Teddy Perkins

Darius Epps (LaKeith Stanfield) answers a message board advertisement for a valuable piano owned by a famous musician named Benny Hope. This leads him to a mansion owned by a pale, idiosyncratic man with a mask-like face named Theodore "Teddy" Perkins (Donald Glover). Teddy exhibits strange and unsettling behavior during their conversations. He claims that Benny is his brother, whom he watches over. Teddy will not let Darius meet Benny, as he uses a wheelchair and has a skin condition that makes him extremely photosensitive.

After exploring some of the mansion, Darius calls Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry) who urges him to be direct and leave as soon as possible. Darius hypothesizes that the man he has been dealing with is actually Benny, and uses the persona of Teddy to cope with his dwindling career and physical condition. Teddy then shows Darius the mansion's gift shop and informs him that he is turning the mansion into a museum and historical site. Teddy also claims that he and Benny were physically abused by their father in his desire to make the two of them musical prodigies.

Darius is eventually granted the piano and attempts to leave via the elevator. A malfunction takes him to the mansion's basement where he encounters a man in a wheelchair, dark sunglasses and heavy bandages, presumed to be Benny (Derrick Haywood). Benny, unable to speak due to the bandages covering his face, warns Darius by writing on a small chalkboard that "Teddy [will] kill us both" and that he should retrieve a gun located in the attic. Darius, believing that Benny is actually Teddy in a disguise, ignores this and attempts to leave with the piano immediately. Reaching the porch, he discovers that Teddy is blocking the loading bay of Darius's rental truck with his car. Darius returns to the house to ask Teddy to move the vehicle.

For protection, Darius picks up a wrought-iron fireplace poker and locates Teddy upstairs by following the vague sound of light piano. He enters a large study and discovers Teddy, alone, watching a home movie of his father giving Benny a piano lesson. Darius, unnerved, asks for the restroom. Teddy mentions that the restroom is up the stairs further, near the attic, before revealing a large double-barreled shotgun.

Teddy holds Darius at gunpoint, and states that Darius will be his "sacrifice." He marches Darius down to the foyer and forces him to handcuff himself, and reveals his plan to kill Darius and stage the scene like a home invasion by an "obsessed" fan in order to increase interest in his planned museum. As Teddy sets down his shotgun, Darius unsuccessfully attempts to dissuade Teddy from following through with his plan by sympathizing with his past, revealing that he too had an abusive father.

Despite Darius' effort, Teddy prepares to go ahead with his plan. The elevator door opens. To both men's surprise, the injured Benny exits the elevator and enters the room, revealing that Teddy was telling the truth about Benny: he exists. Benny picks up Teddy's discarded shotgun as Teddy exclaims "Benny, you're alive." As Benny lifts the gun, a bloody wound can be seen on his abdomen, implying that Teddy may have attempted to kill his brother, and that his ultimate plan was to frame Darius for his murder.

Benny shoots Teddy dead before using the fireplace poker he takes from Darius to pull the trigger, shooting himself in the head. The police arrive and haul off the corpses, along with the piano as crime scene evidence as a visibly disturbed Darius drives away empty-handed in his U-Haul truck.

{{Infobox character

| name = Teddy Perkins

| series = Atlanta

| image =

| caption =

| first_minor = Teddy Perkins

| first_major = Atlanta

| first_date = April 5, 2018

| last_major = {{no italic|70th Primetime Emmy Awards}}

| last_date = September 18, 2018

| creator = {{plainlist|

• Donald Glover
• Hiro Murai

}}

| portrayer = {{plainlist|

• Donald Glover {{small|(uncredited)}}
• Unknown actor {{small|(Emmy Awards)}}

}}

| full_name = Theodore Perkins

| nickname = Teddy

| occupation = Caregiver

| nationality = African-American (bleached)

| family = Benny Hope (brother)
Unnamed father

}}

File:Donald Glover TIFF 2015.jpg played Teddy Perkins in prosthetics.|alt=A closeup of a man smiling in front of a poster. He has a beard and black hair.]]

The titular Teddy Perkins was portrayed by series star Donald Glover, who performed the role in whiteface. In addition to Glover's starring credit, the end credits list "Teddy Perkins as himself".{{cite news|last1=McHenry|first1=Jackson|last2=Lockett|first2=Dee|title=Yes, That Was Donald Glover in Whiteface Creeping Everyone Out on Atlanta|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/atlanta-teddy-perkins-episode-donald-glover-in-whiteface.html|accessdate=April 17, 2018|work=Vulture|date=April 6, 2018}} Teddy's brother, Benny Hope, was played by Derrick Haywood, who had previously played a small role as a bartender in the first season of Atlanta. Haywood called playing the character "an amazing experience".{{cite news|last1=Lockett|first1=Dee|title=What It Was Like Filming Atlanta{{'}}s 'Teddy Perkins' While Donald Glover Stayed in Terrifying Character on Set|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/atlanta-donald-glover-teddy-perkins-backstory.html|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Vulture|date=April 6, 2018}} Haywood received a similar makeup and prosthetic treatment as Glover for the character, as the two were supposed to be brothers with the same skin condition.{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Desire|title=Donald Glover Remained In 'Teddy Perkins' Whiteface Character On 'Atlanta' Set|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/04/donald-glover-teddy-perkins-whiteface-atlanta-set/|accessdate=April 18, 2018|work=Vibe|date=April 9, 2018}}

In an episode which deviated from the typical comedic structure of Atlanta,{{cite news|last1=Benutty|first1=John|title=Emmy spotlight: Lakeith Stanfield delivers 'brilliant' performance in 'Atlanta' horror story 'Teddy Perkins'|url=http://www.goldderby.com/article/2018/emmy-spotlight-lakeith-stanfield-atlanta-teddy-perkins-news-135792086/|accessdate=April 17, 2018|work=Gold Derby|date=April 16, 2018}} Glover stayed in whiteface throughout the entire filming.{{cite news|last1=Arcand|first1=Rob|title=Donald Glover Stayed in Whiteface Throughout the Entire Filming of Atlanta{{'}}s Eerie "Teddy Perkins" Episode|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/04/donald-glover-atlanta-whiteface-teddy-perkins/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=SPIN|date=April 7, 2018}} The crew referred to Glover as "Teddy" on-set, and Haywood did not know of Glover's true identity, saying that there was "no Donald on set whatsoever".{{cite news|last1=Hooton|first1=Christopher|title=Atlanta: Donald Glover stayed in character as Teddy Perkins night and day: 'There was no Donald on set whatsoever'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/atlanta-season-2-donald-glover-teddy-perkins-stayed-character-episode-6-darius-lakeith-stanfield-a8295726.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/atlanta-season-2-donald-glover-teddy-perkins-stayed-character-episode-6-darius-lakeith-stanfield-a8295726.html |archive-date=2022-05-26 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=The Independent|date=April 9, 2018}} Some outlets compared the titular Teddy Perkins character to Michael Jackson.{{cite news|last1=Lockett|first1=Dee|last2=Heller|first2=Chris|last3=Bastién|first3=Angelica Jade|title=Every Major Pop-Culture Reference in Atlanta's 'Teddy Perkins'|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/atlanta-teddy-perkins-easter-eggs.html|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Vulture|date=April 9, 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Nguyen|first1=Hanh|title='Atlanta' Review: 'Teddy Perkins' Is More Nightmarish Than 'Get Out,' and We Still Haven't Recovered|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/atlanta-teddy-perkins-review-season-2-episode-6-recap-spoilers-theories-1201949701/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=IndieWire|date=April 6, 2018}} Atlanta writer Stefani Robinson commented that while it was "undeniable that there are references to Michael Jackson and the idea of someone changing themselves within the industry", she saw the parallels as "more of a symbolic reference to the industry maybe and what you do for greatness, or what one will do to be perceived as great".{{cite news|last1=Nguyen|first1=Hanh|title='Atlanta' Writer on Paper Boi's Heartbreaking Loss, 'Teddy Perkins,' and Life After 'Deadpool'|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/atlanta-season-2-episode-8-woods-teddy-perkins-stefani-robinson-1201955350/|accessdate=April 22, 2018|work=IndieWire|date=April 20, 2018}}

Director Hiro Murai said that looking into Glover's face when he played the role was "like looking into a doll's face", and called it "uncanny and unsettling". He recalled a "general sense of unease on set because the cast and crew didn't know how to behave around him". Murai and cinematographer Christian Sprenger were influenced by the work of Stanley Kubrick, particularly The Shining, when creating the episode.{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Leigh-Ann|title=Dream Logic: Hiro Murai on the Look of 'Atlanta'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/arts/television/atlanta-director-hiro-murai-donald-glover.html|accessdate=May 19, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=May 9, 2018}}

In its initial airing on FX, "Teddy Perkins" aired commercial-free. It ran as an "extended" episode, at around 41 minutes.{{cite news|last1=Davenport|first1=Khris|title=The Real Meaning Behind the Frightening "Teddy Perkins" Episode of 'Atlanta'|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2018/04/the-real-meaning-behind-atlanta-teddy-perkins-episode|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Complex|date=April 7, 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Wicks|first1=Amanda|title=Donald Glover Stayed in Character as Teddy Perkins on "Atlanta" Set|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/donald-glover-stayed-in-character-as-teddy-perkins-on-atlanta-set/|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Pitchfork|date=April 7, 2018}} Collider said that the decision to run the episode commercial-free aided the episode's message of "being trapped", a theme also explored in other episodes of Atlanta{{'}}s second season.{{cite news|last1=Keene|first1=Allison|title=How 'Atlanta: Robbin Season' Has Become a Terrifying House of Horrors|url=http://collider.com/atlanta-season-2-horror/#images|accessdate=April 22, 2018|work=Collider|date=April 20, 2018}} The pre-release description for the episode read, "Darius is trippin in this one. Y'all know I woulda been left."{{cite news|last1=Kim|first1=Michelle|title="Atlanta"'s New 41-Minute Episode to Air Without Commercials|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/atlantas-new-41-minute-episode-to-air-without-commercials/|accessdate=April 22, 2018|work=Pitchfork|date=April 5, 2018}} The episode was shot at a real mansion in a suburb of Atlanta. "Evil" by Stevie Wonder plays over the episode's end credits,{{cite news|last1=Bastién|first1=Angelica Jade|title=Let's Talk About the Ending of Atlanta{{'}}s 'Teddy Perkins'|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/atlantas-teddy-perkins-ending.html|accessdate=April 18, 2018|work=Vulture|date=April 6, 2018}} and Wonder's music is also used to open the episode,{{cite news|last1=Seitz|first1=Matt|title=The Many Layers of Atlanta{{'}}s 'Teddy Perkins'|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/atlanta-teddy-perkins-analyzing-its-many-layers.html|accessdate=April 17, 2018|work=Vulture|date=April 6, 2018}} in addition to being referenced by characters in the episode. Glover had to personally request clearance from Wonder as he did not want his music accompanying violence.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/video/atlanta-donald-glover-stevie-wonder-music-supervisor-clearance/ |title=How Donald Glover Picked the Perfect Tracks For 'Atlanta's' Infamous 'Teddy Perkins' Episode |work=Variety |date=August 23, 2018 |accessdate=September 16, 2018}}

"Teddy Perkins" was lauded by critics, and is considered one of the most innovative episodes in Atlanta{{'}}s short history.{{cite news|last1=Bowen|first1=Sesali|title=Indie Filmmaker Thinks "Teddy Perkins" Atlanta Episode Was "Ripped" From His Film|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/04/196275/atlanta-teddy-perkins-episode-movie-plagiarism-controversy|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Refinery29|date=April 14, 2018}} Dee Lockett of Vulture said that "Teddy Perkins" will "likely go down as one of the wildest episodes of Atlanta – and television, in general – to ever air". Jim Poe of Junkee called it "the best piece of television that's aired this year". Complex{{'}}s Khris Davenport compared the episode's dark and unnerving tone to the social thriller film Get Out, as did Vulture and IndieWire. Brian Richards of Pajiba said that his "stomach tied itself into every imaginable knot" while watching the episode.{{cite news|last1=Richards|first1=Brian|title=With 'Teddy Perkins,' 'Atlanta' Delivers The Most Unsettling, WTF Television Episode of 2018|url=http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/who-played-teddy-perkins-in-atlanta-.php|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=Pajiba|date=April 9, 2018}} Uproxx called the episode a "horrific acid trip" that "brings the idea of destroyed heroes to a grizzly conclusion",{{cite news|last1=Dennis, Jr.|first1=David|title=The Second Season Of 'Atlanta' Has Been A Chilling Tour Of Broken-Down Heroes|url=https://uproxx.com/tv/atlanta-season-2-broken-heroes-donald-glover-teddy-perkins-katt-williams/2/|accessdate=April 17, 2018|work=Uproxx|date=April 12, 2018}} also calling it an "incredible episode of television".{{cite news|last1=Sepinwall|first1=Alan|title='Atlanta' Went Twisted, Incredible Horror Movie With 'Teddy Perkins'|url=https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/atlanta-recap-teddy-perkins-review-spoilers/|accessdate=April 18, 2018|work=Uproxx|date=April 9, 2018}} Gold Derby offered high praise for Lakeith Stanfield's performance, particularly praising the "freedom" the episode allowed Stanfield to show his range.

The character of Teddy Perkins, and Glover's portrayal of him, was praised by critics. Junkee wrote that "Glover's frighteningly inhuman make-up is an eerie metaphor for the destructive effects of American racism". The Huffington Post called him a "tormented, broken man".{{cite news|last1=Craven|first1=Julia|last2=Finley|first2=Taryn|title='Atlanta' Shows The Horror Of Black Childhood Trauma|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/atlanta-season-2-episode-6_us_5ac7a49ee4b0337ad1e7b6c8|accessdate=April 18, 2018|work=The Huffington Post|date=April 7, 2018}} Director Steven Soderbergh called the episode the "most beautifully photographed half hour of TV" he had ever seen, adding that it was "COMPLETELY BANANAS".{{cite news|last1=Coscarelli|first1=Joe|title=Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and the Other Cultural Allusions in the Creepiest 'Atlanta' Episode Yet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/arts/television/atlanta-teddy-perkins-pop-culture-references.html|accessdate=April 18, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=April 6, 2018}} The A.V. Club said that Atlanta has "never felt more dangerous" than in "Teddy Perkins".{{cite news|last1=Alston|first1=Joshua|title=With Darius behind the wheel, Atlanta becomes an American horror story|url=https://www.avclub.com/with-darius-behind-the-wheel-atlanta-becomes-an-americ-1825040413|access-date=April 18, 2018|website=The A.V. Club|date=April 6, 2018}} The New York Times praised the episode's deconstruction of classic horror movie tropes,{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Leigh-Ann|title='Atlanta' Season 2, Episode 6: Whatever Happened to Teddy Perkins?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/arts/television/atlanta-season-2-episode-6-recap.html|accessdate=April 18, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=April 6, 2018}} while Junkee lauded it as a "self-contained psychological horror flick", noting themes of child abuse and toxic masculinity.{{cite web|url=https://junkee.com/teddy-perkins-atlanta/158771|title=Let's Talk About The 'Atlanta' Episode That Will Go Down As 2018's Best Piece Of TV|work=Junkee|last=Poe|first=Jim|date=May 17, 2018|accessdate=September 7, 2018}} IndieWire said that the episode "might have been the most horrific Atlanta episode to date", and said that the "sense of complacency and safety" from the previous week's more humorous "Barbershop" was "torn away". It also called the soft-boiled ostrich egg scene "perhaps one of the most disturbing sequences in the entire series".

"Teddy Perkins" was ranked #1 on Time{{'}}s list of the "Top 10 Best TV Episodes of 2018".{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5463609/best-tv-episodes-2018/|title=The 10 Best TV Episodes of 2018|magazine=Time|last=Berman|first=Judy|date=December 10, 2018|access-date=December 11, 2018}} "Teddy Perkins" was also on The Washington Post's list of "The 10 Best TV Episodes of 2018".{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/the-10-best-tv-episodes-of-2018-from-atlanta-to-this-is-us/2018/12/04/455d2688-e453-11e8-b759-3d88a5ce9e19_story.html|title=The 10 best TV episodes of 2018, from 'Atlanta' to 'This Is Us' |first=Bethonie |last=Butler|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-12-25}} In 2024, Rolling Stone listed it as the 10th best TV episode of all time.{{Cite web |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |date=September 2, 2024 |title=The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-tv-episodes-of-all-time-1235090945/atlanta-teddy-perkins-season-2-episode-6-1235091436/ |access-date=September 5, 2024 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

The episode received 0.776 million viewers in its initial airing, with a 0.4 rating in the 18–49 demographic.{{cite news|last1=Welch|first1=Alex|title=Thursday cable ratings: 'Jersey Shore Family Vacation' dominates, 'Swamp People' ticks up|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-cable-ratings-april-5-2018/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407004713/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-cable-ratings-april-5-2018/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2018|accessdate=April 16, 2018|work=TV by the Numbers|date=April 6, 2018}} With DVR viewership, the ratings increased to 1.77 million viewers.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-for-april-2-8-2018/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419224450/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/cable-live-7-ratings-for-april-2-8-2018/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2018|title='Fixer Upper' finale goes out strong: Cable Live +7 ratings for April 2–8|work=TV by the Numbers|first=Rick|last=Porter|date=April 19, 2018|accessdate=April 22, 2018}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb episode|7629358}}

{{Atlanta (TV series)}}

Category:2018 American television episodes

Category:Atlanta (TV series) episodes

Category:Television episodes directed by Hiro Murai

Category:Television episodes written by Donald Glover