Horror is such a crazy genre. At the same time that you’re cringing and hiding under your covers you just can’t look away! It’s panic inducing and exhilarating all at the same time.
That feeling is what Lovecraft Country brings with it every single week and “Jig-A-Bobo” didn’t miss a beat!
Haunted
This episode was creepy as hell, and true to Lovecraft Country‘s form, it’s scary nature is steeped in the horror of its roots. Diana’s best friend Bobo was killed and in that killing, we are taken back to the nightmarish murder of Emmet Till. The series hinted early on that Bobo was Emmet when he talked about how excited he was to visit the South in episode 3. It was a waiting game after that. People who know the story of Emmett Till’s murder know all too well how grisly and barbaric it was – and all because of a white person’s perceived insults.
It is in this environment of grief for Bobo’s unjust and horrific murder, the death of her father and now a missing mother, that Diana must try to stay sane. Her efforts to keep from combusting mentally are made worse by the police who harass and then curse her.
She spends the episode dodging two menacing little girls taken right off the front cover of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The little demons follow her around like the weight of the tragedies she carries. And they are some creepy little witches too! Pennywise like teeth, contorting and dancing their way to every corner to Diana’s life, these little monsters were hell bent on taking her down and by the end of the episode we aren’t sure if they succeed or not. I choose to beleive not – Hippolyta has to come back to save her baby. And speaking of baby…
Three is a Crowd
So Atticus knows that Letitia is pregnant. While he was with Hippolyta, the machine catapulted him to the future and sent him back with a book written by their son. Ain’t that something? Seems like a pretty shitty time to have a baby, right? Yeah, I think so too. But, the news of the baby seems to have lit an unseen fire under Montrose. He professes to want to do the right thing by Atticus and his unborn grandson. He helps Atticus to cast a protection spell and boy did it work. But before we get to that we gotta discuss that little love triangle that tried to form.
Ji-Ah really tried it didn’t she? I mean, I guess you could say she came to warn Atticus, but I think she was hoping to rekindle the flame. She was deeply in love, and we know she was because her fox tails didn’t kill him. She actually cared enough to let him go. Atticus let it be known that that reunion wasn’t happening. He loves Letitia and of course the baby is front and center in his mind. Nice try Ji-Ah. Some nice drama though.
The other love triangle I hate to even mention is the one Ruby is in with William and Christina. Whew… I knew her ass was gonna fall for William or Christina- which is it? And when she tried to get tough about it, Christina read her like a thin ass book.
Other Things I was Thinking
- The murder of Emmett Till is something that I wasn’t alive to experience, but it has forever haunted me since I learned of it. “Jig-A-Bobo” really dug into that wound.
- Poor Diana. She has lost so many people.
- When that policeman spit on her I wanted to jump through that damn screen!
- Christina “died” to experience Bobo’s death. Does that mean she cares about what happened or that she cares about Ruby….
- Where is Hippolyta? Come get your baby girl!
- I can’t tell if Christina’s willingness to help Letitia stems from genuine girl power or just pure hatred of patriarchy.
- The monster!! And it is commanded by Atticus! That’s all I gotta say!
What did you think of “Jig-A-Bobo”? Let me know in the comments and check out some of my other Lovecraft reviews if you wish. You can watch Lovecraft Country Sunday nights on HBO.