Watchmen (2019) | HBO Series Review

The world of Watchmen first appeared in Alan Moore’s 1986 graphic novel, with a subsequent stream of comics, video games, and the 2009 feature length film from slow-motion visionary director, Zack Snyder. With much commercial and public success over the years, LOST’s Damon Lindelof and HBO have teamed together to revive the heroic vigilantes, this time with a unique vision that branches off from the story we’ve already experienced.

Set in an alternate timeline of the modern era in Tulsa, Oklahoma – where cops need approval for access to weapons and mask themselves for protection of their identities – Watchmen follows the lives of superhero vigilantes who are treated as outlaws. Stuck in a society still reeling through the aftermath of the global incident depicted in the graphic novel and film, the series takes a central focus on masked vigilante and masked police officer, Angela Abar (Regina King), also known as Sister Night. Angela’s boss, Judd Crawford (Don Johnson), is a surprising character of the show as he maintains a close-knit familial relationship to Angela and her family. Their relationship is a driver in the series, allowing for exploration of backstory and understanding many of the elements in the show.

To keep the experience fresh for you and spoiler-free, the only other main character discussed here will be Looking Glass (Tim Blake Nelson). Glass is another masked vigilante, often resembling Rorschach, whose past traumas keep him guarded. His mask is made of a fictitious material that protects him from psychic attacks, but also works much like a mirror, seemingly as a way to cause anyone Glass is engaging with to reflect on themselves.

“What Happened to America? What Happened to the American Dream?”

When we enter this alternate reality, we’re catapulted into two stories being told; one from 1921 during the mass KKK attacks and lynchings, and the other of the modern day with Angela, Judd, and Glass. A central theme of the show, as indicated by this obvious compare and contrasting of timelines and stories, is that while so much has evolved in response to a broken system with embedded racism, there may not be as much that’s changed as we think.

Angela, Judd, Glass and the other vigilantes are fighting an upheaval against the 7th Kalvary, a group of white supremacists who’ve taken on the Rorschach mask and are hell bent on their mission against what they refer to as “race traitors”. A story our American history is unfortunately all too familiar with and presently in battle with, we’re awoken to the stark and depressing realization that while there are some of us who know the world is never black and white, there are others who still see it that way. Thankfully, there are also a few willing to risk it all to bring justice and order to a world that still has potential for peace.

The question from here becomes, “how is this related to the Watchmen that I know?” Taking from the original source material and pieces from Zack Snyder‘s film, the characters you might be familiar with are not surprising you with their nostalgic appearances, but rather those known characters are a source to generate new and untold stories from; a way to take what was already established and build from it.

Will You Need to Watch the Watchmen Movie or Read the Graphic Novel Prior to Watching the Series?

If you want to fully understand and appreciate what’s being done here, then yes. But alternatively, there is so much of this series that does not feel like it is Watchmen, that you can still watch and follow along with even a brief overview from a Google search. The HBO series focuses on integrating a wide array of new characters and simply connects them to the universe already created, but has many moments of significance and shout-outs to fans of the original source. Here’s the other thing, if you only know the film but not the differences from the graphic novel, and are expecting this to be a direct spin off / prequel to the film, you’ll be disappointed.

Lindelof and his team put together an enjoyable show with engaging storytelling and outstanding performances, so it’s unlikely that you’ll find yourself bored or uninterested. Regina King puts together a wicked and kick-ass female character performance, driven by both intellect and emotion, centered from family and history. King’s stunt double, Sadiqua Bynum, deserves a very distinguished appreciation for her work on Watchmen, because every scene she handles is done with entirely flawless work, sleek transitions, and perfect choreography. Bynum should be recognized for such an exceptional stunt performance throughout the series and for making a difficult job look so easy. Stellar work from Jeremy Irons, who encompasses his character Adrian Veidt entirely, and Tim Blake Nelson for reminding us of a beloved character while creating his own independent strides.

“There’s a notion I’d like to see buried: the ordinary person. Ridiculous. There is no ordinary person.”

There’s only one character in the series who came as a disappointment. Not for the performances, because this actor/ress did a fantastic job with what they were given, but the problem is this character is supposed to be one we recognize from the graphic novel/film, and context is the only resemblance there. The mannerisms, look, and linguistics all seemed much like a draw from a different character, and for spoiler-free reasons, we won’t disclose which one that is here. Fans will know it when they see it.

This character disappointment is a reflection on one of the few issues with the series: the writing. The concept and story are fantastic, occasionally it has some surprising elements, but for the most part, the structure of the many moving pieces and the character writing feels off. The majority of the characters within this updated universe are written great, and as aforementioned the story itself is great, but there is much time spent dwindling on an aspect or two that could be left alone or should have come much sooner in order to provide clarity. This isn’t much of an issue if you’re familiar with Watchmen, but it would be for any newbies. And I think we can all agree that in such a competitive field right now, cable networks are in such a direct competition with streaming networks, that no audience should be isolated into the inability to watch, enjoy, and understand.

Beyond the minor issues, Watchmen works on all the levels we hope it to. During the first six episodes available for review, it doesn’t overstep its boundaries in altering the story as we know it from either the graphic novel or the film, and it shows continued promise of originality within this scope. A phenomenal cast, fantastic stunt choreography, and a societal and historically relevant narrative which is compelling enough to encourage more. While there may be commentary on The Comedian here, HBO’s Watchmen is anything but a joke.

Watchmen premieres October 20th, 2019 on HBO
Starring Regina King, Jeremy Irons, and Don Johnson
Based on the original graphic novel by Alan Moore
Created by Damon Lindelof
*Review based on the screened episodes 1-6