Lovecraft Cancelled Despite Emmy Love

When it was first announced that Misha Green's Lovecraft Country would not be returning to HBO for a second season, fans and critics alike were left utterly confused. After all, HBO is known for premiering stellar shows that often span for seasons, with notable examples being The Wire, Sex in the City, and True Blood, so the news of such a groundbreaking series like Lovecraft being canceled after one season was rightfully met with heavy criticism. Despite the news, however, as a testament to the brilliance of the series, and a reminder of how great the standalone season is, Lovecraft Country has been nominated for 18 Emmys, which not only celebrates the brilliance of the story but also the commitment of its actors. 

Similar to Watchmen, which also only aired for a season on HBO, the series garnered attention and viewership for successfully incorporating fantasy with real-life horrors of the African American experience. For every hyperbolic scene, there was the attempted balance of truth to reflect the state of American society. And while the series did incorporate many elements of horror, it was never used for sake of shock value, as opposed to the series Them. Nominations for the series include both Oustanding lead actress and actor, for Journee Smollet and Jonathan Majors, and for Outstanding drama series. Critical reception aside perhaps the network did not have faith in a successful second season with no source material to adapt, in comparison to its first season. However, with the strings woven throughout season 1, Greene was more than ready to continue her vision and push the narrative forward as she tweeted out a photo of the setting for the potential second season.

Bold as it may have been something tells me the executives weren’t too keen on “new negro” land. This may be retaliation for Confederate not getting greenlit after immediate backlash. But I say if Freeform can give a nonracist, feminist revision of history in the form of the series Motherland, then I’m sure Green could have accomplished the same with a second season. Oddly enough in her acknowledgment of Lovecraft's cancellation, Greene ended a tweet with #noconfederate. Although HBO has chosen not to renew the series, that’s not stopping Green’s momentum as she has signed a new deal to develop content for Apple TV. In the meantime, Green is continuing to tease fans of what could have been tweeting planned outlines for season 2 as we all anticipate the next chapter in her brilliance.

Black GIrl Magic Conquers Television

When it comes to new shows this year if you ask anyone their current tv obsession they’re likely to name one if not all three of the series’ currently captivating audiences. Lovecraft Country, I May Destroy You, and P-Valley each are revolutionizing television in their own unique ways. While each series is vastly different when it comes to their subject matter one can not help but celebrate that the driving force behind each series is a Black woman all filling the void, expanding the world of black entertainment, and reinforcing female empowerment.

Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You is a series exploring the character's trauma and response to being sexually assaulted. In a world where women are constantly bringing to light their own assaults and naming their assaulters, the series reinforces that predators aren't just celebrities or men in power. They can be a neighbor, a friend, a stranger, and even sometimes a significant other. Coel's character is a complex, multi-layered individual, who is by no means perfect, making her character all the more relatable. The show does serve as sort of a one-off but for those still interested you can watch the series on HBO.

P-Valley's authentic view of southern strip culture is the cultural turnaround 2020 needed, and despite the raunchy theme of the show, the series offers a variety of complex women and narratives. While the show does deliver dosages of eye candy and provocative scenes what’s most thrilling about the show is the complexity of the characters, while also reinforcing female empowerment. The series was created by  Katori Hall, a playwright, and activist, and premiered on Starz to positive reviews from fans and critics and has been renewed for a second season.

And then there is HBO’s Lovecraft Country which stands in a category of its own. Adapted from the novel of the same name, the series taps into the supernatural as it follows its Black protagonist who not only has to navigate the “supernatural” but also rampant racism. At first glance, one may think the series revolves solely around the black male protagonist Tick, but the moment the character Lettie appears on screen she makes it clear that this is her story too. It’s not surprising that the series showrunner Misha Green found the perfect balance to the series characters while still showcasing female empowerment.

Each series is vastly different and presents content that is rarely explored in most black programming. Thanks to these directors and creators the categories for black televised programming is expanding to new levels, offering something for viewers who have a variety of taste.