Lovecraft Country in the Media: Road Trippin’ through the Inter-webs, Social Media etc

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

Wanted to start a media thread-

 

I just started this podcast, it looks like a very short episode until the Monday morning after the episode aired (14 min to 54 min). 
 

 

[tljgator 640]

Yeah, the episode one audio is about an hour (since I watch the episodes OnDemand, I also just catch the podcast there on the HBO site, too). The content is really great, but words of warning: A) the vocal fry is STRONG in the writer for the discussion (if that's a big turn-off for you), and B) if you listen with kids, or those with delicate sensibilities, lol, the "fucks" are also strong in this one. Really interesting discussion, though, and I'm hopeful it adds to my already strong like for the show the way the podcasts for The Plot Against America did.

I like this new, associated-podcast trend HBO has going on.

[DearEvette 25.9k]

Tom and Lorenzo do a pretty spot on review, imo.  I hope they do a fashion post on the show!

[For Cereals 9.9k]

On 8/18/2020 at 12:03 PM, tljgator said:

Yeah, the episode one audio is about an hour (since I watch the episodes OnDemand, I also just catch the podcast there on the HBO site, too). The content is really great, but words of warning: A) the vocal fry is STRONG in the writer for the discussion (if that's a big turn-off for you), and B) if you listen with kids, or those with delicate sensibilities, lol, the "fucks" are also strong in this one. Really interesting discussion, though, and I'm hopeful it adds to my already strong like for the show the way the podcasts for The Plot Against America did.

I like this new, associated-podcast trend HBO has going on.

I want to listen to everything.  I liked the McMillions podcasts.  But that vocal fry!  I wonder if they will be on every week?

[tljgator 640]

37 minutes ago, For Cereals said:

I want to listen to everything.  I liked the McMillions podcasts.  But that vocal fry!  I wonder if they will be on every week?

The McMillions podcasts were great -- loved those, too! I'm hoping they keep Ashley and maybe rotate to different writers or actors each week -- I might be able to manage the vocal fry better if it's not constant, lol. Not gonna lie, though, that was a rough hour.

[Epeolatrix 802]

Lovecraft Country Is Packed With Supernatural Symbolism, says Architectural Digest

[paigow 11.3k]

Summary: Episodes 3 - 5 Zap2It

Holy Ghost - Leti turns a ramshackle Victorian on Chicago's North Side into a boarding house, an endeavor that stokes racism and awakens dormant spirits stuck in the house; George's wife, Hippolyta, presses Atticus for the full story of what happened in Ardham.

A History of Violence - After Christina shows up at her doorstep, Leti confronts Atticus about his plan to surreptitiously return to Florida; in search of missing pages to a crucial text, Leti, Tic and Montrose head to Boston, with Hippolyta and Diana along for the ride.

Strange Case - After making a devil's bargain with William, Ruby steps into the charmed shoes of a white woman; a betrayal by Montrose unleashes Atticus' pent-up rage, leaving Leti deeply disturbed and sending Montrose into the comforting arms of his secret lover.

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

The podcast coverage for episode 3 was really good. They discussed Leti’s trauma over DYING and coming back to life. As well as religious themes. 
 

Maybe we should have a thread just to discuss the podcast if enough ppl are interested?

[AnimeMania 8.2k]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

The podcast coverage for episode 3 was really good. They discussed Leti’s trauma over DYING and coming back to life. As well as religious themes. 
 

Maybe we should have a thread just to discuss the podcast if enough ppl are interested?

It would probably be OK to discuss whatever they say in the regular episode thread since they never discuss anything pertaining to future episodes. 

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

38 minutes ago, AnimeMania said:

It would probably be OK to discuss whatever they say in the regular episode thread since they never discuss anything pertaining to future episodes. 

thats a good point!

[paigow 11.3k]

Does the podcast explain why Atticus is the only one that can open the portal? His father and uncle share the same DNA. Does he have an abnormally high midichlorian count? 

[TiffanyNichelle 2.4k]

7 minutes ago, paigow said:

Does the podcast explain why Atticus is the only one that can open the portal? His father and uncle share the same DNA. Does he have an abnormally high midichlorian count? 

He's related to this through his mother.

[Catfi9ht 805]

I didn't notice this in the show but am glad the podcast point them out. Below are beautiful visual comparisons between Gordon Parks's iconic pictures and the show's homages to them.

More episode 1 Easter eggs: https://decider.com/2020/08/17/lovecraft-country-episode-1-easter-eggs/

[Epeolatrix 802]

I really hope that there's going to be some sort of companion book of the show when it's done. I'd love to see the notes about references, costume design, set design pieces that have greater significance than we might notice at first, and so on.

[Epeolatrix 802]

New question: Does anyone know of any sites that they consider especially valuable for informative recaps? I'm only actively following "The Safe Negro Travel Guide to Lovecraft Country" on The Root, so I know I must be missing other good writers. [Yes, I know of the podcast Lovecraft Country Radio; I'm specifically looking for text, please.]

Edited September 1, 2020 by Epeolatrix · Reason: To clarify my question

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

29 minutes ago, Epeolatrix said:

New question: Does anyone know of any sites that they consider especially valuable for informative recaps? I'm only actively following "The Safe Negro Travel Guide to Lovecraft Country" on The Root, so I know I must be missing other good writers. [Yes, I know of the podcast Lovecraft Country Radio; I'm specifically looking for text, please.]

I don’t but I will keep an eye out and share here if I find one. 

[LBS 7.3k]

2 hours ago, Epeolatrix said:

New question: Does anyone know of any sites that they consider especially valuable for informative recaps? I'm only actively following "The Safe Negro Travel Guide to Lovecraft Country" on The Root, so I know I must be missing other good writers. [Yes, I know of the podcast Lovecraft Country Radio; I'm specifically looking for text, please.]

I like: 

Vulture.com (limited free articles but worth the subscription IMO)

https://www.vulture.com/article/lovecraft-country-season-1-episode-3-recap-holy-ghost.html

Alan Sepinwall/Rolling Stone (free)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-recaps/lovecraft-country-recap-episode-3-holy-ghost-1050954/amp/

AV Club (free)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/tv.avclub.com/lovecraft-country-is-better-than-an-allegory-it-s-fan-f-1844743557/amp
 
The Ringer (free)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theringer.com/platform/amp/tv/2020/8/17/21371365/lovecraft-country-premiere-recap-review

I’m going to add The Root to my reading! Thank you!

Edited September 2, 2020 by LBS

[DearEvette 25.9k]

Tom and Lorenzo's recaps of this have been pretty good.

Most Recent:

https://tomandlorenzo.com/2020/08/lovecraft-country-holy-ghost/#.X07rCvJ7nr4

Their LC index page:

https://tomandlorenzo.com/tag/lovecraft-country/#.X07rSvJ7nr4

Since they are a fashion site primarily, they've also done a fashion specific analysis of the first episode.  I expect they'll do more.

Pro-tip to read articles behind a paywall that you don't want to subscribe to:  There is a site called outline.com where if you put in the article URL it'll bypass the paywall.  It doesn't work for every site (NY Times and LA TImes are two major exceptions) but I've had good luck with quite a few. 

[Chicago Redshirt 5.8k]

https://io9.gizmodo.com/each-episode-of-lovecraft-country-now-comes-with-a-syll-1845034004

[paigow 11.3k]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/12/us/freedom-black-cooperative-toomsboro/index.html

Unfortunately, now it seems that re-segregating America is a possible last-ditch survival solution....

Edited September 13, 2020 by paigow

[luckyroll3 12.1k]

Thought some folks might be interested in this. This organization creates a syllabus for every episode of the show that includes with the annotations, reading suggestions, and other information.

https://langstonleaguellc.squarespace.com/popculturepd

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

Post from the official Instagram. 
 

 

[paigow 11.3k]

Episode 7 Summary: TV Guide

I AM.

Hippolyta's relentless search for answers takes her on a multidimensional journey of self-discovery, and Atticus heads to St. Louis to consult an old family friend.

[paigow 11.3k]

Episode 9: Rewind 1921 [film-book.com]

 With Hippolyta at the helm, Leti, Tic, and Montrose travel to 1921 Tulsa in an effort to save Dee.

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

Jurnee was injured filming episode 9! 
 

 

[paigow 11.3k]

Did Game Of Thrones use all of the HBO CGI fire budget?

[ProudMary 7.3k]

The Hollywood Reporter is doing a bunch of year-end "best of" lists, including a "Best TV Performances of 2020" list. Before I opened it, I actually said out loud, "If Jurnee Smollett isn't on this list, I'm gonna throw something."  Thankfully, all items are safe in my house. 😊
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hollywood-reporter-critics-pick-the-best-tv-performances-of-2020
 

Quote

Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country (HBO)
There are times, especially in the second half of the season, when I couldn't tell you exactly what was going on in HBO's Lovecraft Country, or why. But in shows this bizarre, sometimes it's enough to believe that the actors/characters care what's happening — and there is no point during the entirety of this period horror pastiche at which Smollett isn't 100 percent locked in. The Friday Night Lights and Underground veteran, who has earned the right to be considered an A-list star a dozen times over by now, gives a blazing turn; in one early scene, she's on a rampage with a baseball bat, and if any moment was designed to be the representative gif of 2020, it's that one. Plus, Smollett and Jonathan Majors’ chemistry should be bottled (though to what end I'm not sure). — D.F.

Also, from THR's  "10 Best TV Episodes of 2020."
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hollywood-reporter-tv-critics-pick-the-10-best-episodes-of-2020
 

Quote

"Strange Case," Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The fun and disorienting thing about HBO's ambitious racial allegory/horror pastiche is that nearly every episode was something different. The events of "Strange Case" — somewhere between a body-swap satire and an American Werewolf in London-style transformation story — were the piece of Matt Ruff's book that I was most curious to see Misha Green and company tackle. And in the hands of indie director Cheryl Dunye, the episode proved to be audaciously gross, full of skin-sloughing viscera, and an appropriately probing examination of racial identity and gender fluidity in America in the 1950s and today. Kudos to Dunye for never flinching and to Wunmi Mosaku and Jamie Neumann for their episode-anchoring performances. — D.F.

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by ProudMary

[Scarlett45 58.9k]

Jurnee won a Critic’s Choice Award. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ8ChKxFb9q/?igshid=j9w5650mk1dh

[Annber03 27.3k]

Yay :)! Congrats to her.