S04:E09: Andrew Wyeth. Alfred's World

[PrincessPurrsALot]

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They always making Paper Boi go through something. 

Original air date 2022.11.03

[heatherchandler]

I did not like this at all.  I turned it off after he beat the hog to death.

[buttersister]

I ff through the hog attack. 

[Irlandesa]

Me too.  I kept fast forwarding until the phone conversation at the end.

[JenE4]

Al listened to Soulja Boy’s advice (“Like a good —-, safe farm is there.”) and got himself a safe farm. Turns out that the farm is less safe than the city. I liked that they had some foreshadowing with the disloyal tractor, the warnings about the hogs, the penguin falling off the cliff (but somehow surviving), the ignored phone, and of course Chekov’s Amazon-delivered cast-iron skillet. It was like a classic story arc, which we don’t always get with this show, with just everyday life on the farm (but planting those seeds of what was to come), building up to a joyous scene of Al having the time of his life on the tractor he fixed—then suddenly that rising action turns into a dramatic climax with a tragic event that how does Al survive. The denouement is Al just back to being his stoic self. You’d think he’d be like, oh, my god, Earn, call an ambulance for me or come out here and help me. But Al has always held his feelings tight. He’s all good—no need to worry about me, Earn—let’s just joke together like we always do. I thought that was interesting because usually a “story arc” ends with the protagonist changing in some way. But instead Al had a whole story arc of living a different life for a day and then almost doubling-down at the end that despite the trials and tribulations of farm life, Al is just Al. I almost feel like we’re being set up for the finale that Al is going to be okay all alone living life on his farm while Earn goes off to LA. 

The title is in reference to this painting, which if I had googled before watching would have also served as foreshadowing—Al re-enacting the painting dragging himself across the field trying to reach his farmhouse in the distance.

Edited November 4, 2022 by JenE4

[possibilities]

I saw all his problems coming, because Al clearly didn't know anything about rural life. So I liked it, because it was a send up of city people who show up in the country all arrogant, and not taking advice, and being reckless. 

There are dangers, life can be fragile. But everything that happened to Al was because he was ignorant and arrogant about it. It was all easily preventable.

I think it was his pride that kept him from admitting to Earn that anything was going on. So, whether he learned or not, he doesn't want to talk about it. 

[aghst]

So some other hip hop stars bought farms, this isn't something that Al came up with on his own or just to grow his own weed?

Seemed pretty boring but he had his big screen TV, surround sound and he probably made sure there was good service for his iPhone.  And Amazon delivered out there.

I can identify with his exultation after he finally got the tractor to start.  But I don't know, I think the gentleman farmer, the rich city guy who buys a farm for himself to "get back to basics" or "get real" has been done before.  Billions did that last season.

His confrontation with the feral hog is suppose to show the terror which lurks beneath the idyllic patina of farm life, I suppose -- with all the crops out in the open, why would the hog go after cannabis plants in a shed?  Either that or they're playing for the comic and the absurd, with Al going through his ordeals and then trying to play it off to Earn like everything is cool and he's loving it up there.

His ankle might have been mangled but he just put ice on it?

With only one episode left, this is where we end up, Earn, Van and Lottie are moving to LA, Al is at some farm but is about to book another tour and Darius?

[JenE4]

1 hour ago, possibilities said:

I saw all his problems coming, because Al clearly didn't know anything about rural life. So I liked it, because it was a send up of city people who show up in the country all arrogant, and not taking advice, and being reckless. 

There are dangers, life can be fragile. But everything that happened to Al was because he was ignorant and arrogant about it. It was all easily preventable.

I think it was his pride that kept him from admitting to Earn that anything was going on. So, whether he learned or not, he doesn't want to talk about it. 

I disagree about being Al arrogant and not listening to advice. The whole first half of the episode was Al seeking advice from the old guy at the hardware store and diligently following the YouTube videos to fix his tractor. The whole thing with the hog was because he listened to the guy at the hardware store about putting the “corn” out where the hog can see it and then shooting him. Al just didn’t catch him fast enough when it was attracted to the crop and he ran out with his semi-automatic weapon to shoot it as told. Al was asking can’t I just poison it? If the guy just sold Al some poison to begin with, he wouldn’t have ended up getting gored by the wild hog. He also listened to the YouTuber when he warned about the tractor falling when changing the oil, and rolled out from underneath it just in time. When the tire got too close to the edge it wasn’t because he wasn’t following directions. It was an accident as he just got caught up basking in the glory of getting that old tractor running and enjoying nature. 

[possibilities]

Al laughed at the idea that the hogs could be dangerous.

He also didn't have a secure shed for his plants.

He was driving recklessly and not paying attention.

If you actually live in a rural area, you could see his mistakes as though they had neon flashing lights all over them.

Initially he was lying under the tractor which was not properly stabilized. You can't just go into a job like that without getting the entire process in your mind beforehand, like it's nothing. It's dangerous and he was cavalierly forging ahead without preparation. He was nearly crushed in that moment, too, and yet he still didn't learn to be careful and that led to his accident.

He also didn't wear gloves or closed shoes or eye protection (or sunscreen-- even Earn knew about that).

He was simply not behaving sensibly at all on any level. 

What crops? The only thing Al grew was pot, and the hogs would go after it for the same reason anybody else would. Why wouldn't they? 

Poisoning is a terrible idea. First, it's super-cruel. 2nd, then you have poison on your property. You think that won't seep into the water table or get eaten by some other animal and kill things you don't want killed? 

Edited November 4, 2022 by possibilities

[AngieBee1]

Paper Boi is just like me. I could be in the middle of a dead sleep but if you call me I act like I am wide awake, just as bright as if it's the middle of the day. I could be bawling but that phone rings, I am clear-voiced - nothing is wrong, nothing has happened, I am good. You would never know. I don't give anything away. I'm a listener, I am a supportive friend, but I'm just not a share-r. 
 

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So some other hip hop stars bought farms, this isn't something that Al came up with on his own or just to grow his own weed?

The one I kept thinking of while watching this is Rick Ross. Rick has posted videos about keeping up his estate. I don't believe he uses it as a farm but he tills his own land. When he found out how much it would cost to professionally maintain his land he bought a tractor to do it himself. When he was quoted 1k a piece to cut down trees, he bought a heavy-duty chainsaw to do it himself. 

Waka Flocka Flame has a farm. He and his wife were trying to get a reality show off the ground about them leaving the city for farm life but I don't think it sold. 

Feral hogs are just ruthless. I have family in a tiny rural part of Texas and they talk about the calamity feral hogs brings, the deer who act like they own the roads and now are so gold to prance into your yards. The story of the woman being killed by feral hogs is true. Fatal attacks are rare, though, but they will attack.

The  music this season has been great. Sade,  Mystikal, The Dungeon Family. They played a song featuring Quavo from Migos (RIP Takoff). The opening scene with Al firing the gun reminded me of the S1 episode where Migos were in the RV in the woods selling to Darius and Paper Boi. Paper Boi has come a long way.

Al has found out that in fact, backhoes truly ain't loyal.

I think Al is trying to find his balance. He wants a peaceful life and for some reason he thinks that peace also includes not being readily available to his circle, but I think with this conversation with Earn he's going to realize that there is value in being present and available.

[Irlandesa]

I thought the episode was kind of boring but I also wondered if it was a play on the "big bad city" but reversed for farm life.

[xaxat]

Andrew Wyeth Christina's World