Secrets come out, Hippolyta is back, and Tic, Leti, and Montrose are headed back in time. It’s the Tulsa episode, everyone! This bit of history which was lost to most non-Black Americans makes it’s second feature on an HBO series. Once again the survivors are front and center, and the endless trauma of Black people in America remains the theme. Lovecraft Country finally explores in depth how Montrose became the man he is today, in this powerfully moving episode.
Poor baby Diana took the brunt of the hit with the Police Captain’s spell. Her blood turned black, her skin shriveled up, Diana must fight to live long enough for Tic, Leti, and Montrose to find a counter spell. All the adults surrounding her quake with fear, knowing the responsibility for the young girls suffering lays at their feet. As they argue, their secrets inch toward the surface. Leti’s pregnancy, and Montrose’s parietal accuracy remain hidden, but Ruby reveals her intrepid affair with Christina. She promises Christina will perform the spell to heal Diana. Unfortunately, only the Police Captain who cast the spell, can lift the curse. The Captain’s spell rotted Diana. First the spell turned Diana into the physical manifestation of a jigga boo, and then caused her to flesh to rot and fester from the inside out.
Luckily, the hellhounds didn’t kill the Captain in last week’s attack – which Leti spun as a gas explosion. But to call him alive and well would be false. We learned that the police force kidnapped Black citizens, and hacked off whatever limbs an officer needed, attaching the Black body part to the white officer with magic. Christina sentenced William to a thousand deaths by overriding this quick-fix spell. But, that line of deaths must end for