HBO's Watchmen (spoilers)

[Wormius]

Silicon Valley starting again. HBO is becoming must-watch Sunday.

I didn’t really get the first episode or Watchmen. I am assuming though that there isn’t going to be much of the movie characters showing up besides Ozymandias? When is this supposed to be set in relation to the movie? Is Rorschach still alive?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Silicon Valley starting again. HBO is becoming must-watch Sunday.

I didn’t really get the first episode or Watchmen. I am assuming though that there isn’t going to be much of the movie characters showing up besides Ozymandias? When is this supposed to be set in relation to the movie? Is Rorschach still alive?

This is set up as a direct sequel to the original comic series. Like that, it's set in an alternate version of the present day (1985 in the comics, 2019 on the show).

Dr. Manhattan kills Rorschach at the end of the comic/movie.

Jean Smart is playing Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman's character in the movie) in the show (they showed her in the preview). Also, based on the previews, it appears that Dr. Manhattan will be appearing in some way.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Matata

I wouldn't call the comic overtly racist, but it is incidentally racist. There's only one non-white person among the villians.

The banker is clearly supposed to be Jewish with his "Oy vey". The organized crime figure is Italian (and presumably Catholic), which isn't WASP either. You need to expand your definition of "racist", white supremacists dislike all kinds of the Other besides black, yellow and brown.

[edit - also the guy with a slingshot and a topknot aiming at "America" is supposed to represent the Japanese].

[blankall]

Originally Posted by jammies

The banker is clearly supposed to be Jewish with his "Oy vey". The organized crime figure is Italian (and presumably Catholic), which isn't WASP either. You need to expand your definition of "racist", white supremacists dislike all kinds of the Other besides black, yellow and brown.

[edit - also the guy with a slingshot and a topknot aiming at "America" is supposed to represent the Japanese].

I think the point is that Rorschach turns the blind eye to the overtly racist and, instead, focuses on the greater danger... Or maybe not and Rorschach is indeed a full on fascist.

That's the brilliance of Allen Moore.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by jammies

The banker is clearly supposed to be Jewish with his "Oy vey". The organized crime figure is Italian (and presumably Catholic), which isn't WASP either. You need to expand your definition of "racist", white supremacists dislike all kinds of the Other besides black, yellow and brown.

[edit - also the guy with a slingshot and a topknot aiming at "America" is supposed to represent the Japanese].

Is every nationality and culture a race now? Is it impossible to want to defend traditional american values without being racist?

The top knot is fashion accessory common for fans of a certain band in the watchmen universe. They're all over the place in the original comics.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Matata

Is it impossible to want to defend traditional american values without being racist?

Is it impossible for you to acknowledge the the portrayal of Jews in that cartoon
is intended as a call-out to racists?

[Shazam]

It’s never a Watchmen property unless there’s blue schlong.

[TheIronMaiden]

A part of what makes the comic book so impressive is its use of Multimodality. Moore was a genius at pitting text and images against each other in interesting ways that create sub narratives and counter narratives. A part of the way he was so effective in the graphic novel was by introducing "art" within the confines of the comic book universe such newspaper covers and the like added a lot of complexity to the story.

This show so far has been very good at introducing these elements in a way that is both obvious and subtle. The result is that it feels like it is a part of that universe.

[TheIronMaiden]

A prediction that is pretty obvious probably.

Spoiler!

A large section of the Kavalry are cops. The white night was an inside job so that cops could act with more secrecy.

[TheIronMaiden]

I'll give this show so far a rating of 2/3 blue dongs.

[blankall]

Episode 3 really tied the series back to the original content. Still a great show...I kind of get what's going on now. I'll definitely need to rewatch after season 1 to pick up on everything.

I wonder if we'll see the Night Owl at some point too. I take it he's being held in prison? Is he the one who stole the car from Angela?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Based off the conversation at her apartment, Spectre took the case to help out Night Owl who is in prison.

This episode started putting the pieces together and it's now clear that those who haven't read/watched Watchmen are going to have a much more difficult time understanding in my opinion.

I haven't read it, but HBO is releasing accompanying information from that FBI agent that came along with Spectre with news articles, evidence and the like from the alternate timeline.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Based off the conversation at her apartment, Spectre took the case to help out Night Owl who is in prison.

This episode started putting the pieces together and it's now clear that those who haven't read/watched Watchmen are going to have a much more difficult time understanding in my opinion.

I haven't read it, but HBO is releasing accompanying information from that FBI agent that came along with Spectre with news articles, evidence and the like from the alternate timeline.

It's definitely gone from a show in the same universe to more of a direct sequel to the graphic novel. You'll have to read it to have any idea what's going on now.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I don’t think having read the graphic novel is necessary just yet. The only difference to the movie so far is the squid instead of the big explosion designed to look like Dr Manhattan being the catalyst for world peace.


Episode was fantastic. As mentioned there’s some supplemental stuff being released by HBO. Just stay off the garbage crave website. Go to American HBO.

https://www.hbo.com/peteypedia

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Vol 1 of the score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is now available.

[Finger Cookin]

The show has been a good mix of new characters, easter eggs, and a new story that is following a lot of beats from the original story. I'd be fascinated to know how a viewer who hasn't read the comic or watched the movie but somehow decided to watch the show is reacting to it.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The show has been a good mix of new characters, easter eggs, and a new story that is following a lot of beats from the original story. I'd be fascinated to know how a viewer who hasn't read the comic or watched the movie but somehow decided to watch the show is reacting to it.

I'm in that category. It's well done, I'm liking it so far. I don't want to say it's confusing without the backstory, just a little more challenging. I am peripherally aware of the characters like Rorschach and Dr Manhattan though. I'm probably going to read through the comic because I'd rather just know what's being talked about a little easier.

[blankall]

That was very odd...I think I liked it though?

[Shazam]

I'm not too impressed with this show, but eh whatever.

Spoiler!

Trieu is the Comedian's daughter.
Veight is coming back real soon now.
Old black guy is Hooded Justice.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Another great episode. Wonder where Veidt is being held. Is he in space or something? He was building what looked like a space suit and those bodies he launched from the trebuchet looked like they disappeared.

Is Trieu’s daughter a clone? She bought Veidt’s company and he seems to know how to make clones. Those nightmares sounded an awful lot like what could be passed on memories. But Trieu herself isn’t old enough to be alive during Vietnam. A clone of Trieu’s mother perhaps?

Will likely isn’t Hooded Justice unless they changed stuff. Hooded Justice was a white East German body builder, not a cop.