“Lovecraft Country” Episode 3 is bigger, better and scarier than the second

By: Keaton Marcus

It’s time, ladies and gentlemen, to get into some major deets about Lovecraft Country episode three: “The Holy Ghost”, which premiered on HBO Max just last night. Focusing more on tension, scares, and less on lore and exposition, this next episode is an improvement over its immediate predecessor, and proves that the series has more up its sleeve for later. Don’t worry, though, it doesn’t lose its wonderful oddness in the process.

“The Holy Ghost” is not exactly what you’d expect it to be. After wrapping up the first storyline at the end of episode two with the death of Uncle George, the discovery of Atticus’ father, and their escape from that Ardham manor, we jump into a whole other story. We still have our same beloved characters, though, with Letitia and Atticus both returning, but it’s only loosely related to the first two. Despite this anthological-like format, the characters, visuals, social commentary and delightful amounts of gore are what drive this thing to victory each time.

The plot of the third installment is definitely strange, but also totally intriguing. The episode kicks off with a creepy title-card explaining that two negroes, in this case Letitia and her sister, moved into a house where 10 other Black people went missing a while back. The issue is, it’s up in the “North side”, where all the racist folks are wanting to keep their little white town cleansed, so there isn’t much of a welcoming committee when they arrive. The two begin to get settled in, even inviting Atticus to stay in there while the two get it all freshened up. Then, of course, unexplained occurrences begin to happen around the old house before we all get another swinging party, though these white kids aren’t gonna let them get out unscathed.

What do they do? Well, these racists light up a massive cross on fire. Not friendly, huh? Arguably, this is when we get the best moment in this episode, Letitia’s revenge. Jurnee Smollett-Bell continues to absolutely kill it in the role, and when she brandishes that bat, smashes in the cars of their un-welcome neighbors, it’s so darn satisfying. Bell truly takes the driver’s seat in this next installment, and I can’t help but adore it. Before Tic (Jonathan Majors) gets sucked into the house, he’s got some daddy issues with Montrose (Michael K. Williams), who is sadly underused during most of the key plot points.

Then things start to really get bad in Leti’s new place. First of all, our two characters get arrested by the coppers after smashing those cars, and the chief can’t help but be a little creepy. It’s exposition time, folks. He explains to Letitia the strange missing persons cases that happened in the house she’s staying in, and after they get released, she isn’t planning on letting these tormented ghosts ruin her home. At first, Atticus thinks it is just the stress she went through last episode, although it ends a little hard not to believe her when they decide to get a paranormal investigator to check out the basement, which is where these people mysteriously vanished.

This is where returning director Daniel Sackheim truly turns up the chills, making these “ghosts” possess both the investigator and Atticus in a thrilling scene that gives you that tingle up your spine. After this, ummm…happening, we get some of the most welcomed violence in a lifetime. The so-called “leaders” of this no-good neighborhood break into the house, only to get attacked by…The house. A broken elevator shaft decapitates one of them, and a figure with a baby’s head on a grown man’s body kills the other two. It’s totally magnificent to watch these awful people get the goods.

I have to admit that I was satisfied with the outcome of “The Holy Ghost.” I won’t spoil the last moment of the episode, which is an excellent cliffhanger that gives Christina the ultimate “Karen” moment. Besides the mis-used Michael K. Williams, director Sackheim brings more character moments, development, scares and weirdness to the table without sacrificing anything that makes this so special. Episode four, here we come!

The final opinion is: Lovecraft Country comes back swinging in top form with “The Holy Ghost”, filled with chills, excellent performances, dazzling cinematography and epic amounts of gore that propel the show forward. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Lovecraft Country - Episode 3

“Lovecraft Country” Episode 3 is bigger, better and scarier than the second

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