Review: 'Lovecraft Country' Creates a Fantastic Universe Centered on the Black Experience in America

Three years in the planning and four years after the Matt Ruff novel was published, "Lovecraft Country" finally debuts on HBO. Clearly, the time was well spent in creating a fantastic universe that is still centered on the Black experience in America. HBO continues its recent tradition of being one of the best places to find dramatic and meaningful work by, for and about Black folks in America. While the visual style does not evoke direct comparisons to last year's "Watchmen" there are quite a few moments that may remind people of Jordan Peele's work in horror, which is good, since he is an Executive Producer. Even despite the occasional shots of gore, substance use and sexual activities, there are educational moments regarding history that young adults would find instructive. Adults should pre-watch an episode or two to decide whether it is appropriate for an older teenager to watch.

For this first season, and I am hopeful there will be more, the show outruns the books in terms of speed as well as expanding on character backstories. Each episode, similarly to how the tales are presented in the book, encapsulate singular stories and do not necessarily appear well-connected to following episodes. The magical system which is layered over existing inequality in a specific time and place also intersects in ways that highlight the absurdity of racism. When you can control space and time and live a comfortable life with a magical birthright, that should be more than enough for anyone to have and live in peace: Why would any white magicked-up practitioner in addition to having a comfortable life need to own people or participate in racism at all?

Thankfully, this television show leaves villainy up to the villains, since that's a question that no one has ever satisfactorily answered. In addition to being a terrifying look at the supernatural, "Lovecraft Country" is a period piece which mixes modern music as well as period props, sets and costumes. While Atticus Black is the hero, I didn't find myself connecting emotionally with Jonathan Majors' nuanced performance, in part because Atticus is a man whose biggest flaw is not being a good communicator, which seems like a very 1950s problem. Jurnee Smollett's turn as Leti Lewis serves us with a relatable and somewhat reliable everywoman of the time up against a wall of white people who just plain hate her, which unfortunately is still very much a contemporary problem.

Lovecraft Country
Season 1 Premieres August 16, 2020
HBO
Likely TV-MA rating for sexuality and violence
10 episode season, ~60 mins each
https://www.hbo.com/lovecraft-country