Tarrare (Atlanta)
The series is set in Atlanta and follows Earnest "Earn" Marks, as he tries to redeem himself in the eyes of his ex-girlfriend Van, who is also the mother of their daughter Lottie; as well as his parents and his cousin Alfred, who raps under the stage name "Paper Boi"; and Darius, Alfred's eccentric right-hand man.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.152 million household viewers and gained a 0.1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
However, some were critical of the decision to not include the rest of the characters, as well as relegating Earn to a post credits scene, feeling it did not work as a season finale.
They then go to a housing project, where Van plans to pick up a package but discovers that it is missing, deducing that a person named Emilio was responsible.
Van states that Tarrare is "the man who ate the baby.” However, the gang leaves when they see a nearby fight, allowing the girls to flee.
Near the Seine, Van talks with Candice, expressing how she felt lost for a while and even deems herself a bad mother to Lottie.
Earn leaves the room while the camera zooms in on the portrait, revealing a white man (Tobias Segal, previously seen in "Three Slaps" and "The Big Payback").
In April 2022, FX announced that the tenth episode of the season would be titled "Tarrare" and that it would be written by executive producer Stefani Robinson and directed by series creator and main actor Donald Glover.
"[3] The episode is titled after Tarrare, a French showman and soldier, noted for his unusual appetite and eating habits.
Club offered an analysis on the episode, "The symbolism of Tarrare, that cannibalistic friend of sex workers and thieves, works overtime.
Van has herself been hanging around a gang of people who are both ripe for exploitation (and being eaten alive) and have access to more money than they probably should, including a friend who does sex work.
"[2] The post-credits scene bring back "Earn" (Tobias Segal), who appeared in "Three Slaps" and "The Big Payback".
"[7] Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone wrote, "'Tarrare' is not just a hilarious closing note for Season Three, but a conclusion of the closest thing we've had to an ongoing story arc.
"[13] Jordan Taliha McDonald of Vulture gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "My primary regret is that this season did not allow us more time for Van's discovery of the artistry within her.
"[9] Israel Daramola of The Ringer wrote, "For however mixed and jumbled its messaging and attempts at controversy may have been, there's still enough that makes Atlanta appointment television.
Whatever story line the show claimed to be starting from back in Season 1, it has since transitioned into fully visualizing the id of its creative mastermind and his collaborators.
"[14] Deshawn Thomas /Film wrote, "While there were plenty of funny and well-executed moments, and I enjoyed multiple episodes despite what I felt were some questionable and disappointing elements and choices, I feel this finale was a fitting end to a season that was equal parts entertaining and uneven in terms of execution and intent.
"[15] Kyndall Cunningham of The Daily Beast wrote, "While tonight's finale felt like a strange way to close out the season, it's a relief to end on a well-done, compelling piece of work re-centering the show's central players, regardless of whether it makes sense.
She showed us a shockingly different side of Van as Earn's normally soft-spoken ex took center stage for once, leading her friends on a wild Parisian adventure before coming clean and revealing the deep pain she’s been masking.
