Lovecraft Country Review: Jig-a-Bobo (Season 1 Episode 8)

Protection comes at a cost on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 8, “Jig-a-Bobo,” but it proves to be rather effective.

While the episode provides some consolidating of the story, its most potential comes from its more realistic side, the social issues it touches and reflects on.

The episode starts off incredibly strong with the massive lines outside Roberts Temple, the location for Emmett Till’s funeral. This scene comes at an important time for the United States, as injustice still comes weekly, if not on the daily.

It’s an incredibly important moment, and one that the show smartly and respectfully recreates. The show always does this well.

It’s where the episode finds its most potent and impacting moments, those that touch on the frustration and the heartbreak of injustice. Ruby’s words to Christina are the raw confrontation the episode needs, even if Christina will not see the same thing or refuses to.

It’s even there in the discussion between Atticus and Montrose on the street, about the injustice of sexuality at this moment in time. Montrose chooses a life over who he really is, and their scene together, along with the spell attempt, really help to build back that bond that’s nearly been shattered.

These are the sorts of moments where Lovecraft Country really shines, as it puts out social issues while combining it with fantastical schlock entertainment.

At the same time, Christina experiencing a death similar to Emmett Till feels out of place. The point the show is trying to make is definitely taken, but there’s more power in the conversations mentioned earlier and the ideas being posited than recreating it in a somewhat exploitative way.

Ji-Ah only appearing once definitely feels like there’s more to come, though it will be curious how she fits into the story from here. Outside of her spectacular episode, there doesn’t feel like there’s a way to keep her around, at least at present. Hopefully Jamie Chung can be utilized well beyond being part of a love triangle.

There’s a lot more spell work at play than expected, but now that we’re nearing the end of the season it’s bound to speed up.

Atticus’ spell does indeed work, producing a shoggoth as protection. Lovecraft Country handles these wild and chaotic scenes really well, and this one is just as violent and fun as the pilot. With the shoggoth defeating the police force, this also will hopefully rid Diana of her own demons.

The girls chasing her can be a little uneven, especially up close, but in the shadows and from afar, especially with their glowing eyes, they prove an effective image. The sequences throughout the episode have a great horror vibe to them, a nice surprise in comparison to the more fantasy and magical horror that’s been occurring lately.

For the broader scope, Christina is getting a lot of her way. She has the negatives of the texts, she has the key, and Atticus may have done her a huge favor with wiping out her potential competition. With the event and Atticus’ death potentially only a few days away, her plan is nearly complete.

There’s also the fact that it’s not the George Freeman we know who writes Lovecraft Country in book form, but Atticus and Leti’s child in the future. This gives them a guide to Christina’s plan, but as Tic mentions, some things are different and so it may not be a sure thing.

The episode is fantastic with its presentation, both with its horror elements but also with showing off Chicago. Since the premiere, we don’t get to spend too much time on the streets of Chicago, but here it adds character to the more dramatic scenes, like when Atticus talks with Montrose or the various locations Diana visits.

Creator Misha Green does a wonderful job directing this episode, and while I’m more drawn to the dramatic moments of the episode, she really brings power to the horror and more action-oriented scene at the very end, as well. There’s a playfulness to these sequences that is very much appreciated.

 

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Lovecraft Country airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.

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