Watchmen
Episodes and My Ratings:
Ratings are IMDB scores
1. It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice (7.9/10)
2. Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship (7.9/10)
3. She Was Killed by Space Junk (8.5/10)
4. If You Don't Like My Story, Write Your Own (8.1/10)
5. Little Fear of Lightning (9.1/10)
6. This Extraordinary Being (9.2/10)
7. An Almost Religious Awe (9.0/10)
8. A God Walks into Abar (9.5/10)
9. See How They Fly (8.8/10)
Percents are my opinionated score
My Rankings
1. A God Walks into Abar (96%)-A God Walks into Abar is a fascinating and extraordinary episode that represents the height of Watchmen and its unique storyline. While we learn about the relationship between Angela and another major character (won't spoil it) in quite possibly the most unique way possible, not only are major details revealed that help the plot flow better, but we are introduced to a new side to each character that significantly brings out the character development especially for the character of Angela. The way the writing explicitly begins with Angela in the bar and constantly unravels details that will occur in the future in this time looping episode makes the writing in this episode extremely amazing and mesmerizing as the superb plot is the best of all the other episodes. The stunning directing and cinematography are part of the reason this episode works so well as they expertly capture the emotions of each character and help the story feel overall authentic or purposeful especially once matched with the always outstanding acting of Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. This episode not only spontaneously leads into the finale but symbolizes the turning point of the entire series where all the storylines that have been evolving are connected and finally make complete sense to the audience and are able to make a captivating flashback story that was desperately needed earlier in the season. This episode really should not make sense and should greatly contradict everything about the show, however, it surprisingly creates a shocking paradox involving references throughout the series that is the perfect representation of how mature or advanced this writing can get and still work. In addition, I really loved Adrian's story and the interesting twist the writing did as even though many of the scenes seem pointless, they substantially answer many questions I've had about the character from the very beginning and provide the fresh take on the series that makes it all the more attractive. Overall, this episode is unlike anything else on television and really shines in the Watchmen series as the extraordinary and time-bending writing makes this episode captivating and extremely special and a fantastic example of how great and artistic this show can be.
2. This Extraordinary Being (95%)-This is finally the episode of Watchmen I have been waiting for as it finally connects the dots while introducing unique cinematography, acting and a relevant but awesome story that is one of the best incorporations of the Watchmen content in a while. As Angela is relieving her grandfather's memories (Nostalgia pills), we see his life and transition throughout his journey and importance in the Watchmen universe in some wonderful character development. First of all, the cinematography is stellar for this episode and something truly special for television as it is not only in black and white for the majority of the episode to bolden the nostalgia tone, but it also manages to show Angela living in her grandfather's role by constantly changing the two characters while doing the same thing to show she is him in this episode. It also manages to show more about a universe that was lacking in previous episodes as we see more about racism and more about individual responses to wars or struggles, etc. Regina King gives a good performance when being her grandfather but this episode is stolen by Jovan Adepo who plays her grandfather, Will Reeves fully as he brings such depth to the character and really conveys to the audience his emotional and physical struggles while also bringing the traditional Watchmen-style acting that makes it unique and different. The story is fantastic for this episode as it finally reveals more about the Tulsa attack we learned about early on and displays how racism has impacted citizens. It somehow manages to make a traditional superhero story relevant to society and more meaningful in some really amazing directing and writing. The pacing for the episode is also great and the storyline never feels rushed or dragged, but more like everything just fits into place for this episode in an artistic and connected way . In addition, the recreation of the earlier times was spot on and mixed in with the entertaining story, I honestly felt like I was living the memory with Angela as it felt so immersive and opening. My problems with this episode are more simplistic, but I thought it didn't develop side characters or other characters well as it almost was a missed opportunity to examine other characters' potential. Also, this episode is technically or visually stunning, but it feels almost too much like an individual episode and doesn't fit into the narrative that Watchmen is trying to tell, creating that inconsistency. Overall though, this episode stunned me with its technical capability and felt like the best episode yet as it moves the series from being average to unique and special and also manages to create everything we loved from Watchmen in a new fashion to help develop the story. It's a wonderful and unforgettable episode with strong themes, layers and ideas that make it amazing and show how much this show improves over the course of one season.
3. See How They Fly (93%)-The season finale of Watchmen climactically ends the entire storyline boldly and proudly as everything we think we know about the show will conclude in one of the most stellar ways possible. The turning point for several characters especially Lady Trieu and Angela is remarkable in this episode and is supported by the continuous amazing acting that Watchmen has never feared to provide us especially with the visually stunning effects that this episode brings out. While I personally was not a fan of some of the characters' conclusion as they seemed quite basic for such a groundbreaking show, I respected each decision the writers decided to make as they were necessary to conclude this season in a colorful way that matches with the interesting strangeness of the entire show. But, what I was really surprised by was the weirdly timely story in this episode as everything that isn't weirdly high-tech and super-advanced seems highly plausible in today's world and in the near future, making the episode and the entire season all the more effective. I especially admired the ending we were given for Angela as it leaves just a bit of suspense left for the show by not closing all the mysteries of the show especially involving Doctor Manhattan but continues to wrap up all the major plotlines we have been slowly exploring and digging into from the beginning. It's a shockingly real and true ending to a show that centers around superheroes and sticks the landing, especially in writing (despite the at times slow pace we are familiar with) as we face off against the big villains of the series. The directing, cinematography, editing and other technological effects are outstanding in this show and quite possibly some of the best I have seen in a television show, representing how advanced and professional this show is especially with how beautiful everything is in this episode. While it did end typically and almost too open in a way that didn't take any risks in the later parts of the episode, (similar to other HBO shows) it still is a visually beautiful, stunning and fantastic series finale to an exceptional and extraordinary show like no other you will find on television.
4. Little Fear of Lightning (93%)-This is the first episode of Watchmen where I felt fully immersed and entertained as the show finally reaches its potential in a fantastic way that none of the other episodes before came close to doing. Looking into the character of Wade or Looking Glass was a great way to showcase Tim Blake Nelson's amazing acting while also creating a very stellar and entertaining story that somehow connects our society even more. Digging deeper into the squids falling from the skies idea and a weird alien squid coming down to Earth was a shining metaphor for 9/11 as it left many people traumatized which shows the capabilities of the show and how much it could connect to our world as people are shaken up about it and shocked. This is a result of some of the best writing and directing in the show yet as it finally feels like the show found an entertaining way to convey its central storyline and did it with a good moving pace that finally shows off this strange world in excruciating detail. Also, the idea of politics being intertwined with the racist Seventh Kavalry is a very clever thing to do as it shows the true game of politics and how much it influences our society which almost perfectly manages to mirror our society but using a fictional and almost impossible parallel universe. The show finally has a message and motivates the mysterious and strange tone to the fullest extent to this episode as we explore one extraordinarily developed character while also developing each side story itself. My only complaint for this wonderful episode is Adrien Veidt's storyline because it is still very confusing and needs its own solo explanation on what exactly is happening because it really weakens the episode as we are so confused over the idea which makes the plot less enjoyable for the audience. However, overall, this is the first episode of Watchmen where I felt that it lived up to its comic book series and displayed its true potential on how entertaining it can be using an intelligent mix of superb acting, unique and exceptional writing and strong or audacious directing that forms the first truly stellar episode.
5. An Almost Religious Awe (87%)-This episode thinks it is more professional and unique than it actually is, however, it still is a brilliant piece of work that represents how stunning the action genre of television can be. The plot twists and mysteries that surround this episode especially involving the character development (Lady Trieu) make this episode even more captivating and as we begin to learn more about Angela's character and what the plot really means in the series, it shockingly reveals some of the biggest questions of the series and will engage the audience even more than it has. The artistic aspects of this episode are mind-blowingly amazing as the sets and the effects throughout the episode reveal how technologically advanced this series is and really help the audience imagine the strange parts of this world and immerse themselves even more. The acting, directing and especially music in this episode are all compelling, fantastic and advanced which really matures the overall series greatly. But, my problem with this episode was the slightly confusing and mildly dragging plot as it feels at times like the episode doesn't know what it wants to do, but is just experimenting with various ideas and hoping it can bring them all together which it eventually does in a good cliffhanger condition. Hong Chau really shines in this episode and emphasizes the character in ways I didn't even think were possible as we finally get to unravel the character of Lady Trieu and understood the key details which the previous episodes sadly lacked and confused us all in a slightly good, but also a bad way. Overall, this episode stunned me in the character development and technical achievement as it shined in writing, acting, directing and almost everything else, but it just ended up feeling kind of stretched out at times and almost as if it the key details could have been combined with other episodes to help the flow of the storyline better, however, it still is an excellent addition to the Watchmen series that represents the vast improvement of the series over the course of the seven episodes.
6. It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice (86%)-This introduction to Watchmen is mostly satisfying as it provides a strong basis for how we're going to be introduced to the world in the comics and what has changed or what might be similar. The opening scene of the Tulsa attacks were powerful and really showed how this show would connect to society more than expected. This season introduces Angela and the new modern world where Robert Redford is president, cops hide their identity with masks and squid fall from the sky which is all handled artistically and in the best way possible. This episode has so much content and so many important introductions that overall is successful and really interested me to watch more, but with the complex storyline, it also is harder to dive deep into some of the characters and shows the main flaw of the show which is the inability to show details in an effective way. I felt more like I was just reading through the storyline (almost like a comic book) with not much side things happening which normally would be a good thing, but in this show with so much potential in the world the show created, I desired more from the other things in the show and was fascinated by them. The acting is also amazing from Regina King as Angela. The action sequences make this show really entertaining and something different from the normal shows on TV right now. Overall, the plot, acting, characters, action and comic references all make this episode really cool and unlike anything else, but overloaded at times and too distracted by its central plot almost.
7. She Was Killed by Space Junk (85%)-This episode is an improvement from the previous and creates the mysterious and emotional tone (that was in the first one but not in the second) that makes the episode feel more complete and connected. This episode centers mainly around Jean Smart's character, Laurie Blake, and her exploration into the death in Tulsa. Her acting is truly stunning and one of the best I have seen on television that really shows how the supporting cast is all coming in the show, but the thing I most loved was the tension and chemistry between Smart and King as both of them play their roles flawlessly and match together well. The storyline in this episode is probably the weakest thing, but it does extend past what the audience knows by bringing in more references to the comics that ultimately benefits the structure as it captivates and interests the audience more. I for one especially loved the introduction which saw how vigilante superhero were banned and really took the expected outcome in a complete opposite way that reflects the unique and different style of the show. The character of Adrian Veidt is also very intriguing as he is hiding so many things about this character and while it does leave the audience slightly confused, it does help the mysterious tone in this episode develop. This episode is less intense in the action, but finally allows the plot to flow while balancing the content and is mainly just fun as we explore. Overall, it succeeds in what it is trying to do and expands while entertaining the audience more, but really fails to establish where the show is headed strongly.
8. If You Don't Like My Story, Write Your Own (81%)-The storyline throughout this unique episode is very unstable for the most parts but moves the plot further along and delivers on its promises and purposes just in a weaker way than some of the other episodes. The title suits this episode very well as the idea of writing your own story if you don't like it is heavily present in this episode and just a fun message in this episode. The problem is that it feels very slow and boring and has so much potential especially in the climax of the episode but just mashes up storylines together that are not the best fits for each other and make this drag on too much. I thought the acting continued being great especially from Jeremy Irons as this feels like his standout performance when he trains two new servants that he "made." While this successfully adds to the mysterious tone, it makes the audiences confused and doesn't lead up to much in the episode and transforms itself into something that tries to be entertaining, but just becomes annoying and frustrating to the audience. In addition, Lady Trieu's entrance is very mystical almost, but doesn't make sense to me as it is early on and could have been told in a way that made more sense as I don't really understand her entrance and the interesting writing choices. The directing is still passionate and does its best to showcase this strange world around them, but the writing is weaker in this episode and doesn't feel connected or developed but is more of a filler episode that is less entertaining and too boring to captivate an audience to continue watching. That said, the questions it leaves are entertaining and do make me wonder what will happen next, but this is just a very weakly developed episode that again does its best to be good and continues the mysterious tone in a fantastic way, but struggles to be consistent with the other episodes and ends up being annoying as it doesn't always make sense and is told very slowly.
9. Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship (79%)-This episode mainly continues the story from the first and almost seems too forgettable for this series as although it explores some important events and continues on the awesome action, the storyline seems to be less mysterious and more simple in this episode which I didn't enjoy as much. But, I felt that the character development especially for Angela in this show was really hyped up and gave us more information that is not only supported by the tone of this episode (a rapid change to more dark and depressing) and also the stunning acting from Regina King. This episode connects to society greatly (describing the attacks on the police in greater detail) and detail. This was mainly because all the comic book references were increased and we finally got to explore some of the features of the world created by the show in an extremely artistic and entertaining way. But, with this, the episode has the almost opposite problem as it lacks content and feels too loose that makes the plot seem kind of boring. But, the exploration foreshadows how this show might go and introduces the true structure for how the show will run (which drifts from the original first episode) and overall leads to a good episode that although is a slight decrease from the pilot still interacts with the audience more and builds up on the story and characters in a unique, risky yet shaky way.
Cast/Crew
Cast:
Regina King.........................Angela Abar
Jean Smart..........................Laurie Blake
Jeremy Irons........................Adrian Veidt
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II..............Cal Abar
Jovan Adepo...........................Will Reeves
Tim Blake Nelson...............Wade Tillman
Tom Milson...........................Mr. Phillips
Sara Vickers.................Ms. Crookshanks
Andrew Howard.......................Red Scare
Louis Gossett Jr. ...................Will Reeves
Dylan Schombing.................Topher Abar
James Wolk.............................Jon Keene
Frances Fisher..................Jane Crawford
Hong Chau............................Lady Trieu
Lily Rose Smith..............................Rosie
Adelynn Spoon.............................Emma
Danny Boyd Jr...........Young Will Reeves
Don Johnson.....................Judd Crawford
Jessica Camacho................/.Pirate Jenny
Steven G. Norlfeet..............O.B. Williams
Alexis Louder......................Ruth Williams
Jolie Hoang-Rappaport.....................Bian
Jacob Ming-Trent...........................Panda
Cheyenne Jackson............Hooded Justice
Dustin Ingram........................Agent Petey
and many many more:
Click Here for a Full list:
Crew:
Damon Lindelof.....Creator/Executive Producer
Nicole Kassell......Director/Executive Producer
Stephen Williams................................Director
Steph Green.........................................Director
Steph Green.........................................Director
Andrij Parekh..........Director/Cinematographer
Joseph E. Iberti...................Executive Producer
Kiran Bhakta Joshi.............Executive Producer
David Semel..........................................Director
John Blair.............................................Producer
Frederick E.O. Toye..............................Director
Cord Jefferson..........................................Writer
Dave Gibbons.....................Consulting Producer
Lawrence Gordon...............Consulting Producer
Ron Schmidt..................Co-Executive Producer
Rupak Kayastha...................Executive Producer
Tom Spezialy........................Executive Producer
Jeff Jensen..................................................Writer
Claire Kiechel.............................................Writer
Stacy Osei-Kuffour......................................Writer
Tiffany Chung....................................Co-Producer
Nick Cuse.................Writer/Supervising Producer
Lila Byock...............Writer/Supervising Producer
Karen Wacker..........................................Producer
Pam Fitzgerald...................................Co-Producer
Lloyd Levin...........................Consulting Producer
Christal Henry..........Writer/Supervising Producer
Carly Wray............Writer/Co-Executive Producer
Stephen Williams.....................Executive Producer
Brenden Jacobs Jenkins..........Consulting Producer
Kelly Calligan........................Associative Producer
Janine Nabers........................Supervising Producer
Trent Reznor.............................................Composer
Atticus Ross..............................................Composer
Alex Disenhof.................................Cinematographer
Chris Seager....................................Cinematographer
Gregory Middleton.........................Cinematographer
Xavier Grobet..................................Cinematographer
and many many more:
Click Here for a Full list:
Storyline:
"Set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, Detective Angela Abar investigates the reemergence of a white supremacist terrorist group inspired by the long-deceased moral absolutist Rorschach. Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own. "
"Watchmen takes place in an alternative, contemporary reality in the United States, in which masked vigilantes became outlawed due to their violent methods. But with the threat of a terrorist organization known as the 7th cavalry grows on a massive scale, The Keene act was abolished and the Watchmen Program was reactivated in order to stop the threat before it is too late, as a greater question rises above them all; who watches the Watchmen?
-Watchmen Wiki https://watchmen.fandom.com/wiki/Watchmen_(TV_series)
Would I Recommend?
Watchmen is a difficult show to watch that desperately makes you think and examine every single detail going on, therefore it is a complex analysis into a strange world that many will find unpleasant to watch while others like me will be fascinated by the intense storyline and descriptive writing. The action sequences can be a bit over the top especially with the violence but this really helps the effects stand out and makes the entire show extremely attractive and visually stunning. Due to this, this probably isn't the best show if you don't like extreme violence or thought-provoking series, but it definitely is a fun and entertaining journey to go through if you are looking for a new and different show. Due to all this and the remarkable but delicate writing, acting, directing and other amazing aspects to the show, I would recommend this show to the majority of people who love discovering new television shows that will challenge them and give them something different.
Overall/Review:
Watchmen is an interesting show that defies any trend previously set in television as it takes the classic fantasy superhero story and spins it to match with its own stunning take on reality and the several problems that constant occur. It is a surprisingly timely story in an alternate reality that really shines especially in today's climate as it conveys a variety of powerful messages against racism and other discrimination or issues our world harrowingly faces today. The storyline itself does start out quite confusing and slow, but ultimately develops or unfolds into this full plot that has so much depth to where we are immersed with the characters and really can connect. Due to the interesting pacing though, many parts of the show seem very uneven and convey some at times pointless scenes that cause the show to lose your attention and at times come off as uneventful. However, in a way, the confusing stories that are constantly happening in a weird fashion scattered throughout the episode can help the series as well especially since they make the audience think and analyze the show instead of just giving them information and endless entertainment which is especially one of the reasons why I rated it so high. The action and intensity of the superhero genre present in the series still make the show watchable and captivating, but the amount of depth hidden in the slow-burning plot really intertwines the audience into the story like never before and for the later parts of the show really covers up the uneven pacing and slow start.
Although I was extremely shocked by the surprising and meaningful twist to the superhero action genre, the acting is probably the thing that surprised me most about the show as each character is simplistic and mysterious but is uplifted by each actor to really emphasize their roles and define the characters in outstanding ways. Regina King is as always fantastic as Angela Abar in this show and embraces the flaws and strengths of the characters in every way that makes her loud and explosive acting in the show even more powerful and inspirational. After all, Angela Abar is probably one of the best-created characters on television for the year and although the writing is crucial to this, the acting from King makes this character unique and essentially one of the strongest women (superhero or not) on TV right now which will inevitably provide a vital role model for today. In similar fashion, Jean Smart takes the very typical investigator type character of Laurie Blake and spins her into this very different and powerful center of the show while Tim Blake Nelson takes the traditional looking glass character and provides emotional and sensitivity to a character that seemed to lack any from the start of the show. Even Jeremy Irons as Adrian Veidt or Hong Chau as Lady Trieu (whose storylines I disliked due to their overly complex plots that gave little explanation to the audience even to the end) rise the suspicious characters when the audience has no idea what is going on to really create an impact for the show.
The other technical aspects to the show are stunning as expected including the superb directing that brings this complex world to life or the fantastic cinematography that expertly crafts the storyline and character development through the camera. But, the effects are another standout detail for this show especially in the last episode as the make the show visually stunning and help make it even more attractive or different from other shows. Overall, Watchmen is a stellar show that will most likely be unfamiliar to audiences and require them to really think about what they are watching in a different way, however, the story is frustrating for the majority of the show and the reckless and risky writing really force me to set this show a little bit lower than I like to especially with the amazing technology, acting and potential that is in this show. But, it is a complex yet fun journey and an untraditional take on the superhero genre that is captivating when it needs to be despite the slow pace and does shine a light to central issues in today's world which really make it a crucial show to watch as well. It might be unconventional and probably will annoy you, but this 9-hour journey will slowly but surely eventually grab your attention and allow you to witness an interesting and visually stunning take on today's world and the people in it while doing it delicately yet uniquely in a completely immersive way.
Rotten Tomato Score: 95%
IMDB Score: 8.1/10
Rating: 88%
*Watchmen is available to watch on HBO, HBO Go, HBO Now and soon HBO Max and is rated TV-MA
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