We’re still a few weeks away from HBO debuting its all-new horror series Lovecraft Country but the cable network has unveiled the synopses of the first five episodes, teasing the terror that’s in store for audiences. The new series comes from showrunner Misha Green, who also serves as executive producer alongside Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams, with the show being based on the novel of the same name. In this regard, anyone who is familiar with the source material might not be surprised by these details, but those unaware with the compelling lore and were enticed by its first trailers will surely appreciate getting new insight into the series. Lovecraft Country premieres on HBO on Sunday, August 16th.
Lovecraft Country follows 25-year-old Koren war vet Atticus Black (Da 5 Bloods‘ Jonathan Majors), who joins up with his friend Letitia “Leti” Dandridge (Birds of Prey‘s Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and his Uncle George (The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story‘s Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip to find his missing father. Atticus, known for always having a pulp novel in his back pocket, wears his heart on his sleeve despite the daily injustice of living in 1950s Jim Crow America. The trio must survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the malevolent spirits that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.
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The synopses of the first five episodes are as follows:
Season One, Episode One: “Sundown”
- Veteran and pulp-fiction aficionado Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) travels from the Jim Crow South to his South Side of Chicago hometown in search of his missing father Montrose (Michael Kenneth Williams). After recruiting his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) to join him, the trio sets out for “Ardham,” MA, where they think Montrose may have gone looking for insight into Atticus’ late mother’s ancestry. As they journey across the Midwest, Tic, Leti, and George encounter dangers lurking at every turn, especially after sundown.
Season One, Episode Two: “Whitey’s on the Moon”
- Inexplicably recovered from their terrifying night, Leti and George luxuriate in their new surroundings, while Atticus grows suspicious of their Ardham Lodge hosts – Christina Braithwhite (Abbey Lee) and her elusive father Samuel (Tony Goldwyn) – who unveil cryptic plans for Atticus’ role in their upcoming “Sons of Adam” ceremony. Later, after Tic, Leti, and George stumble upon a clue that could lead them to Montrose, each takes an unwelcome walk down memory lane.
Season One, Episode Three: “Holy Ghost”
- Hoping to mend her relationship with her sister Ruby (Wunmi Mosaku), Leti turns a ramshackle Victorian on Chicago’s North Side into a boarding house – an endeavor that stokes neighborhood racism and awakens dormant spirits stuck in the house. Meanwhile, Atticus remains burdened by a guilty conscience as George’s wife Hippolyta (Aunjanue Ellis) presses him for the full story of what happened in Ardham.
Season One, Episode Four: “A History of Violence”
- After Christina mysteriously shows up at her doorstep, Leti confronts Atticus about his plan to surreptitiously return to Florida. Later, in search of missing pages to a crucial text, Leti, Tic, and Montrose head to Boston, with Hippolyta and Diana (Jada Harris) along for the ride. Back in Chicago, a handsome stranger nurses Ruby’s disappointment over a squandered job opportunity.
Season One, Episode Five: “Strange Case”
- After making a devil’s bargain with William, Ruby steps into the charmed shoes of a white woman, but her transformation only fortifies her resentment of the racial divide. A betrayal by Montrose unleashes Atticus’ pent up rage, leaving Leti deeply disturbed and sending Montrose into the comforting arms of his secret lover.”
Tune in to the series premiere of Lovecraft Country on Sunday, August 16th on HBO.
Are you looking forward to the series? Let us know in the comments below or contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter to talk all things Star Wars and horror!
