*Spoilers*
9th November, 2021.
Right …
I have to admit, I’m off to bed.
It feels like I’ve had a longer day than I’ve actually had.
If that makes sense?
At any rate … ?
I think that really BIG portion of spaghetti sauce was … you know … a bit much.
So, an early night, after a heavy dinner, and watching — and doing the notes for — the last episode of Lovecraft Country, seems the thing.
As I write, it’s Tuesday.
I’ll tell you more about the episode, tomorrow.
10th November, 2021.
The pre-title scenes?
Shows us ’Tic, Leti, Montrose and Hippolyta (Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Michael K. Williams and Aunjanue Ellis.) driving to the office with Dee and taking her to her room: where ’Tic recites the spell that unlocks the Book of Names.
He and Leti promptly collapse: awakening in an other dimensional realm, where ’Tic’s mother, warns him will have to sacrifice himself. And ’Tic’s great-grandmother tell’s Leti that she will have to avoid making mistakes that will cripple her son.
Dee’s curse is lifted by the group: but her arm stays withered.
A little later?
’Tic and Leti summon Titus, the founder of Ardham Lodge: and steal part of his flesh, so they can bind Christina.
But the group realise they also need Christina’s blood, as well.
Which forces Letitia to ask Ruby for help: they’re going to need the blood for the ceremony at the Equinox.
A ceremony that looks certain to be the death of ’Tic …
~≈🐙≈~
Now … the episode … and the series …
What did I make of both … ?
Let’s start with the episode, shall we?
I’m walking away from Full Circle feeling very impressed.
Granted, it’s an episode that has one heck of a lot of talk, of exposition, in the first half hour: something that left me underwhelmed in Episode 5, Strange Case.
But that talk is something that’s needed: especially when we see ’Tic and Leti in church: getting married, and baptised* — I think — in a last minute ceremony, very much done in the awareness of an impending death.
That talk ends: when the action starts …
Action that inevitably ends with ’Tic’s death: a death that inspires Leti into taking up the fight against Christina and making sure Christina — and any other white people — can no longer use magic.
The episode had a story to it, and a cast that’s excelled itself: Aunjanue Ellis as Hyppolyta was great, Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett equally as good as the heroic central characters, Michael K. Williams superb: and genuinely touching, finding out his son had died.
The overtones?
Were many.
We see Christine Braithwhite (Abbey Lee) killed at the end of the episode: by Dee, whose withered left arm has been replaced by a bionic one Hippolyta created for her.
As far as I can tell, Jada Harris is left handed: it would take me, another southpaw, to spot that! I’m aware left handers face prejudice: maybe not as much as people of colour in many western nations, but I’ve had the odd comment, from the odd person.
So seeing a character with a deformed left hand, kill — with their left hand — at the climax of a series that focused on ritual magic, something that sees a right hand path as good, and the left hand path as evil†?
That … was mildly offensive.
Am I being over sensitive, there?
I don’t know: it’s something I’m aware of, though.
There’s possibly other overtones, there.
I don’t know if it’s just me … but it struck that ’Tic’s death, strapped to what looked like an occult crucifix was vaguely reminiscent of a crucifixion. Or should I say the Crucifixion? It does see someone sacrificing themselves on behalf of others: after a betraying kiss.
Ruby, after all, spends time with Christina, only for Christina to steal Ruby’s body, in order to kill Leti, and sacrifice ’Tic.
Messiahdom as a TV show?
I don’t know.
But?
Whatever’s in Full Circle, means this episode is both another four star episode, and a suitable ending to Lovecraft Country.
~≈🐙≈~
Which leaves me to the next — and last — question.
What did I make of the series … ?
My word, Lovecraft Country is good: it’s an absolutely fantastic bit of work.
Cast, writing, production standards, direction?
I think I’ve just seen a superb piece of well put-together works.
That HBO has wasted its money.
“What,” I hear you say?
“Wasted,” I hear you say: as I listen to chins hitting the floor in surprise?
Yes: wasted.
HBO commissioned a series that that told a gruesome tale: one that made no secret of the fact its characters were black people on the wrong end of white bigotry.
Something that was current when the series first aired, not long after the death of George Floyd: and is current now in the UK: given the row surrounding Yorkshire Cricket Club.
HBO commissioned a brave, beautifully stunning, piece of work in Lovecraft Country.
And having wasted the money they spent in producing it, by refusing to invest in a second series: one that could well have made them money.
Yes: Lovecraft Country has been cancelled after one season: much like Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and The Fades, before it.
I understand that TV companies have to look at the money side of things: I do.
But, in cancelling Lovecraft Country, in refusing to put a bit more money into an already superb series?
HBO’s missed a chance to grow what could have been a superb franchise.
Have wasted their original investment, in refusing to invest more.
More fool, them.
Full Circle.★★★★Lovecraft Country.★★★★
* As I recall? Knights got baptised — or blessed, at least — before receiving their spurs. And we read — many times — of how terminal patients marry long term partners before the end.
† I’m also told there some people see the two different ‘paths’ of magic not as good and evil, but just as differences in approach.
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