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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
“Nothing to be alarmed about.” Or is there?
The second episode of HBO’s Lovecraft Country is titled “Whitey’s on the Moon,” written by series creator Misha Green (Heroes, Sons of Anarchy) and directed by Daniel Sackheim (The X-Files, Lie to Me, The Americans).
Some spoilers ahead for those who have not yet seen this episode or the pilot. If you have done so, get to that now, then return to this article!
Sackheim has directed a peculiar second episode of this series and we’ll just have to trust him! Following the events of the series pilot, Atticus “Tic” Freeman (Jonathan Majors), Letitia “Leti” Lewis (Jurnee Smollett), and George Freeman (Courtney B. Vance) find refuge in a village, where they are staying at a lodge run by Samuel Braithwhite (Tony Goldwyn) and aided by his daughter Christina Braithwhite (Abbey Lee) and her partner William (Jordan Patrick Smith). All seems to be going fine as they continue to locate Tic’s father Montrose Freeman (Michael K. Williams)’s whereabouts until Leti and George begin to forget their memory of the journey’s past events.
“Whitey’s on the Moon” gets its name from the late Gil Scott-Heron and revolves on strange worldly matters such as the occult and the psychological results thereof. A group of white individuals — claiming to dissociate themselves with the Klan — prey on the minds of our Black characters, specifically their deepest desires. The episode plays with an early Biblical Scripture and dedicates itself to a “hierarchy of nature.” Samuel Braithwhite says:
At the dawn of time, just for a moment, everything is where and as it should be. From God to man to woman down to the lowliest wriggling creature. It was nirvana. I am Adam, and I’ve worked a very long time to return to paradise.
In a similar premise to Jordan Peele’s Get Out, this episode focuses on the creation of man, as well as man’s creation of unnatural creatures. It denounces the Christian perspective of the Holy text here and there, such as when Leti says, “The Bible is full of demons and monsters. They’re just stories. They have to be!”
The episode also scrutinizes paternal figures and juxtaposes Montrose and George Freeman with Samuel Braithwhite. Christina says, “Our destiny is not decided by our fathers or our grandfathers … The smallest most inconsequential thing can take you on your course. You just have to see it and seize it.”
This second installment of Lovecraft Country is praiseworthy for the incorporation of its lovely costume design, psychological elements, and use of Black musical artists such as Earl Grant, Gil Scott-Heron, and Leon Bridges. One of the most crucial lines of the episode comes from Tic’s uncle, who says, “Don’t you ever let [other people] make you question yourself. That’s how they win. They wanna make us crazy, terrorize us, make us scared.” This is, indeed, a great quote to live by, especially with what is occurring in the world today.
What do you think of the series so far? Have you seen the show yet? Let us know! For more horror, drama, HBO, and Lovecraft Country-related news and reviews follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_).
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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