I could tell immediately there was a different director for this episode. It was really well paced and less disjointed than some of the others. It honestly felt like I was watching a movie. Heavy on the subtitles but it just made it that much more authentic. Very well done.
34 Reviews
Amazing episode!
mrs-tweedy21 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this episode, it really added depth to Tic's character and motivations. I liked that they focused on Ji-Ah and showed her importance to him and perhaps gave some insight into his actions in the present timeline.
Jamie Chung was wonderful to watch as Ji-Ah, I really got a sense of how conflicted she was between pleasing her overbearing mother whilst trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted from life. The scene where it's revealed that she is possessed by a Kumiho was so shocking and unexpected, even for a show that revels in the shocking and unexpected. The special effects are brilliant in this series, they never feel gratuitous and always add to the sense of horror and otherworldliness. I'm always unsettled after watching this show, which I'm sure is the intention of the creators.
My only criticism was of how quickly Ji-Ah seemed to develop feelings for Tic. She saw him act in the most brutal way imaginable and he was party to the death of her best friend and yet she seemed able to move past that fairly quickly. Perhaps this was intentional and was due to her not being quite human and not possessing the full spectrum of human emotions. I'm not sure.
Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying Lovecraft Country and will be sorry when it ends. There's no other show quite like it and that's got to be a good thing.
Jamie Chung was wonderful to watch as Ji-Ah, I really got a sense of how conflicted she was between pleasing her overbearing mother whilst trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted from life. The scene where it's revealed that she is possessed by a Kumiho was so shocking and unexpected, even for a show that revels in the shocking and unexpected. The special effects are brilliant in this series, they never feel gratuitous and always add to the sense of horror and otherworldliness. I'm always unsettled after watching this show, which I'm sure is the intention of the creators.
My only criticism was of how quickly Ji-Ah seemed to develop feelings for Tic. She saw him act in the most brutal way imaginable and he was party to the death of her best friend and yet she seemed able to move past that fairly quickly. Perhaps this was intentional and was due to her not being quite human and not possessing the full spectrum of human emotions. I'm not sure.
Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying Lovecraft Country and will be sorry when it ends. There's no other show quite like it and that's got to be a good thing.
At last, some connection to the first episode!
billsoccer21 September 2020
Starts with long scenes with Korean sub-titles. By this time however, I trusted the writers to bring it back to the 'story'. Introduces a new monster. We begin to see why Atticus is haunted by the events which occurred in the Korean War.
Where has this been?
greenday0521 September 2020
Easily One of The Best Episodes.
Uzer_error40421 September 2020
Now THIS is the momentum the show needed. The previous episode was a huge disappointment and waste of time since almost nothing of plot importance occurs. You can skip the first 59 mins of the last episode and just skip to the very end and you won't miss a beat.
But this episode delivers on all levels. Not only does it connect with the story and explains a lot more into Atticus' past, but it also builds tension for what's to come later in the season.
All in all, easily the shows best and most memorable episode thus far.
But this episode delivers on all levels. Not only does it connect with the story and explains a lot more into Atticus' past, but it also builds tension for what's to come later in the season.
All in all, easily the shows best and most memorable episode thus far.
Wonderful episode!
Reylo201728 September 2020
J A M I E Chung steals the Show in this one, after the 1st episode intro (with that nightmare Atticus Freeman had, where Jamie appeared as a P!nk Alien character, she returned in this awesome episode: MEET ME IN DAEGU)
I only hope that we will see Jamie Chung again, and I mean ASAP xD
This one episode could be stand alone movie
mzzienkiewicz22 September 2020
Masterpiece.
If that would be a 100 min movie in cinema about korean war with a pinch of fantasy ... I could only wish.
I didn't expect such marvelous episode in this series. Overall Lovecrast Country is very weak 8/10, I personally rated it 7/10 after second episode, but boy, oh boy...
You don't get episodes like this one very often.
I can only hope next episodes will be at least close to this one.
Brilliant episode!
gwilli-9926221 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This one was very unexpected. I was a little unnerved when the episode started. Seemed like such a major step away from the central characters and plot, but as the story unfolded, I was so impressed by it. The connection to Atticus, along with seeing more of his backstory, was incredibly well done. I hope we have not seen the last of the new characters from this episode. As always, the acting was phenomenal, but this will definitely remain one of my favorites from the season.
Best episode
martink176722 September 2020
Best episode so far...
Roydsy_Reviews23 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
But luckily they still managed to wedge in POC's being treated badly back home. Woulda been a shame not to be reminded of that even in the face of a war.
This show is so one note it is ridiculous. But at least they tried with this episode. However, after the last one, anything would be good.
Anyone giving any episode of this show a 10/10 is delusional. 10/10 is the best you'll ever see. This is far from that show.
This show is so one note it is ridiculous. But at least they tried with this episode. However, after the last one, anything would be good.
Anyone giving any episode of this show a 10/10 is delusional. 10/10 is the best you'll ever see. This is far from that show.
Quite possibly the best episode yet
hnt_dnl22 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Based on the promos, I'm sure fans were wary that this flashback episode would be in a completely new setting focusing on a whole new set of characters. I certainly was. But irony of all ironies, MEET ME IN DAEGU may very well be the best episode of the season. Driven by Jamie Chung's remarkably persuasive and passionate performance, easily the best of her career, this episode is set prior to and during the Korean War. Chung plays Ji-ah, a South Korean nursing student who gets assigned to treat American soldiers at a base camp. Ji-ah, "Ji" for short, is a troubled and lonely girl whose stern mother compels her to attract men to bring to their home, but not as suitors, as victims! Turns out Atticus is one of the potential victims and Ji has a very good reason for wanting him dead. Chung and Majors have great chemistry.
This awesome episode manages to somehow tell a complete and rich story, mostly through subtitles, and never feels pretentious or slow. It gains momentum as it goes along. All the actors really shined. In addition to Chung and Majors, the actresses playing Ji's mother and fellow nurse/best friend were great, too. The sets and costume design of this series really puts the viewer right there in the throes of the action. This episode is basically on the surface the equivalent to the highly acclaimed Kiksuya episode of Westworld. Difference is I hated that episode and thought it was a pretentious snooze fest, much like most of the show post Season 1. But I loved this one done by Lovecraft Country.
This awesome episode manages to somehow tell a complete and rich story, mostly through subtitles, and never feels pretentious or slow. It gains momentum as it goes along. All the actors really shined. In addition to Chung and Majors, the actresses playing Ji's mother and fellow nurse/best friend were great, too. The sets and costume design of this series really puts the viewer right there in the throes of the action. This episode is basically on the surface the equivalent to the highly acclaimed Kiksuya episode of Westworld. Difference is I hated that episode and thought it was a pretentious snooze fest, much like most of the show post Season 1. But I loved this one done by Lovecraft Country.
It was ok
coolliegal421 September 2020
I like how each episode is different but this one made me miss the other characters of the show and this was a bit slow and boring for me. Just like the other episodes it was well produced and the story was interesting enough to keep me watching but unlike the other episodes, I paused this one a lot.
When you learn one of the heroes is actually a villain
mynewyaa22 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Let me analogize for a minute: Remember the movie Passengers...when you learned the protagonist Jim (Chris Pratt's character) isn't a hero but actually the villain who dooms Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence's character)? Remember how you thought it was such a shame that an otherwise visually and musically flawless movie was rendered unwatchable just by this hero-villain revelation?
Well, that's what happened in this episode of Lovecraft Country. Turns out Atticus (Jonathan Majors' character) isn't a hero but actually an unspeakably cruel villain who terrorizes, abuses, and summarily executes defenseless women. This is all I can think of now when I see (or even imagine) Atticus. I'm done with this series.
Dear writers: Stop, just stop doing this...stop having your male protagonists flip from hero to villain by ravaging female characters, and stop expecting us to forgive them for it because you think it makes the characters "complex." It does't make them complex; it makes them contemptible. And I don't forgive them, and I can't stand to watch them. So just stop insulting your audience's intelligence with this perpetual dehumanization of women. It's old, cheap, lazy, and repugnant.
Well, that's what happened in this episode of Lovecraft Country. Turns out Atticus (Jonathan Majors' character) isn't a hero but actually an unspeakably cruel villain who terrorizes, abuses, and summarily executes defenseless women. This is all I can think of now when I see (or even imagine) Atticus. I'm done with this series.
Dear writers: Stop, just stop doing this...stop having your male protagonists flip from hero to villain by ravaging female characters, and stop expecting us to forgive them for it because you think it makes the characters "complex." It does't make them complex; it makes them contemptible. And I don't forgive them, and I can't stand to watch them. So just stop insulting your audience's intelligence with this perpetual dehumanization of women. It's old, cheap, lazy, and repugnant.
Phenomenal
ay624 September 2020
This is a phenomenal episode, almost worthy of being a standalone cinematic wonder. It's easily the best episode so far by a country mile, no pun intended!
Some scenes are hard to watch and upsetting, there's emotion and depth of feeling, as well as some spectacular gore! It's all done with style and panache; well written, well acted, well directed.
It's also great to see Jamie Chung (finally!) get a decent amount of screen time with an episode almost to herself, after being conspicuous by her absence in earlier episodes where she was a credit only or a voice only credit. Her storyline also ties into the first scene we saw in the first episode, helping to make a bit more sense of that.
Ignore all the low score reviews, maybe those people are simple folk who can't appreciate any depth and would prefer some one dimensional storytelling. Open your mind and you'll love this episode, and even find yourself feeling for and sympathising with a "monster".
Some scenes are hard to watch and upsetting, there's emotion and depth of feeling, as well as some spectacular gore! It's all done with style and panache; well written, well acted, well directed.
It's also great to see Jamie Chung (finally!) get a decent amount of screen time with an episode almost to herself, after being conspicuous by her absence in earlier episodes where she was a credit only or a voice only credit. Her storyline also ties into the first scene we saw in the first episode, helping to make a bit more sense of that.
Ignore all the low score reviews, maybe those people are simple folk who can't appreciate any depth and would prefer some one dimensional storytelling. Open your mind and you'll love this episode, and even find yourself feeling for and sympathising with a "monster".
Best episode so far
quintrelbrown22 September 2020
A Major Win, Good Storytelling and An Asian American Actress Headlining the Episode
ObsessiveCinemaDisorder27 September 2020
This week's episode of Lovecraft Country, Meet Me in Daegu, covers the backstory of Atticus' past and centers on the story of his mysterious Korean lover Ji-Ah, who Atticus meets during his tour in the Korean War.
Meet Me In Daegu is a major win and restores what's been missing from Lovecraft Country: heart. Very much like the show's pilot, this episode respects its own story, taking the proper time and focusing on building its pathos and spending time building its characters.
Jamie Chung has landed an Asian-American part in Hollywood that puts her front and center, a rare statistical occurrence made possible by those infinite monkeys typing out all of life's possibilities. In the part of Ji-Ah, Jamie Chung plays her best and most complex part to date that she is specifically correct for, playing her own ethnicity (she often plays marginalized Asian roles; she's done Chinese, Japanese, or an unidentified Asian girl with a white name) and being fluently bilingual onscreen.
Ji-Ah earns the audience's sympathy. From this episode alone, I am already more captivated by Atticus and Ji-Ah's love story than Atticus and Letitia's current relationship, which remains as a progression-resistant love plotline that just sits there. Maybe Atticus doesn't even end up with Letitia at all at the end of the season. Maybe he ends up with Ji-Ah. Part of me is rooting for that to happen now.
If you don't like reading subtitles, too freaking bad. 80% of the episode is in Korean. I applaud HBO for having the nerve to put up an episode like this and letting the world deal with it. I am sure someone who is born and raised in Korea can watch it and find historical inconsistencies or factual errors or some kind, but in terms of Asian representation, consider it a win.
Meet Me In Daegu being such an effective episode highlights my disappointment with the show overall. There are just too many cooks in this kitchen. What is happening in this writer's room? The show feels like a constant tug of war between J.J. Abram's ADD versus Jordan Peele's social topic horror. The show is now past the point of any kind of meaningful recovery. I hate to be a broken record when I say I still in awe that Atticus, the main character, is the least developed of all the characters.
What will the finale to this show be? What will the grand finale between Atticus Laetitia and the Sons of the Adam look like? Between magic, monsters, force fields, and metamorphosis potions, there are more than enough story devices than I can count on my fingers. The setup is akin to a kid placing a hodgepodge of all his favorite action figures, each one of different sizes, from different franchises and from a different toymaker, on the living room carpet. Please let it be great...
Meet Me In Daegu is a major win and restores what's been missing from Lovecraft Country: heart. Very much like the show's pilot, this episode respects its own story, taking the proper time and focusing on building its pathos and spending time building its characters.
Jamie Chung has landed an Asian-American part in Hollywood that puts her front and center, a rare statistical occurrence made possible by those infinite monkeys typing out all of life's possibilities. In the part of Ji-Ah, Jamie Chung plays her best and most complex part to date that she is specifically correct for, playing her own ethnicity (she often plays marginalized Asian roles; she's done Chinese, Japanese, or an unidentified Asian girl with a white name) and being fluently bilingual onscreen.
Ji-Ah earns the audience's sympathy. From this episode alone, I am already more captivated by Atticus and Ji-Ah's love story than Atticus and Letitia's current relationship, which remains as a progression-resistant love plotline that just sits there. Maybe Atticus doesn't even end up with Letitia at all at the end of the season. Maybe he ends up with Ji-Ah. Part of me is rooting for that to happen now.
If you don't like reading subtitles, too freaking bad. 80% of the episode is in Korean. I applaud HBO for having the nerve to put up an episode like this and letting the world deal with it. I am sure someone who is born and raised in Korea can watch it and find historical inconsistencies or factual errors or some kind, but in terms of Asian representation, consider it a win.
Meet Me In Daegu being such an effective episode highlights my disappointment with the show overall. There are just too many cooks in this kitchen. What is happening in this writer's room? The show feels like a constant tug of war between J.J. Abram's ADD versus Jordan Peele's social topic horror. The show is now past the point of any kind of meaningful recovery. I hate to be a broken record when I say I still in awe that Atticus, the main character, is the least developed of all the characters.
What will the finale to this show be? What will the grand finale between Atticus Laetitia and the Sons of the Adam look like? Between magic, monsters, force fields, and metamorphosis potions, there are more than enough story devices than I can count on my fingers. The setup is akin to a kid placing a hodgepodge of all his favorite action figures, each one of different sizes, from different franchises and from a different toymaker, on the living room carpet. Please let it be great...
Medusa's Coil
southdavid24 September 2020
Change of location for episode six of the first season of "Lovecraft Country" as we travel to South Korea and learn something of Atticus' time at war.
Ji-Ah (Jamie Chung) is an aspiring nurse in South Korea, she is also possessed by a Kumiho, a nine tailed spirit who must consume the souls of 100 men before ascending back to humanity. As she nears the end of this ordeal, she begins to question the validity of humanity at all, particular as the war breaks out and she sees the depths of human barbarity. She meets and falls in love with Atticus (Jonathan Majors) but his wartime experience and her secret is pulling them apart.
Almost, but not quite a bottle episode - this provides us with some backstory as to the horrors that Atticus experience and dished out during the war, helping to explain how quickly the violence comes to him - particularly the scene with Christina a couple of episodes ago. Mostly though, it's the story of Jamie Chung's Ji-Ah and her Kumiho spirt, a very real manifestation of her mother's guilt at being a single mother, and her culpability in the actions of her husband. Chung is great, heartbreaking, terrifying, vulnerable and confused - as the spirit within her struggles with gain a sense of worth. (The idea that the students wouldn't want to date her though, may go down as the most unbelievable moment in the whole season).
Its how it's left though, that resonates most. What does this mean for Atticus' plans to protect his family? Is it even possible? What did the rest of the translated message mean?
Hugely enjoyable episode after a bit of filler last week. Wonderfully shot and performed and missing the plot holes that I feel have plagued the show in recent weeks.
Ji-Ah (Jamie Chung) is an aspiring nurse in South Korea, she is also possessed by a Kumiho, a nine tailed spirit who must consume the souls of 100 men before ascending back to humanity. As she nears the end of this ordeal, she begins to question the validity of humanity at all, particular as the war breaks out and she sees the depths of human barbarity. She meets and falls in love with Atticus (Jonathan Majors) but his wartime experience and her secret is pulling them apart.
Almost, but not quite a bottle episode - this provides us with some backstory as to the horrors that Atticus experience and dished out during the war, helping to explain how quickly the violence comes to him - particularly the scene with Christina a couple of episodes ago. Mostly though, it's the story of Jamie Chung's Ji-Ah and her Kumiho spirt, a very real manifestation of her mother's guilt at being a single mother, and her culpability in the actions of her husband. Chung is great, heartbreaking, terrifying, vulnerable and confused - as the spirit within her struggles with gain a sense of worth. (The idea that the students wouldn't want to date her though, may go down as the most unbelievable moment in the whole season).
Its how it's left though, that resonates most. What does this mean for Atticus' plans to protect his family? Is it even possible? What did the rest of the translated message mean?
Hugely enjoyable episode after a bit of filler last week. Wonderfully shot and performed and missing the plot holes that I feel have plagued the show in recent weeks.
Some people should not watch tv..
keaton-owen8522 September 2020
Every time an extremely rare masterpiece episode of television is aired for those of us which an actual clue and appreciation for the art there are always those who just negatively review for reasons almost unbeknown to my rationale and understanding. If this isn't anything but a 10 for you maybe just watch this new show it's called the mirror. Amazing episode straight in the list of 2020 best episodes so far. I'm about to watch it again been so many months between these entertainment drinks.
Helen Shaver
juabeaux21 September 2020
Best episode, Jamie Chung is amazing
brunonhlindo3 October 2020
This episode is a class on how to make cinema, art direction, photography, soundtrack, acting, I love this episode.
The scenery in South Korea is beautiful, with a mix of history (Korean War) and Korean mythology this episode takes us on a very pleasant journey.
I might be done with this series
culbeda-533-44696521 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Had I intended to watch this kind of story, it might have gotten a 7. It's pretty cliche, the acting is fine and it had a few good moments. But it was an entire hour dedicated to a new character/Tic's backstory that spent an inordinate amount of time selling us on how much she loved Judy Garland and then having her transform into a bizarre creature that made almost no sense and didn't feel as if it fit into the Lovecraft style at all. (The creature or the atmosphere of the entire episode.)
For so much to be unresolved in the central plot of the show and to dedicate another hour of the precious 5 hours that remain this season to this side tale is what really annoyed me the most. Maybe it would have if I bought their romance, but the chemistry wasn't there.
What it DID do is make it abundantly clear that we're either not getting any sense of resolution to this season or it'll be slapdash and hurried at the end, leaving us to wonder whether we even want more.
For so much to be unresolved in the central plot of the show and to dedicate another hour of the precious 5 hours that remain this season to this side tale is what really annoyed me the most. Maybe it would have if I bought their romance, but the chemistry wasn't there.
What it DID do is make it abundantly clear that we're either not getting any sense of resolution to this season or it'll be slapdash and hurried at the end, leaving us to wonder whether we even want more.
Best since 1st Episode
labamboos26 September 2020
While the interim episodes have been good, they had not enchanted me like the first one. The writing was sooo good and some of the cinematography was incredible. I had missed that feeling of being sucked into the rabbit hole. Also, the whole question of what happened to Tic in Korea was niggling at the back of my mind.
Well....Boom! Two birds with one stone. I am also left thinking there is more to this part of the story (so I will eagerly await its next phase). Based on the preview, we are switching gears again next episode...but THANK YOU for this one! Amazing.
Incredible episode
Eli_Elvis21 September 2020
More this, less racism. I loved That this episode delved into a mythos of another culture. In the USA it's mostly European myths. Please focus on this than rather than the anti-whyte bs you've been doing. My fam isn't whyte, but we hate racism and American cinema has been focusing way too much on anti-Caucasian rhetoric. Just give us good stories like this.
Great episode but...
songod-9500329 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Historically inaccurate. While integration of the US army was signed into effect at he end of WWII by Harry Truman, mixed race troops did not serve together until 1963.
JJ Abrams has done this before. He produced a VOD movie set during WWII that featured black and white soldiers in the same unit. This could not have happened. Now, either he does not know or is purposely retconing history.
Regardless, this was a fine episode with excellent direction by Helen Shaver (she once of the show "Poltergeist: The Legacy").
JJ Abrams has done this before. He produced a VOD movie set during WWII that featured black and white soldiers in the same unit. This could not have happened. Now, either he does not know or is purposely retconing history.
Regardless, this was a fine episode with excellent direction by Helen Shaver (she once of the show "Poltergeist: The Legacy").
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
