RECAP Lovecraft Country: Season 1 Episode 3 — Holy Ghost
Culture Editor Bianca Gregg is back with her recap column, this time spotlighting HBO’s newest series “Lovecraft Country.” Get introduced to the characters, memorable scenes, and plot-twists as we dig into the racially-charged supernatural guilty pleasure.
On tonight’s episode of ‘Lovecraft Country,’ we open with Letitia at church observing a woman catching the Holy Ghost and man did the writers set us up for any episode full of horror as well as brief touches on actual American History.
Letitia excitedly meets with her sister Ruby to show her a home she purchased on the North, and very white side of Chicago. Ruby does not feel the purchase was a good idea considering there had been a recent riot over a Black family that had moved into an apartment complex in the neighborhood.
This reference was actually true. In 1951 the Clarke family had moved into a residence in the Chicago suburb of Cicero. The were forcefully removed from their home by a mob of whites which ensued into a riot. No arrest were ever actually made in the case, no surprise there.
Letitia tells Ruby she wants the home to be turned into a boarding home for Black people that may be in need of assistance. She also insists this would be a great way for she and Ruby to build a sisterly bond. Ruby accepts.
Atticus has been staying with Hippolyta and Diana over the last three weeks following Uncle George’s funeral service. Atticus is aware he has over stayed his welcome and attempts to ask his father, Montrose, if he could stay with him. Montrose and Atticus get into a heated argument about telling Hippolyta the truth about what happened with Uncle George. Montrose is strong in his refusal to reveal the truth which causes Atticus to abruptly leave.
Letitia is in bed that morning and we see her blanket being pulled from her body by someone. She pulls the blanket up and we see a Black woman with a missing jaw looking at her from the side of the bed. The scene gave me chills. Letitia and a few of her friends are getting things together in the home while some of the residents move in. Atticus comes by for a check in. Letitia expresses her surprise in his visit considering she had not seen him since Uncle George’s funeral.
Atticus tells Letitia about his plans to return to Florida but Letitia tells him she would like for him to stay for the housewarming. Suddenly car horns are heard ringing outside. Several white men have parked their cars outside with bricks strapped to the horns. The police ride by but do not step in to stop the harassment.
The night of the housewarming is very eventful to say the least. Atticus and Letitia have sex after Letitia seductively danced with a man at the party. The party is jumping until a burning cross is placed in front of the house. Letitia has reached her boiling point. She grabs a bat while a few of the men grab shotguns from the home. Letitia goes outside and busts the windows of the cars and remove the bricks from the car horns.
The police arrive and arrest Letitia. During the ride, an officer questions her on why she purchased the home and tells her that eight Black people were found buried in the basement of the home.
Montrose is at Hippolyta’s. She takes the time to tell him that she does not believe the story about how Uncle George died. She also tells Montrose that she could see Atticus was hiding something over the last three weeks. Still Montrose sticks to his original story. We can all bet that Hippolyta is going to discover the truth about her husband’s death.
Atticus meets up with Letitia and she tells him her home is haunted. She tells him that the prior owner was a white scientist she believes did experiments on humans. Of course the humans were Black people that went missing on the Southside. A clear reference to a time in actual American history where Black bodies were used for experimental purposes,Tuskegee Experiment ring a bell.
Atticus and Letitia bring a conjure woman to the house. They head into the basement to begin a seance to rid the house of the spirits. As the seance begins in the basement, upstairs three white men break into the home. One man approaches one of the rooms where he hears voices. He and one of the other white men enter the room and are trapped inside. As the men make their way through the room, they hear a baby crying. The men turn around to see the spirit of a basketball player with the head of a baby. The men run into one of the iron heaters and burn to death. Meanwhile the other white man is looking into the elevator shaft. The elevator rapidly rises through the shaft decapitating him.
Back in the basement, the conjure woman becomes possessed by one of the spirits and attacks Letitia. Atticus frees her but as a result he is possessed by the spirit. Letitia continues to cast the evil spirits out of the home and Atticus.
The spirits of the Black people that were killed appear one by one to help Letitia. The spirit that has possessed Atticus is that of the white scientist. The group finally casts the spirit out of the home, bringing peace to the Black spirits. In the days to come, Letitia is interviewed by a reporter about the great work she is doing with the boarding home.
Atticus tracks down Christina realizing she was the one that had Letitia purchase the haunted home. He draws a gun and tells Christina he must do what he needs to do to protect his family. Clearly forgetting the powers of Christina, she causes him to freeze up as she explains the purpose of the home and her family’s plans. As she releases Atticus from his hold, she reminds him that he can not go around killing white women.
Takeaways:
It is very clear that Uncle George is possibly Atticus’s real father. Hippolyta references how they do the dishes in a similar fashion, which did not help Hippolyta as she mourned her husband.
Ruby and Letitia’s rocky relationship came to a boil tonight over the alleged inheritance Letitia thinks she received. Likely the money was given to her by Christina to purchase the home but spells can make you think one thing over the truth.
How long will Letitia and Atticus tip-toe around this situation they are in. Either you two are going to be together or you aren’t. I’m going to keep watching though.
