<>“Atlanta.” “Fauda.”

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“Atlanta.” Hulu. Comedy-drama. 4 Seasons. We all agree, this is Donald Glover’s transition project, and the series also “made” Lakeith Stanfield and Brian Tyree Henry. And, especially, my new favorite, Zazie Beets. The popular series, which earned quite a number of Golden Globes and Emmys, centers on college dropout and music manager Earn and his rapper-cousin Paper Boi and buddy Darius. 



       What sets the show apart from other black efforts is it isn’t blackcentric in your face, kinda. And the way Glover delivers his message cuts though you like a tiny, insistent razor blade and then you end up laughing. This is not hysterical Eddie Murphy, or a philosophizing Spike Lee joint. This is just Atlanta, black neighborhood life. Sometimes we don’t need to politicize life. 

       But then, wait. Season 3, which took us to Europe, slowly lost its accessible down-earth cred to a dark, surreal paradigm that cuts through arthouse pretensions to Eurocentric ersatz. Lost me. Season 4, while on a homecoming jaunt, turned political moralizing classroom lecture. Where were the fun, easy slap and rough-textured straight forwardness of Season 1 and 2? Ah. But again, Zazie Beetz, I love you! 📽🎞🎥


“Fauda.” Netflix. 4 Seasons. Israeli action-drama. Politically, you may have a few criticisms here and there. But I don’t really view this terrorism-thriller as a political movie, especially in the light of Israel/Palestine tempest or Middle East sociocultural complexities. Just an actioner, that’s all. It is also interesting to watch Israel’s military officers in normal street/casual clothes unlike what we are used to in re America’s FBI etcetera where authorities are on well-groomed coat and tie.



       “Fauda” develops from the real-life experiences of Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff who used to serve with the Israel Defense Forces. The series centers on Doron (Raz), a commander in an anti-terrorist Mista'arvim unit. The story delves on the Israel–Gaza conflict, the Hamas, and other related issues. The characters are portrayed more as conventional friends than war-scarred soldiers. Humanity is squeezed out of their professional wickedness, emotional vulnerability surfaces out of their blood-soaked gutters.   

       Trivia: Lead actor Lior Raz used to work as personal bodyguard of someone named Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger. 📹📺📹


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