There’s a lot of hype for Lovecraft Country, the latest horror-drama hit based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff, and executively produced by Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams. The show explores the relationship between the works of H. P. Lovecraft and racism within America during the age of Jim Crow.
If you want to tune into Lovecraft Country yourself, then here’s everything you need to know, including how to watch the first episode for free. We also have similar guides for watching Star Trek: Lower Decks, as well as Disney’s Mulan.
How to watch Lovecraft Country in the US
Lovecraft Country airs first on HBO, HBO GO (the catch up service for HBO users) and HBO Max on Sundays at 9pm ET. If you’ve not got a HBO TV subscription, then the most flexible option is to sign up for HBO Max which offers a seven-day free trial, and then a monthly rolling subscription costing US$14.99 per month.
HBO Max features your library of classic HBO hits such as Game of Thrones and Westworld, as well as Warner Bros sitcoms such as Friends, blockbusters from the DC cinematic universe and much more.
HBO Max is exclusive to the USA. However, if you’re not based yhere then not all hope is lost yet.
How to watch Lovecraft Country on HBO Max using a VPN
If you want to watch Lovecraft Country as soon as it airs, then the best option is to use a VPN to access HBO Max.
VPNs (virtual private networks) reroute your IP address so you can browse the internet anonymously, and as if you’re from another country. For HBO Max, you would connect to a US server.
There’s lots of VPN options available, but for the best price, speeds and performance we recommend either NordVPN or ExpressVPN. You can also take a look at our recommended free VPNs, but note that these probably won’t have enough servers to watch HBO Max successfully.
Signing up for HBO Max with just a VPN is tricky because you need a payment option that’s tied to the US if you want to sign up on the web. However, if you download your VPN on your phone then you can overcome this problem. Here’s the basic steps you need to take:
- Launch your VPN on your iOS/Android device and connect to a US server
- Create a new Apple ID/Google Play account in your browser that’s tied to the US (leave the country blank)
- Register your new account on your iOS/Android device app store
- You should now have access to the US app store – download the HBO Max app
- Create a new account with your email address and password
- Use PayPal as your method of payment (this can be a UK account)
- Once your account is verified, you can sign in from any device
You can find more details in our guide to signing up to HBO Max from outside of the US.
Other ways to watch Lovecraft Country in the UK
If all that sounds like too much work, then you can also watch Lovecraft Country on Sky Atlantic and Now TV in the UK. It airs the day after the US, on Mondays at 9pm BST.
If you don’t have Sky Atlantic included in your TV package, then a Now TV Entertainment Pass costs £8.99 per month, but you do get a seven-day free trial. Now TV includes the best of Sky TV programming, and you can also bundle this purchase in with a cinema or kids pass.
You can also watch Now TV with the help of a VPN, if that’s a more preferable option.
Watch Lovecraft Country for free
Episode one has already aired on HBO platforms and on Sky, but in a surprising move the network has made the debut episode free for everyone to watch.
You can watch it for free on either HBO.com or HBO Max, and use a VPN if you’re in the UK (you won’t need an account though).
Lovecraft Country trailer
For a taste of what’s to come, you can watch the official trailer for Lovecraft Country down below:
Author: Hannah Cowton, Senior Staff Writer
Hannah Cowton is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She's also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.