The Big Payback (Atlanta)

"The Big Payback" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American comedy-drama television series Atlanta. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Francesca Sloane, and directed by executive producer Hiro Murai. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on April 7, 2022.

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 his 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. For the season, the characters find themselves in Europe in the middle of a concert tour. The episode focuses on a dream being had by Earn of a man named Marshall Johnson, portrayed by Justin Bartha, whose life changes when a woman sues him for reparations for slavery. None of the main cast appears in the episode, with Bartha serving as the protagonist of the episode.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.260 million household viewers and gained a 0.1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Bartha's and Tobias Segal's performances and the writing, directing and social commentary, although some were divided on the execution of the subject matter, as well as the seemingly standalone nature of the episode.