Just a warning that this Lovecraft Country review may toggle between praise for an epic episode, and the mourning for my own dreams that I thought I had put behind me. This was such a powerful portrait of the power and pain of black women that I actually cried. I shed real heavy tears – for Hippolyta, for me, for my mother and for all women who have made themselves small for others.
I Am Hippolyta Freeman
In this episode we finally got to see the real Hippolyta Freeman. We got glimpses of her intellect early on through her love and study of astronomy; we had no idea that she was a genius though. Along with George, we find out that Hippolyta has been hiding who she really is. And why would she do that?
Is it because she had been told so many times what she couldn’t be? If that’s what happened, she’d be like my mom. My mother wanted to be a doctor. Her guidance counselor told her to be realistic. That someone like her should take up typing. She went home and told her father, but he just shrugged and did nothing. That day, my mother’s dream died just as I suppose Hippolyta’s did when the society told her that colored children don’t name comets.
Maybe, Hippolyta was tired of fighting. If that’s what happened, she’d be like me. I went to college as a biology major. Like my mom, I wanted to be a doctor and a scientist. No one out rightly told me I couldn’t be those things. It was the slow death of my spirit by never having a lab partner to work with, being left out of study groups and having my professors make black jokes. All those little cuts to my self esteem helped me to internalize something “other” about myself-that I didn’t belong in those spaces. And so I left them and became a teacher instead.
Luckily, that thing that made Hippolyta forget her power didn’t succeed in killing it. It dimmed for awhile, but man did it manifest itself when she needed it most. Deciphering ancient equations, time and/or multiverse traveling and most of all, forgiving herself for forgetting herself- these are the gifts that she was born with. These are the gifts she wielded as a space explorer, a Parisian dancer, an African warrior and a wife.
Not to mention that she battled two police officers and saved Tic’s life- nah, that was just an after thought for this episode of black women badassery. Leti and Ruby are powerful and smart in their own ways, but watching Hippolyta step into the light was a sight to behold.
Other Things I was Thinking as I Watched
- Wow, Leti is pregnant. Is that why she is seeing the same dream Atticus is?
- The character of Hippolyta will resonate with so many women for so many reasons. It’s fucking beautiful to see yourself represented. And not just your looks, your mind, your hopes, dreams and disappointments too.
- I knew it! Knew it! Montrose beat the hell out of Atticus because of his own self-loathing. What a sick thing to do.
- I love this show. Even though I am not entirely sure about what the Book of Adam is going to do, I enjoy the monster of the week feel it has. I hope it can continue as a series that way.
- I felt it in my soul when Hippolyta talked about being lynched without noticing.
- Hippolyta found George and realized she was powerful enough to take him along for the ride this time around.
- What is Ruby going to do with the secrets she now has?
- I think this was my favorite episode.
- Lovecraft Country has shown how white people terrorize generations of black folks. They have killed George. Tried to kill Hippolyta and now seem to be going after Dee.
What did you think of Lovecraft Country‘s “I Am”? Let me know in the comments. My love letter to Lovecraft Country is something you should check out too. Thanks for reading!
