Man, I don't think Atlanta series jumped the shark, but it sure was jumping some guppies at least. When Darius picked up Van from the airport and she showed no emotion and he didn't either from seeing one another, I was like "this season is about fulfilling their contracts".....lol.You're welcome. Let us know what you think about season 4 if you do indeed go that route. Yeah - I think with that LONG break of nearly 4 years ... when season 3 aired and didn't have that connective tissue ... many people were trying to process the direction the series had taken. So when word about the quick turnaround until season 4's arrival was in place ... people weren't sure what to expect. More of season 3 ... or back to seasons 1 & 2 and what got fans and critics on board in the first place. If Atlanta season 4 had been a continuation of S3 ... fans might have told potential viewers later down the line - "I enjoyed seasons 1 and 2 ... but seasons 3 and 4 felt like a different show".
It's like my dad says in regards to other series. There's sort of that "sweet spot" for shows. Where they have enough time to tell a story and character develop ... but not overly long wherein they might "jump the shark" with plot lines and whatnot.
Or when a limited series is only expected to air 1 season, and is brought back. One hopes they aren't milking a show, and instead giving you more of the same and developing the series further. Tying up loose ends or expanding on ideas they didn't have enough time in S1.