'Lovecraft Country' Episode 1: 'Shoggoths ripping apart white supremacist cops' is a huge hit with fans

In the words of a very satisfied viewer, 'Shoggoths are scary yes, but the racist American cops are the real demons'
(HBO)
(HBO)

Matt Ruff, a White man, incorporated the work of one of the most staunch White supremacists of all-time - horror auteur HP Lovecraft, in his book 'Lovecraft Country'. Just premiered as a brand new HBO horror, Ruff gauges the impact of Lovecraftian lores on White literature, especially with them sort of establishing authority over occult and ritualistic practices. Adapted by Misha Green for the screen, the story follows a young man, Atticus, on his quest to find his father as he braves more than just the monsters from Lovecraft's literary universe. There are abhorrent practices of racism constantly slammed at them and Atticus and his two companions are constantly targeted throughout the pilot. Probably why bringing back the Shoggoths from the Lovecraftian empire to kill racist cops has managed to please fans so hard.

It is what kids would call a Demogorgon these days. Kind of like the gigantic tentaculous monsters from 'Stranger Things' that can pretty much kill, or vividly maim a human very easily, these Shoggoths, originally from the Cthulhu Mythos, were mentioned in Lovecraft's sonnet cycle 'Fungi from Yuggoth' and later a prime focus in his novella 'At the Mountains of Madness'. Genetically engineered as servant tools, these amorphous, shapeshifting beings are humongous and look basically like a giant glob of amoeba that can shape itself into whatever it pleases to suits its combative skills. 

Now imagine an episode full of watching a bunch of racist White dudes from the 1950s Jim Crowes era, exploiting any person of color as much as possible, threatening them with an alarming reminder of sunset towns where they can be killed for so much as stepping out in the night as a Black person, and more. Infuriating, right? Perhaps why at the end of the episode, when these shoggoths step out of the forest and begin munching on these racist cops, it left fans more than just thrilled. The classic throwback for many Lovecraftian fans was also turned into a moment of karmic relief, as some will have you believe.

"Shoggoths ripping apart the white supermacists cops i love that," tweeted a fan.



 

Another pointed out: "Shoggoths are scary yes, but the racist American cops are the real demons."



 

"#LovecraftCountry is really good. Racist cops getting their heads chomped off by shoggoths" really sat well with a fan who shared the sentiment with a peak okay emoji.



 

"I just heard someone say the Shoggoths took a bite out of crime," quipped another with a cheeky laughing gif.



 

A fourth fan noted: "LovecraftCountry is a gory, wild ride with a core of white-hot rage w/r/t the all-too-human monsters doing the dirty work better let to the Shoggoths. Expands on the book in very cool ways. Very eager to see more."



 

In the words of this very enthusiastic fan - "Who doesn't want to see shoggoths eating racists?"



 

'Lovecraft Country' airs every Sunday at 9 pm only on HBO.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Malik has no idea Hondo knows his secret, and Adain Bradley says their story is far from over.
2026-10-17T20:45:16.000Z
Jo’s resignation raises questions about her future as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ begins a new era in Season 23
2026-10-17T18:23:30.000Z
‘Tulsa King’ Season 4, starring Sylvester Stallone, streams every Friday on Paramount+
2026-10-17T10:36:40.000Z
Pavi and her long-lost twin Nisha hunt for their origins as the Havens cheer the last Avatar’s death
2026-10-17T08:37:00.000Z
Season 2 of the HBO Stephen King prequel jumps back to 1935 and a gang of bank robbers
2026-10-17T06:52:24.000Z
‘Fire Country’ season 5 episode 2 reveals Jake’s fate after the shooting as the team uncovers the attacker’s motive
2026-10-17T06:41:28.000Z
Wes ends ‘Sheriff Country’ Season 2 Episode 2 in the hands of Stoyanovs after exposing bakery bug
2026-10-17T05:35:47.000Z
Chad Lowe is the executive producer on ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ and has also directed many episodes
2026-10-17T05:07:28.000Z
Issa López returns as showrunner for a Jamaica Bay story with ties to ’Night Country’
2026-10-17T03:12:59.000Z
Oklahoma’s governor and Dwight’s love interest board a private jet in the first episode of Season 4
2026-10-16T09:30:07.000Z