Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams have teamed up on HBO’s Lovecraft Country, a horror series blending the reality of 1950s Jim Crow America and the supernatural terror of H.P. Lovecraft. The show follows Atticus “Tic” Freeman on a road trip with his friend Letitia Lewis and Uncle George. In Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 1, Tic set out toward Massachusetts with Leti and George, who was writing a travel guidebook for African Americans.
Pop’s Letter
Tic napped on a bus to Chicago where he had an intense dream blending war combat against aliens, a sexy female alien, and a monster-fighting Jackie Robinson. He loved pulp novels and had served in the Korean war. However, when the bus broke down, a truck took the white people to town, while Tic walked with the black woman who was at the back of the bus with him.
In Chicago, he popped in on Uncle George, his wife Hippolyta, and their daughter, Diana, who drew sci-fi comics. Tic shared a letter from his father, Montrose, that told him of a secret legacy on his mother’s side. He’d gone missing two weeks prior. She came from Ardham, Massachusetts – a letter off from Arkham of H.P. Lovecraft’s invention. George traced the town to Devon County and agreed to take him. Tic’s childhood friend Leti joined them on the trip, as they would be making a stop at her brother’s place.
Guidebook Tips
Life on the road for black Americans proved to be perilous. George wanted to check out a tip about a diner. However, things were tense as they sat down. When Leti went to the restroom, she saw the waiter on the phone talking about them. She rushed Tic and George out of the diner as they realized that the diner had previously been set on fire. With Leti driving, a truck full of white men with guns went after them. At a junction, a silver car caused the truck to crash on its own without hitting it. A smartly dressed white woman got out of the car and stared at Tic.
At Marvin’s, they talked about what he’d dug up on Devon County. There were reports of animal attacks, and the sheriff, Eustace Hunt, had many NAACP complaints on him. As for Arkham, it appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, far from guide stops that would be safe for them.
Sundown
As they drove into Devon County, George pulled over to figure out the way. The sheriff told them that they were in a sundown county. They had to be out of the county lines in nine minutes. As they made their way out, Hunt harassingly followed them, and they barely made it out in time. Unfortunately, they were stopped at a blockade. Hunt accused them of being burglars, and the deputies escorted them into the woods. A bunch of monsters set upon them, and one bit Hunt. Light seemed to hurt the monsters, so Leti ran to the car for its headlights and flares. In the house they holed up in with Hunt and a deputy, Hunt turned into one of the monsters. The monsters went away after hearing a high-pitched shriek.
As the sun came up, Tic, Leti, and George found themselves at a mansion. A white man opened the door and welcomed Tic home. He’d been expecting them.
What did you think of this episode of Lovecraft Country? Let us know in the comment section below!
