Ep 1. Sundown

In Lovecraft Country season 1 episode 1, titled "Sundown", we are introduced to Atticus Freeman (played by Jonathan Majors), a Black man and Korean War veteran who returns to his hometown of Chicago in the 1950s to search for his missing father. Along with his uncle George (played by Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Letitia (played by Jurnee Smollett), the trio embarks on a road trip through the Jim Crow-era South to find Atticus's missing father.

As they travel deeper into the heart of racism, they realize the horrors they have to encounter are not just confined to the people, but also to the supernatural realm. They learn that they are not just battling racists but also locked in a fight against creatures that hail from the depths of hell. They have physically and mentally grueling experiences as they experience the underlying racism that exists in a small Alabama town they stop in. Atticus finds himself in an unexpected situation, forced to defend himself and his loved ones against the angry, violent, and racist white residents of the town. The group realizes that they are forced to stay in the town during a specified time, subject to strict curfews each night when the frightful creatures come alive and begin to terrorize the town.

As the sun goes down, the three friends become the target of several terrifying and violent attacks that go beyond anything they could have imagined. They race to save themselves and the rest of the townspeople from the creatures of the darkness as they fight not just the supernatural unknown but the horror rooted in a world that refuses to accept them as equals. The episodes will spark a lot of emotions in viewers who experience the fear and trauma that the three friends, along with all Black people, have historically endured.

Overall, "Sundown" sets up the theme of the show, which is tasked with exploring race relations during the Jim Crow era using the works of horror fiction author H.P. Lovecraft. It is a compelling and gruesome mix, showcasing social commentary on race struggles within a fictional, exciting, and unsettling adventure. The opening episode sets the tone for the series, introducing an ultimately life-altering and terrifying journey for Atticus, Letitia, and George.