Watchmen- HBO-(***Spoilers***)

Slydice

Basq wrote: »

Any chance they'll have Robert Redford appearing at some stage?

hrmmmm

when I google a phrase and get zero results.. that looks a bit suspicious..
"Robert Redford will cameo"
https://www.google.com/search?&q="Robert+Redford+will+cameo"

About 0 results (0.50 seconds)

Feels paid-for .. so yes, 95% sure he'll cameo!

alchemist33

I only know the film up until now, so I really don't know what I'm watching. But its very good and the soundtrack is brilliant

Basq

Slydice wrote: »

hrmmmm

when I google a phrase and get zero results.. that looks a bit suspicious..
"Robert Redford will cameo"
https://www.google.com/search?&q="Robert+Redford+will+cameo"



Feels paid-for .. so yes, 95% sure he'll cameo!

We're now getting 1 result but it's this thread..

.. look what you've done!!!

Slydice

Basq wrote: »

We're now getting 1 result but it's this thread..

.. look what you've done!!!

Nos costodimus!

TheIrishGrover

I enjoyed that. As with Thrones, my (overvalued) tuppence worth:

The Good

• Thought Regina King was great. And she is an actor that I can find grating.
• Interesting (And understandable) take on Rorschach's legacy. As others have pointed out, in the comic he was a psycho, not a misunderstood hero. So yeah, I thought the white supremacists latching on to him was very understandable.
• I liked the style (The sort of chapter headings etc) and the design of the universe (Set in 2019 with electric cars being the norm but people using pagers for example).
• Excellent music (Trent Rezner doing the original music)
• The opening scene of (the real) Tulsa "Black Wall-Street" massacre was shocking. That this was in the 21st century..... Not the 19th.
• Louis Gosset (jnr anymore?). Thought he was dead.

The Bad

• Didn't find much outright bad actually

And The Meh

• Thought all the nods to the readers especially was a bit on the nose: From the smiley face with the eggs in the class to the blood on the badge at the end. But, first episode. It's entitled to a few winks to the camera I suppose
• Don Johnson couldn't have been more dead if he had two weeks to retirement

So yeah, it got me interested. Yeah, I assume Veidt's servants are robots or some form of artificial humans. Also noticed that the credits say "Co-created by Dave Gibbons". No mention of Alan Moore but this is to be expected.

brevity

I liked it.

It looks good, the actors and pacing seemed right. A good few Easter eggs too which is fine.

youcancallmeal

I enjoyed the first episode, impeccable productions values from HBO of course.
I've never read the comic books but did see the movie. Is this series a continuation of the events of the movie or are they meant to be 2 different adaptations?

Penn

I enjoyed it. Might watch that episode again as there seemed to be a lot of key info in news reports on the radio in the background, and I missed a few other things along the way I think. Also the detective with the mirror-type mask was hard to understand, and Jeremy Irons sounds like he just got new teeth and isn't used to them yet.

Really liked Regina King though, and the story seems interesting. Will keep watching anyway.

Acosta

Very impressive stuff and a great soundtrack from NIN.

johnny_ultimate

Intriguing first episode for sure - appropriately for a show based on Watchmen, doesn’t seem like it will be afraid to address and twist American history and contemporary debates. Strong visuals and superb production design.

Part of me wishes it wasn’t laden with the Watchmen name, as I do always feel a bit uneasy with follow-ups to that given Moore’s opposition to them. This is doing lots of its own things clearly, so will be curious to see how much it needs the iconography, characters and themes. But it already feels like a worthier and more interesting take on the source material than the film, so will definitely be checking out where it goes from here.

brevity

What’s with the squid (was it squid?) falling from the sky?

I also saw a poster in classroom with “Understanding squid” on it.

Is this to do with the squid at the end of the comic?

🦑

johnny_ultimate

Yeah assume it’s a continuation of the ‘alien attack’ from the book. They referenced continuing inter dimensional attacks in the interrogation sequence as well.

RobbingBandit

Loved the Mount Rushmore very graphic stuff throughout definitely what I'd expected from a Nixon regime America the timeline is very confusing though, the minutemen and Watchmen reference were quick to miss the opening scenes were scary to see on tv

Sleepy

The opening scenes were set in the real-life Tulsa Race Massacre

Really strong start, hoping they stay true to the Rorschach test aspect of the graphic novel and the absence of black and white morality. It seems they're going that way with the cops being portrayed in a fascistic light and the white supremacists being correct in their belief that the Rorschach Journal is true.

Some really good world-building additional material on the HBO site too: https://www.hbo.com/peteypedia

jface187

"It's better for the audience to be confused than bored" is a quote heard before in relation to not over-explaining things. Unfortunately with Watchmen, I was both.

I know it's only the first one, so by the end I could love it. I have read the book, but I think the show should stand on it's own. Also having read the book hasn't helped me understand this.

For everyone harping on about Alan Moore work being used without his consent, a lot of Watchmen characters are based on Charlton comics, who went out of business and DC bought them and didn't know what to do with them. So they gave them to Moore.

ERG89

I gotta read watchmen again, I've been on a Alan Moore binge reading From Hell & next in line is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

About the show I thought it was fine. Not as good as The Boys but far better than I was expecting. Nice for a show to focus on getting across the plot & setting as much as introducing the characters in the first episode. I'll be honest I'm still a little lost with where it is heading. I was expecting Don Johnson to swerve the viewer & be with the Rorschach group.

Acosta wrote: »

Very impressive stuff and a great soundtrack from NIN.

That track that played over the pod interrogation scene was soooo good, not sure who is responsible for it.

pixelburp

I thought it was a decent enough pilot, nothing spectacular though; those first episodes can often be barely watchable anyway wedging pages of worldbuilding, character backgrounds and broad arc at the expense of cohesion - so at least here there was just enough slivers of info given to keep the story going.

World building, especially alternate universes, are a delicate balance to strike so the pilot did a great job doling out aspects of this different America through character-action. Heck it even managed that most lazy or crutches, the rookie cop who has to learn alongside the audience. Lots of moments to pause and observe the details: Nixon on mount Rushmore, the extra stars on the flag (Vietnam is a state!), and so on.

Nothing plot wise to go on just yet, more questions than answers really, not least who Jeremy Irons' character is - but I can guess. Ditto his staff, who seemed ... odd.

Brief_Lives

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

I enjoyed that. As with Thrones, my (overvalued) tuppence worth:

The Good

• Thought Regina King was great. And she is an actor that I can find grating.
• Interesting (And understandable) take on Rorschach's legacy. As others have pointed out, in the comic he was a psycho, not a misunderstood hero. So yeah, I thought the white supremacists latching on to him was very understandable.
• I liked the style (The sort of chapter headings etc) and the design of the universe (Set in 2019 with electric cars being the norm but people using pagers for example).
• Excellent music (Trent Rezner doing the original music)
• The opening scene of (the real) Tulsa "Black Wall-Street" massacre was shocking. That this was in the 21st century..... Not the 19th.
• Louis Gosset (jnr anymore?). Thought he was dead.

The Bad

• Didn't find much outright bad actually

And The Meh

• Thought all the nods to the readers especially was a bit on the nose: From the smiley face with the eggs in the class to the blood on the badge at the end. But, first episode. It's entitled to a few winks to the camera I suppose
• Don Johnson couldn't have been more dead if he had two weeks to retirement

So yeah, it got me interested. Yeah, I assume Veidt's servants are robots or some form of artificial humans. Also noticed that the credits say "Co-created by Dave Gibbons". No mention of Alan Moore but this is to be expected.

I agree with all this, nice summary...
I would stress even more how on point the soundtrack is... its spot on...

gmisk

I read the comic a long long time ago.
So is this a prequel to the comic?

Different definitely but have to say I loved it, it looked fantastic clearly they have ploughed a lot of time and effort into the show. The music is brilliant, will definitely watch the rest.

jface187

It's a sequel I guess. They avoid saying that in all the promo for the show and going for a "remix". I guess this is just this writer take on what would happen in that world many years down the line.

Slydice

2: Continuing the intro and universe building but kinda keeping it vague.

From a sci-fi / hero-universe fan point of view, it's kinda cool to see new ideas being explored.

For the general audience, I'm guessing this hazyness is gonna get pretty old pretty fast if they don't give them some pay-off.

ERG89

Thought this week was a drop in quality from last week. Plot wise I didn't see the episode going in the direction it took considering the way last weeks show ended & the ending means we'll probably have to wait longer to get answers. I just didn't find myself that invested & the Ozymandias stuff for me is boring more than interesting.

Sleepy

Loved some of the nods to the comicbook this week - the newspaper seller in particular.

It's quite slow-moving but I don't mind that so much, prefer a slow boil to a hard and heavy opener that leaves the rest of the season without a plot.

Can't see myself sticking with this. Same writer as lost too. Yuck

ollkiller

Deleted User wrote: »

Can't see myself sticking with this. Same writer as lost too. Yuck

He did The Leftovers too. Of which season 2 and season 3 are fantastic. The episode International Assassin is up there with the best i've ever seen. Most people wrote it off after the first season. Their loss.

As regards Watchmen. Music is to die for. Can only see the whole thing getting better as we go along.

fitz

ollkiller wrote: »

He did The Leftovers too. Of which season 2 and season 3 are fantastic. The episode International Assassin is up there with the best i've ever seen. Most people wrote it off after the first season. Their loss.

As regards Watchmen. Music is to die for. Can only see the whole thing getting better as we go along.

The Leftovers is one of the best pieces of storytelling I've ever seen. And the performances are incredible. That karaoke scene...

On Watchmen...I like how is not giving you all the context, and is making you pay attention to what's said and what's presented on screen.
I know that won't suit everyone's attention spans, but I'm loving it so far. Didn't feel episode two dropped in quality at all. Just felt like it was settling in.

Zero-Cool

Watched the 1st episode last night, i had no idea Regina King was in it, never mind a lead role. She's one of my favourite actresses so I'm all in for that fact alone. Agree with above, The Leftovers was incredible and i find it highly interesting how they are just going with this whole new story based on a familiar universe. I usually don't watch 'next on...' but i watched this one as i had no idea where it was going. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

fritzelly

After watching two episodes I have no idea what is going on (bar some white supremacy rubbish) - is this actually anything to do with the Watchmen?

RobbingBandit

Rorschach took the law into his own hands doling out vigilanty justice doing what the police wouldn't do, the seventh kavalry took up his cause but seemingly they don't have the heart of gold moral compass rorschach had. The police being in the way had to be taken out which has led to the tit for tat masked war it looks like episode 3 gives some important character development but this type of vigilanty justice is very Marshall Law esque take no prisoners.

Sudden Valley

Having watched the first two episodes I'm enjoying it but it doesnt seem that related to the original graphic novel. A bit like the V for Vendetta movie they have changed the setting to challenge a more modern issue. The new vigilantes all seem pretty uninteresting comparing to the originals which is a major problem.

brevity

I like this show. Just the right amount of strange humour.

Jean Smart is great in this episode.

kerplun k

This show is pure class. I’m loving the tonal shift from the seriousness of Tulsa to the silliness of the world Jeremy Irons inhabits.

I think I’m falling in love with his female servant Ms Crookshank. Sara Vickers was just awesome in this episode.

They finally revealed the identity of Jeremy Irons character, but something seems off. Even tho it was obvious from the start they seemed to intentionally hold off revelling it.... Hmm, I’m not buying it.

Looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds.

jface187

I thought this was the best episode so far. I really didn't miss Sister Knight. I don't care about her or her flying space grandad. Think this is a much better direction for the show (I know the focus will go back to Sister Knight).

Slydice

3: Top episode! The work they're putting into these is fantastic!

Skerries

Is Veidt actually losing his mind and it is all in his head?

Walter Bishop

Skerries wrote: »

Is Veidt actually losing his mind and it is all in his head?

This show is superb, best on TV this year for me (so far).


As for

Veidt, the main theory at the moment seems to be that he's being kept prisoner on Mars or similar by Dr. Manhattan

brevity

https://twitter.com/ScottWamplerBMD/status/1192109401961910273?s=20

https://twitter.com/watchmen/status/1191188886086705152?s=20

brevity

The podcast is a bit back slappy but both come across well I thought. For all the crap he gets Lindeloff seems to have his heart in the right place and has surrounded himself with some good people

Slydice

Walter Bishop wrote: »

This show is superb, best on TV this year for me (so far).


As for

Veidt, the main theory at the moment seems to be that he's being kept prisoner on Mars or similar by Dr. Manhattan

There's a preview after 3 that

confirms he's been kept prisioner somewhere

. It was hinted at in 3 anyway. My guess is that

it looks to be a mind-prison.

pixelburp

Episode 2, and anyone else think the Hooded Justice show-in-a-show was a deliberate pastiche of Zack Synder, he of the Watchmen movie? All the slow motion fighting, gratuitous violence and overwrought voiceover felt a lot like a nod towards his style...

kerplun k

Definitely... it’s this shows version of Tales of the Black Freighter. This story within a story deliberately mimics the violence and style of Snyders film.

RobbingBandit

The watch starting again and the mention of midnight with the whole doomsday clock symbolism definitely has me thinking time has stopped for certain characters. Show is bonkers definitely enjoying it so far so much going on it's hard to keep track.

Slydice

4: I.. eh.. hold on, what?

kerplun k

4:1 - no idea what that ending was supposed to mean. Feel like I missed something.

brevity

It’s a very strange series. Quirky and whimsical in places and then dark and unsettling in others.

Good episode, I think. I have no idea where they are going though and in parts I am happy with that and in others I am wondering about the point of it all.

ERG89

Last 2 episodes were an improvement. I still feel Angela is a pretty bland main character in a show, any scenes with her family are a drag tbh. Think the show needed more development of her & Judd Crawford. The 7th cavalry are kinda getting lost with Lady Trieu & the former Silk Spectre having bigger roles the last 2 weeks. Next week seems to be focusing back on them along with a Looking Glass which is great as he's my favourite character even with limited screen time.

Penn

Just caught up on the latest two episodes last night. Really enjoying it. Laurie Blake is a terrific character, all her scenes have been incredible. Lady Trieu seems like she could be pretty good too, looking forward to seeing more of her, and also finding out what the f*ck is going on.

Biggest complaint so far though would have to be Jeremy Irons. He's a terrific actor, but I really feel like he's over-doing it. Maybe it's because his character has been imprisoned (I'm guessing) for years, but still, he's really hamming it up in terms of delivery and mannerisms.

I really can't see how anyone who hasn't seen the movie or read the comic would be finding the show though. As little as I understand what's going on at the minute, anyone who doesn't know about the characters from the comics/movie and what happened in it must have no clue what's going on at all.

Slydice

Did I miss something groundbreaking in episode 4?

jface187

ERG89 wrote: »

Last 2 episodes were an improvement. I still feel Angela is a pretty bland main character in a show, any scenes with her family are a drag tbh. Think the show needed more development of her & Judd Crawford. The 7th cavalry are kinda getting lost with Lady Trieu & the former Silk Spectre having bigger roles the last 2 weeks. Next week seems to be focusing back on them along with a Looking Glass which is great as he's my favourite character even with limited screen time.

Totally agree about Angela. It shows that how every other character is more interesting then her. Were suppose to be shocked that her dad is still alive and care for some reason. I admit I did laugh at her husband telling the kids about Heaven.

facehugger99

I'll give this one more episode but if episode 1 is reflective of the entire series, I won't be sticking with this.

As someone who's read the novel and watched the film adaption, I was still lost for most of it. It was deliberately obtuse and confusing without making me feel any real desire to unravel it.

It felt far too pleased with itself despite not having earned any right to be.

Stuff like this should be right up my alley so I will give it another episode but my overriding feeling was annoyance at the end of the first episode.