Lovecraft Country — Series 1 Episode 2 — Whitey’s on the Moon: A Review

14th September, 2021.

Right … It’s officially ten o’clock in the evening of 14th September, 2021.

And, any minute now?

I’m going to hit the sack.

I have to be up, early, tomorrow: for for my next swab test by the ONS.

And because I’m selling a neighbour’s laptop for them.

I’m expecting the buyer at some point … 

Either way?

I’ll be back at this post, tomorrow: to tell you about the next episode of Lovecraft Country … 

~≈Ê≈~

15th September, 2021.

Right … just in case you’re following these things … ?

I was selling a laptop: on behalf of a neighbour.

AND managed to sell it, today, to an old friend.

So … ?

I’m happy: I’ve done something positive, today.

But let’s move on to the meat of today’s post, shall we?

About last night’s episode … 

~≈Ê≈~

Episode 2 — Whitey’s on the Moon — opens with a recap of Sundown, the first episode.

Then shows us that ’Tic, Leti and George (Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett and Courtney B. Vance) have been welcomed as guests in Ardham Lodge.

Where George is engrossed in his room’s library: and Leti by the clothes!

’Tic?   Isn’t so fascinated.

Instead, he’s intently suspicious.   This is ’50’s America, and he, George and Leti are three black people being very well treated by white people.

’Tic is possibly right to be suspicious.

It seems that he’s related to Ardham Lodge’s 19th Century builder, Titus Braithwhite: a man famously ‘kind to his slaves.’

And to Samuel Braithwhite (Tony Goldwyn), the Lodge’s current owner, head of an occult order called the Sons of Adam … and a powerful wizard who’s after a dose of immortality.

The problem, there … ?

He needs to kill ’Tic in a complicated ritual to do so.

And, the last time someone tried … ?

The original Lodge burnt down.

~≈Ê≈~

Now … did I mention magically inflicted hallucinations?

At one point, ’Tic, Leti and George are trapped in their respective rooms: and, unknowingly, being watched by Samuel and his friends.

Watched: and being forced to endure mental torture, by — you guessed it — magically inflicted hallucinations.   George is visited by his late wife, Dora, ’Tic has flashbacks to his service in Korea, Leti is  … visited … by an image of ’Tic.

It’s … 

Certainly quite an unnerving section to watch.

Possibly a little too unnerving for me: at least, this early in the series.

I also have to admit, I wasn’t sure if Gil Scott-Heron’s Whitey on the Moon — the poem the episode takes its name from — didn’t quit fit the scene it was used in.

Saying that … ?

I may have had my doubts about past of this episode, but as a complete package?

Whitey’s on the Moon is riveting.

*        As one character puts it?   Titus was ‘very kind’ to his slaves.