In Lovecraft Country season 1, episode 9, "Rewind 1921", Hippolyta Freeman's (Aunjanue Ellis) hair transformed from a rich brunette to a vivid blue, but why? It may appear to be a minute and unimportant change, but it actually reflects her relationship with her daughter, Diana "Dee" (Jada Harris), and husband, George (Courtney B. Vance).
Misha Green's HBO series is adapted from Matt Ruff's 2016 novel of the same name. The beginning of Lovecraft Country focused primarily on Atticus "Tic" Freeman (Jonathan Majors) and the discovery of his true lineage as the descendant of Titus Braithwhite, founder of the fraternal secret society known as the Sons of Adam. As Lovecraft Country season 1 progressed, characters such as Hippolyta Freeman and her daughter were given more complex roles and story lines. After Letitia "Leti" Lewis (Jurnee Smollett) showcased how important women were going to be to the series in episode 3, "Holy Ghost", it was only a matter of time before Atticus's aunt was able to come into her own power as a strong Black woman, mother, and warrior.
After Hippolyta traveled through time and space in episode 7, "I Am.", she explored the cosmos with her deceased husband as the comic book character her daughter drew — Orithyia Blue. The intergalactic space hero - the title character - is a Black woman who is striking with her signature blue hair. While Hippolyta did not return from her adventures in "Rewind 1921" as Orithyia Blue, she became the superhero later on — here's how.
When Hippolyta set out to discover what truly happened to George in Ardham, Diana gives her an Orithyia Blue comic book. Once she returns to Chicago, she finds a device that would allow her to travel through time and space. When she enters the time machine, Hippolyta leaves behind the comic book her daughter lovingly crafted for her, but she experiences everything the character could've possibly encountered as an intergalactic space hero in the book. When Hippolyta returns in episode 9, she discovers that Diana has become gravely ill during her absence, which leads everyone to get the Book of Names in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1921 race massacre. While Hippolyta was traveling through time, she somehow gained the ability and knowledge to control the time machine somewhat, but the energy she needed to exert to send Atticus, Montrose, and Leti back in time somehow changed her hair color blue in the process.
It's likely that the pieces of Hippolyta that remain in parallel universes and alternate timelines converged to make the color change, but it could also be her maternal desire to be her daughter's hero that caused the change as well. Orithyia Blue is meant to represent the way that Diana views her mother: a strong Black woman who can do and achieve anything. Both Hippolyta and Diana's names are taken from Greek mythology, which reflects their inner strength. The moment her hair turns blue is a powerful moment meant to indicate that Hippolyta wants to be the mother and superhero her daughter sees. In Lovecraft Country season 1, episode 10, "Full Circle", Hippolyta explains that she became Orithyia Blue, and can use her new powers of time travel to gift Diana a working arm, since hers was permanently damaged by the curse. She even gifts her daughter with a comic featuring the two of them as an intergalactic team.
The change in Hippolyta's hair color is meant as a symbol of her power as a Black woman and mother. As she expresses to George in "I Am.", Hippolyta has formed her life around her husband, but it's now time for her to find the strength to find herself — her blue hair is a symbol of that and her newfound freedom. Hippolyta's hair color transformation in Lovecraft Country is one of the most important moments in the series, and highlights the power and strength of Black women.