Lovecraft Country served up an even more mystical mystery-laced puzzle piece with episode 1×02, “Whitey’s on the Moon.” At first I couldn’t quite put my finger on why that title, but after doing some quick research about the song and its lyrics, it makes perfect sense. The white characters we have met up to this point are so far off the reservation, the destination of the moon doesn’t quite cover it.
Whitey’s on the Moon
Umm, so yeah. The Braithwhites and their henchmen are off their rockers. Lets’s see: God complex- check, casting spells like witches-check, sending monsters to chase folks-check, using the Bible to justify their madness-check, cannibalism-check. Looks like a formula for crazy with a capital C to me.
The savagery and brutality of white people was on full display once again in this episode. The glee of the “sheriff” as she threatened and taunted Attitcus, Uncle Geroge and Leticia, the enjoyment as they watched their black hostages be tormented by visions from their pasts, and just the callous way black folks are shot or otherwise brutalized when a white person wasn’t getting their way – and we haven’t even talked about any 100 eyed monsters yet.
In this episode we got to see how the twisted beliefs of superiority and entitlement work to hurt and destroy black people. Samuel shoots Letitia and Uncle George in an attempt to force Atticus into participating in a ceremony to make him immortal. The funny thing is, it also illustrates how white people, who go out of their way to show us how much they hate us, just can’t seem to get anything done without our help.
Atticus agrees to participate if his loved ones can be saved. He goes along with the madness of the ceremony, but seems to only save one of the lives he hoped to save. Uncle George dies in the arms of his brother in front of Atticus and Letitia. It doesn’t seem like our whiteys survive this tragedy either – they seemingly get turned to dust and crushed under the weight of their falling castle, but I’m not so sure I’m buying it.
Lovecraft Country’s Big Three
I know. The Big Three already exists on another hit show, but I’m borrowing it for this one too. Atticus, Letitia and Uncle George make up the heart of this show so far, so thinking that Uncle George may be dead is heartbreaking. As sad as it is, I am hoping that it drives Atticus to find the truth or truths about his family history and speeds up the repair of his relationship with his father. Wait, Uncle George died seeming to throw that last part in doubt, didn’t he?
If Uncle George turns out to be Atticus’ dad, the pain of that loss will surely be magnified. Especially since we get to see the cold and downright ungrateful nature of Montrose up close. He ain’t no Uncle George.
Uncle George danced in high spirits at the idea that all of those books would be his for the reading. George has his secrets, but it is clear that he loves Atticus. It’s a good thing that Atticus has Letitia too and it seems that her feelings for him are a bit deeper than they seem on the surface of things.
I thought the three of them would be locked into this adventure for the duration of the season, but alas it is a horror and people have to die-even the ones we get attached to.
I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of the Braithwhites. Let’s hope whitey can come on back from the moon and wield some of their magic to bring Uncle George back to us for a while longer.
Other Things I was Thinking
- The racism is bad enough, but watching Letita be treated in a sexist way on top of that is TOO much.
- Christina has the nerve to comment on Atticus getting the ring because he’s a man, when most of what she gets is because she’s white.
- Watching Letita and Uncle George spazz out over their new surrounding was haunting and funny
- “I can’t believe you can eat after last night” – poor Atticus. He is absolutely traumatized and no one can remember
- Uncle George picked a fine time to confess his sins. I wonder what the aftermath of this will be for Atticus, Montrose and Hippolyta.
- I don’t know what type of energy Samuel thought Atticus was bringing into that ceremony, but I’m sure it wasn’t the energy of a brave runaway slave
- WHY WHY WHY are cows being used to gestate monsters? And why did Christina cradle it like it was cute?
The mysteries of Lovecraft Country will continue to haunt us next Sunday on HBO. I’ll be glued to the edge of my bed, and so should you. Interested in my impressions of the premiere? Check then out here! You can check out a discussion on episode two here.
As always thanks for reading! Wanna talk Lovecraft Country or any other shows we may have in common? Follow me on Twitter.
