Ep 9. North of the Border

Two cousins, Earn and Alfred, traveled to a foreign land for a musical performance that could give them the breakthrough they needed for their careers. In North of the Border, the ninth episode of Atlanta's second season, the two rappers entered the world of touring, experiencing the highs and lows of this industry.

The episode opened with Alfred, aka Paper Boi, being shown around his luxurious hotel room, complete with gold-plated fixtures and a stunning view of the city. Despite Earn's exasperated attempts to get him to go to soundcheck, Alfred laid in bed, lounging in the luxury and procrastinating. However, after Earn cajoled him and reminded him of the stakes of the concert, Alfred finally got up and headed to the stadium.

Once at the concert, the two cousins immersed themselves in the world of touring and preparing to perform. Their visit to Canada was marked by diverse experiences, some good and others not-so-great. The duo often complained about the weather, the foreignness of the place, and many other things that had never crossed their minds when they lived in Atlanta.

As the episode progressed, viewers were given a glimpse of the backstage area, transportation vehicles, and other intricacies of the tour, highlighting the hustle and bustle of the touring industry. The focus was more on the details than the overarching plot, making the episode feel much more like a series of character-driven vignettes than a cohesive whole.

Nonetheless, the episode's pacing remained consistent throughout, with well-timed and laid-out moments for dramatic effect. At one point in the episode, the concert was threatened by an unlikely challenger who promised to upstage Paper Boi. The episode's climax then follows as the scene steamrolls along to its inevitable conclusion.

Finally, after their performance, the cousins took a moment to reflect on their journey. Atlanta's North of the Border is a less structured episode than previous entries but is still a vibrant showcase of the show's versatility. The episode's thematic overlay of passion and pride alongside the anxieties and hardships of performing artist is well executed.