"Lovecraft Country": A Perplexing Twist on Sci-fi

Newly debuted “Lovecraft Country” rocks the sci-fi boat

One of HBO’s latest releases, “Lovecraft Country,” is a remarkable blend of cosmic horror and historical fiction. Adapted from Matt Ruff’s book of the same name, the story is set in the 1950s, following the story of a young, Black man named Atticus “Tic” Freeman played by Jonathan Majors. Set amid the Jim Crow Era, racism is heavily integrated into society, filled with unjust rules and expectations along with the excessive and senseless killings of Black people. 

The show uniquely tackles these racial issues while also depicting unbelievable sci-fi marvels.

After Atticus’s father (Montrose Freeman) mysteriously disappears, Atticus journeys out with his Uncle George and his friend Leti to find him. Along the way, they begin to uncover dark and fantastic secrets about a deeply racist organization, Sons of Adam, that are seeking the key to immortality by any means necessary. 

As the series progresses, the story becomes increasingly twisted in its display of racism and otherworldly creatures. Further, the series explores the stories of other more minor characters who provide depth and background to the lives of Atticus and Leti. 

Despite only having released nine episodes, the team behind “Lovecraft Country” has managed to leave viewers in a perpetual state of awe and dubiety, always on the edge of their seats.  

But, what makes this show so groundbreaking is not the story alone, but the veracious representation and inclusion found on and off-screen.

“Lovecraft Country” is produced by Misha Green, a Black woman, who is most known for her show the “Underground”. Additionally, the show is produced by Jordan Peele, the writer and director of “Get Out”.

This show features a range of different toned Black actors that deviate from the traditional Black people often depicted in the media. Rather, “Lovecraft Country” showcases a variety of complexions, as well as LGBTQ+ characters and Korean characters, which further reinforces the show’s inclusivity.

The importance of having this variation in characters is representation.

Representation creates a reality that goes beyond the stereotypical views of minorities seen in the media. It gives value and recognition to groups that don’t often get to see that. Seeing minorities in these roles and in these positions serves as an inspiration and belonging to those in these communities. Shows like “Lovecraft Country” specifically demonstrate how the film industry is changing. 

Misha Green truly diverges the show from the standard sci-fi by having it set up as a historical fiction focused on Black people. What many shows and films fail to do is accurately portray Black people when creating historical fiction. What often happens is that films that explore the topic of racial injustice often only focus on the injustice without giving the depth of the Black characters. 

These Black characters need substance and need to be valorized. 

In episode one, “Sundown,” mind-boggling and unsettling scenes appear left and right, indicating the racist nature of the period. Searching for Montrose, Atticus, Leti and Uncle George find themselves in a showdown with police while trying to escape a sundown town. Although successfully leaving the town before sunset, the police proceed with taking them to the forest to execute them. They are outnumbered, have no weapons and are miles away from anyone who could help. But, something truly phenomenal happens.

Shoggoths, enormous multi-eyed sludge monsters, appear seemingly out of nowhere and start picking off these blood-lusting cops one by one, leaving no gore hidden from the audience. While it is a satisfying sight to see these villains atone for their corruption, it’s a short-lasting pleasure when the shoggoths begin to terrorize Atticus, Leti and Uncle George. 

The episode continues to escalate, as the trio desperately tries to figure out a solution to the situation. 

Although racism was showcased in this episode, it wasn’t the main plot, rather it was added for historical context to provide a sense of the struggles they face as Black people. The episode was more so centered around the characters’ journey in finding Montrose and their discovery of the supernatural. This branches away from the traditional victim role that Black people are often portrayed as in historical fiction films. 

When a film or a tv show just focuses on the injustice, and not the characters themselves, it dilutes the story and creates characters that are mindless pawns. This is how “Lovecraft Country” is different. The characters have families, backstories, passions and goals. Their lives are not bound to an arc of injustice, there’s more to it. 

By no means is the show flawless, but it’s a step in the right direction in breaking the traditional media norm. 

“Lovecraft Country” is a pleasant blend of mystery, drama and sci-fi that demands to be watched.