Lovecraft Country’s finale focuses on one thing: death. It watches over the death of three major characters and is ultimately the death of the first season. Yet, it still sets the series up for a new life if there’s a season two.
The finale starts off with our heroes running back from the observatory, ready to cast a spell to set Diana (Jada Haris) free from her curse, but as soon as they unbind the Book of Names, Tic (Jonathan Majors) and Leti (Jurnee Smollet) fall to the ground, and transport to a red mental escape. For Tic, it’s the familiar setting of running through the on-fire Braithwaite mansion, while for Leti, she’s in the house from Tulsa from last episode.
There, Tic is confronted by his ancestor, Hannah (Joaquina Kalukango) and Leti is confronted by Tic’s great grandmother, Hattie (Regina Taylor). They talk about the power of unsealing the book and briefly describe to them the magic that they’ll need to use to defeat Christina’s (Abbey Lee Kershaw) spell and undo Diana’s curse.
Viewers also meet Tic’s mother (Erica Tazel), who comforts her son as he begins to realize the inevitability of his fate in the autumnal equinox. Together, they all cast a spell in ancient magic, in the red zone that undoes Diana’s spell, bringing her back to normal -- except for a decrepit, cursed arm.
After that storyline, the second act is mainly focused on bridging together characters and trying to prevent Christina’s spell. Tic and Leti get the genius idea to turn the power of Christina’s spell against her, but to do so they need the witch’s blood.
Enter Ruby (Wunmi Mosaku) who has been tasked by Leti to retrieve blood from her lover. She sets off on that quest whilst Tic and Leti get baptized at a church and Hippolyta (Aunjanue Ellis) and Diana begin to repair their relationship, the mother giving Diana hope about her ruined arm. It is undoubtedly heartwarming when Tic and Ji-ah make amends in a bar, fully welcoming her to his family.
At the start of the third act, they get ready to leave for Ardham, and Ruby shows up with a vial of Christina’s blood. They all leave together, happy and singing like a family.
But when our heroes arrive in Ardham, Leti realizes that she’s not talking to Ruby, but instead Christina in a body spell of Ruby. It is revealed then that Christina killed Ruby! The blood that they were using for the spell might as well have been dyed water, meanwhile, Ardham townspeople show up to corner everyone.
Ultimately, they’re unable to fight off the townspeople and Tic is sacrificed in the autumnal equinox but before it can fully be consumed, Ji-ah uses her nine-tails abilities to link both of their bodies and undo Christina’s immortality. Conclusively, it doesn’t matter though. Tic is dead and the damage is done.
The final twist in the puzzle is that Leti’s spell made it impossible for white people to do magic and now, Black people have the power, instead. It’s a powerful reversal and if there’s a second season, that new dimension and power dynamic will be fascinating to explore.
For now, Lovecraft Country is over, its strengths and flaws alike and fans are eager to see if it's renewed or not. It’s one of the boldest series on TV right now and our screens are already less bright without it.
