Lovecraft Country begins promisingly with this pilot episode titled "Sundown" - but gradually, the quality of the writing noticeably deteriorates from the moment after the protagonist's journey begins - & as things continually progress, you're eventually left wondering whether a single moment of it makes any sense whatsoever - & what it's meant to really mean / if it genuinely matters anyway.
The cinematography is impressive, the visuals are beautiful & cinematic, it looks as though HBO have invested a sizeable amount of money in to the production, the lead actors give strong performances & the characters they portray are pretty likeable with their charismatic charm but none of this compensates for the lack of clear direction, the god awful score & the blatant tonal inconsistencies.
A debut should be capable of establishing a narrative by outlining the foundations following episodes are subsequently expected to build upon; it's about making a statement of intent to the audience... But 1 hour later, I've still no idea what this show wants to be; a sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, period drama etc. Because the answer to this pivotal question constantly shifts from one scene to another, rushing from one hollow, meaningless set piece to the next disposable action sequence.
I really wanted to enjoy this as it's fantastic to see an expensive HBO series led primarily by talented black individuals - due to the fact that these opportunities so rarely surface within the industry... But when a chance like this arises, they deserve far better than a script of this low standard.
The cinematography is impressive, the visuals are beautiful & cinematic, it looks as though HBO have invested a sizeable amount of money in to the production, the lead actors give strong performances & the characters they portray are pretty likeable with their charismatic charm but none of this compensates for the lack of clear direction, the god awful score & the blatant tonal inconsistencies.
A debut should be capable of establishing a narrative by outlining the foundations following episodes are subsequently expected to build upon; it's about making a statement of intent to the audience... But 1 hour later, I've still no idea what this show wants to be; a sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, period drama etc. Because the answer to this pivotal question constantly shifts from one scene to another, rushing from one hollow, meaningless set piece to the next disposable action sequence.
I really wanted to enjoy this as it's fantastic to see an expensive HBO series led primarily by talented black individuals - due to the fact that these opportunities so rarely surface within the industry... But when a chance like this arises, they deserve far better than a script of this low standard.