'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'
PUBLISHED AUG 17, 2020
(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.

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