I haven't done episode by episode reviews for a new show since "Watchmen" and so, getting similar vibes from the first episode of "Lovecraft Country" - I've decided to give it the same treatment.
Having recently returned from serving a country that still hates him for the colour of his skin, Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) returns to Chicago to investigate the disappearance of his father. A series of leads point him in the direction of a remote area of Massachusetts and along with his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Leti Lewis (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) he sets off across country. But these are dangerous times to be an African American, and the more remote the location, the more hostile and flagrant the racism becomes.
So I am getting immediate "Watchmen" vibes from the show, given that similarly it looks at the historical experiences of Black Americans, through the prism of a science fiction lens. Performances in this first episode are really good. I've not seen Jonathan Majors before, but looking at his previous roles, there's a couple of movies I've meant to get to for a while. I liked Smollet-Bell in "Birds Of Prey" and Courtney B Vance has been great in everything for decades. The period recreations looked good and the visual effects, when required were OK. I liked the opening dream sequence a lot and the usage of different era musical elements heighten the other worldly feeling.
I've not read the source novel, and I'm not that well versed in Lovecraft's writing either (although I can recognise a Cthulhu when I see one). . There was lot of scene setting in this first episode, as you might imagine (although I'm still not entirely clear why Leti ended up going with them?). But the episode ends in an explosion of carnage that I fear might shake off some of the audience, if they weren't aware what they were getting themselves into.
We're way too early into the run to consider it as coming close to how majestic "Watchmen" was, but so far, so good. Back next week.
Having recently returned from serving a country that still hates him for the colour of his skin, Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) returns to Chicago to investigate the disappearance of his father. A series of leads point him in the direction of a remote area of Massachusetts and along with his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Leti Lewis (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) he sets off across country. But these are dangerous times to be an African American, and the more remote the location, the more hostile and flagrant the racism becomes.
So I am getting immediate "Watchmen" vibes from the show, given that similarly it looks at the historical experiences of Black Americans, through the prism of a science fiction lens. Performances in this first episode are really good. I've not seen Jonathan Majors before, but looking at his previous roles, there's a couple of movies I've meant to get to for a while. I liked Smollet-Bell in "Birds Of Prey" and Courtney B Vance has been great in everything for decades. The period recreations looked good and the visual effects, when required were OK. I liked the opening dream sequence a lot and the usage of different era musical elements heighten the other worldly feeling.
I've not read the source novel, and I'm not that well versed in Lovecraft's writing either (although I can recognise a Cthulhu when I see one). . There was lot of scene setting in this first episode, as you might imagine (although I'm still not entirely clear why Leti ended up going with them?). But the episode ends in an explosion of carnage that I fear might shake off some of the audience, if they weren't aware what they were getting themselves into.
We're way too early into the run to consider it as coming close to how majestic "Watchmen" was, but so far, so good. Back next week.