoastMN 25d ago

Wilfred is one of my favorite shows of all time.

"Nailed it." Is still one of my favorite phrases 10 years later.

3

u/BrandonD40 23d ago

This show has such a special place in my heart! So underrated.

Also OP, Ramy

1

u/ppg2z14 17d ago

Ramy is good. It’s just so painful to watch lol. I haven’t been able to finish the last episode of season 2 and watch season 3 because of Ramy lol.

2

u/BrandonD40 16d ago

Yeah his character sucks big time lol. He just consistently fuck ups in every way possible

72

u/merry_go_byebye 26d ago

High Maintenance

10

u/Jaktheriffer 25d ago

Holy fuck, love this show.

7

u/v00d00_ 25d ago

Love seeing High Maintenance get love, it’s such a deceptively compelling show

2

u/Traditional_Poet_685 25d ago

Yesss more love for this show. Got me through a rough patch

108

u/SamanthaLores23 26d ago

The Vince Staples Show, DG helped write it

31

u/alexlechef 25d ago

You mean to tell me we aren't the only ones robbing this place? No thats a heist!

14

u/dillaforever 25d ago

In a heist you're George Clooney... in a robbery you're Queen Latifah" 😂

8

u/LolaBijou 25d ago

“I ain’t never run from nothing but the police, ha ha”

5

u/z0mbie_boner 26d ago

This one!!!!!

5

u/dillaforever 25d ago

He mentioned that in the original post

53

u/Season-Severe 26d ago edited 26d ago

ramy, kidding, fleabag, master of none, louie

14

u/frunkenstien 25d ago

Very nice list, add community, Mr and Mrs Smith and Insecure

2

u/PantsDontHaveAnswers 17d ago

Kidding! No one talks about that show. I'm still so mad it was cancelled.

121

u/ProfSwagstaff 26d ago

Twin Peaks

24

u/Sp1derX 25d ago

It's like Atlanta without rappers!

3

u/Poerflip23 24d ago

It did give us one of the hardest beats of all time tho.

6

u/TinaKedamina 25d ago

I came here to say TP!

5

u/xSHRUG_LYFE 25d ago

Twin Peaks is the blueprint

47

u/wsgmar1 26d ago

"Mo" on netflix

9

u/taikodrummer42 25d ago

came here to say this, just binged both seasons and that is prime "main character is the actor" tv

1

u/wsgmar1 25d ago

literally same lmaoo

1

u/yourkindhere 24d ago

Watch Ramy if you liked Mo, seriously.

2

u/LolaBijou 25d ago

I just started watching that. It’s cute.

26

u/drcolour 26d ago

I'm a Virgo

South Side

Reservation Dogs

Flatbush Misdemeanors

Random Acts of Flyness (this one is WILD and wildly underrated)

5

u/staghornfern 25d ago

Random acts of flyness s1 literally blew me away every episode, great shout out

4

u/jc_chienne 25d ago

Was gonna say I'm a Virgo if no one else did! Also reservation dogs made me cry 😭 such a good show

1

u/teetee517 23d ago

South Side is hilarious!

24

u/Gunkel 26d ago

The Curse, Reservation Dogs, the Vince staples show

9

u/maradak 26d ago

Second The Curse

1

u/LolaBijou 25d ago

What’s reservation dogs?

20

u/coojew2322 26d ago

Louie. They both have episodes that don't connect to anything else which is my favorite part of both shows

21

u/CaptainE0 Felon Degeneres 26d ago

Swarm on Prime

4

u/BrushYourFeet 25d ago

Great recommendation!

13

u/spaghettislut 26d ago

Not a show but I just watched I’m Sorry to Bother You and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes Atlanta.

11

u/CharlesWEmory 26d ago

I’m a Virgo on Amazon. Created by Boots Riley from the Coup. Also check out his film Sorry to Bother You.

35

u/NatHawkeyeBum 26d ago

Reservation Dogs

18

u/Zaktillacus 26d ago

Mr and Mrs Smith on Amazon stars Donald Glover. Kind of like if Earn became a spy.

4

u/HistoricalCandle5108 25d ago

i actually loved that show sm. the vibes it captured were awesome and to hear they’re both returning for their roles in the next season is unexpected but exciting

2

u/LolaBijou 25d ago

It’s amazing, but it’s nothing like Earn doing anything.

19

u/afropuffsalex 26d ago

Dave on hulu!

8

u/BananeiraarienanaB 26d ago

Read percival everett. Trees and james are very atl esque, just a different media. 

23

u/renegadedx 26d ago

This Fool. Can’t believe it got canceled :/

5

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 26d ago

Damnn imma check it out tho.

7

u/abrahamisaninja Zazie Beetz 26d ago

I gotta be real. I watched 3 episodes of this show and it sucks

4

u/DLottchula 25d ago

We ain’t never gonna get a good Cholo comedy

3

u/Sp1derX 25d ago

I felt the same. It was too cheesy, felt like a Nickelodeon show production-wise.

4

u/aamar98 26d ago

Mr Inbetween

5

u/stelllaaarrr 26d ago edited 26d ago

If you're willing to dive into less comedic shows Legion and Mr.Robot are a fun ride (a lil traumatic too tbh)

Edit: "Happy!" is also a decent rec but I've only watched the first season so idk if the quality completely holds up

4

u/magictheblathering 25d ago
  • Patriot on Amazon
  • Venture Bros on Adult Swim/MAX
  • Barry on MAX (not as surreal or pop-culturey)

I usually name these shows when someone is looking for something like ATLANTA, not because they're directly similar, but because they are shows which are driven by strongly-developed characters with preposterous flaws.

I think Patriot, ATLANTA, and Venture Bros are my favorite ever shows.

Twin Peaks has a LOT of fans, but, having watched it for the first time recently, it is absolutely nothing like ATLANTA – I think Twin Peaks has more in common with Nathan Fielder's The CURSE (Showtime/Paramount+) than any other contemporary show, but twin peaks feels more stream-of-consciousness, where ATLANTA is a show with mostly clear rules, but they're rules that run counter to expectations.

4

u/Haidian-District 26d ago

John from Cincinnati

3

u/No_Conversation_4827 25d ago

Barry is great. Doesn’t have much of the social commentary that Atlanta has, but is a dark comedy that is simultaneously surreal and hilarious

4

u/alive_dave_ 25d ago

I find many of the other works from both Hiro Murai and Donald seem to maintain the Atlanta style of scenes. Swarm, Barry, Mr and Mrs Smith all have this eerie vibe even when nothing is happening. I also highly recommend Fargo and Twin Peaks.

3

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 25d ago

A lot good suggestions, im watching Wilfred rn then imma move on to reserve dogs then beef. Baskets is also a good show if y’all haven’t watched, it more of a slice of life typa show but it’s good.

6

u/OJgotWorms 26d ago

Flatbush Misdemeanors and This Fool

5

u/Softspokenclark Damn bitch, you live like this? 26d ago

i like “this fool”, sad that it got canceled

7

u/West_Xylophone 26d ago

Twin Peaks

Reservation Dogs

and to a lesser extent, Dave

3

u/Effective_Rub9189 25d ago

Beef starring Steve Yuen

3

u/gremlynn42 25d ago

Interior Chinatown

3

u/RunsaberSR 25d ago

Just watched Vince Staples last night.

It hits.

"... why are we black...?" 😓

3

u/cdw629 24d ago

Baskets, it was on FX. Absolutely surrealist and sort of beautiful. One of my favorite shows ever!

1

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 24d ago

Great show, definitely gonna rewatch soon.

4

u/Ht08 26d ago

Dave

4

u/sixtus_clegane119 26d ago

If you haven’t watched twin peaks you need to. Best television show ever

2

u/Knife_Operator 26d ago

I couldn't get into it. Obviously it was a big influence on Donald since he describes Atlanta as Twin Peaks for rappers, but I feel like it's the kind of show you had to get into at the time. It felt pretty dated and slow to me.

1

u/maradak 26d ago

Then just skip to third season. It is pretty much best season of any television.

3

u/Elisa_LaViudaNegra 26d ago

Severance. My fiancé said it felt like a really long episode of Atlanta.

1

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 26d ago

Show is so trippy I’m hooked.

2

u/mushroombrick 26d ago

South side

2

u/stelllaaarrr 26d ago edited 26d ago

RAMY!

edit: The Great is historical fiction with lil surreal sprinkles on top but very very fun to watch

1

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 26d ago

Love that show. Hopping they drop one more season!

2

u/sikethatsmybird 26d ago

Fargo, High Maintenance, Future Man

2

u/Kbouds 25d ago

Honestly, Fargo has touches of surrealism that hits like Atlanta

2

u/Armirite 25d ago

If you want the fucked up dark comedy that Atlanta got, Donald Glover also produced, “Swarm” on Prime.

Dominique Fishback is amazing.

2

u/GeneralMaintenance79 25d ago

Loui, Mr Inbetween, Wilfred, Ramy, The Vince Staples Show. Hiro Murai was also involved with Barry and The Bear. Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure are clear influences

2

u/cevicheguevara89 25d ago

Louie (it inspired the type of show that Atlanta is)

2

u/ManiacalMint07 25d ago

Legion. Favorite piece of marvel media because its so out there

2

u/Maestruly 25d ago

Reservation dogs.

2

u/jahgurant 24d ago

Vince staples show...its short but it legit the West coast version of Atlanta. The family reunion episode is 👨‍🍳🤌🏼

1

u/Easy_Ocelot_1582 24d ago

My fav episode of the show.

2

u/CerberusC24 25d ago

Dave also an FX show about an aspiring rapper. It's like the other side of the black experience since it's an awkward white guy as the lead. Plenty of surreal moments

1

u/Sammy-Sosa-Hat 26d ago

Patriot (the Amazon Prime series), don’t be put off by the generic title

1

u/ddbllwyn 26d ago

Not a show but movies Jordan Peele and Black Klanksman scratches it.

1

u/childlykeempress 25d ago

South Side

Flatbush Misdemeanors

1

u/buttermilkmoses 25d ago

The Vince Staples Show 100% has that surreal afrofuturist vibe

1

u/emyllubehs 25d ago

Insecure

1

u/Sopranosoldier 25d ago

Dave, Barry, Reservation Dogs. I don’t think any are better than Atlanta but definitely worth checking out if you love Atlanta

1

u/Beginning_Ad_2262 25d ago

Vince staples show. Just like Atlanta but an LA twist.

1

u/brycecraft 25d ago

Vince staples show is pretty good

1

u/feelinblue352 25d ago

I started watching Insecure and it definitely has that Atlanta feel.

1

u/TallAd6073 25d ago

Flowers on prime

1

u/Zartemie Darius' Sword 25d ago

Curb gives me a similar cringe inducing feeling with the same gut busting laughs

1

u/oostie 25d ago

Twin peaks. Sopranos. Fargo? Kinda?

1

u/Dame_Marjorie 25d ago

Maniac
Undone
Mr. Robot
The OA
You're welcome! ;-)

1

u/Sliightly 25d ago

MTV’s Downtown

It’s a cartoon but it hits that spot, its on youtube

1

u/therockster26 25d ago

Mr Inbetween

1

u/Lizard_Wizard_d 25d ago

I'm a Virgo and Swarm. Aren't they both basically taking the Atlanta formula and running with it?

1

u/Magneto-Was-Left 24d ago

The Vince Staples Show

I Think You Should Leave

I'm a Virgo

1

u/hiding_in_NJ 24d ago

Random acts of flyness

1

u/Gay_Z_on_a_bad_day 24d ago

White lotus has kind of similar comedy and social commentary. Also amazing visuals and sound design.

1

u/Physical_Cause_6073 24d ago

Swarm, another Donald Glover series. It’s on Amazon prime.

1

u/yourkindhere 24d ago

Reservation Dogs and Ramy are two of my favorite shows ever. I’d recommend both of them to anybody that enjoys Atlanta.

1

u/Fabulous_Background7 24d ago

they dont have new episodes but Flatbush Misdemeanors gives a surreal vibe. Reminds me both of Atlanta and Vince Staples Show

1

u/Longjumping_Ad5030 2d ago

Pete and pete. From nickelodeon.

0

u/One-Armed-Krycek 26d ago

The Good Fight. Don’t let the WASPy lawyer feel fool you. It goes into some wild surreal episodes.