[logic88]

Another episode with more buildup but no real payoff yet.

Random thoughts and questions...

The reveal about Judd wasn't totally unexpected since it was hinted that he had a dark past (so to speak). Did the world's smartest man go slightly bonkers? Or why is Veidt staging bad plays about Dr. Manhattan with his clone army? And who picked up Will Reeves with the giant electro-magnet?

 

[astrohip]

I'll give it one more. Because it's not just TV, it's...

As someone who knows -zero- about Watchmen--no comics, no movie, no background awareness, nada--I'm finding this less than interesting. It moves at a glacial pace, and to the unlettered viewer, just seems like a random collection of very weird scenes. There are some really good actors, and an occasional scene that draws you in, but for the most part it's just outlandish and slow. I can handle both a deliberate pace and a story that seems both odd and disconnected (eg, Westworld), but there needs to be some meat, some reason to keep with it. You need there to be compelling characters, or a story that draws you in, or something. And I'm not feeling it yet.

I realize I'm clearly the outlier here, maybe because I'm not familiar with the core material, or maybe it's just not my cup o' tea. And because it's HBO, I'll stick with it for now. Curious what the ratings will be, as I tend to believe there will be many more like me (the great unwashed masses).

 

[TAsunder]

I'm at the opposite end. I thought episode 2 was outstanding and am absolutely loving it. The energy of the episode and the flow was just great. I love what they are doing with Hooded Justice and it seems more and more likely to me that it's going to turn out it's Will and they whitewashed his character. It's not exactly the meta-comic that the Black Frigate was but it's still pretty clever. I saw a few fun references to the comic and movie and I'm sure I missed more.

So far, two episodes in a row now, I've learned something pretty interesting about history. First the Tulsa Massacre and now the WW1 propaganda.

Interesting that there's a backstory about technological regression and technophobia but they still have DNA testing, voice recognition, etc.

 

[cbrrider]

Did the world's smartest man go slightly bonkers?

He was always bonkers. He thinks genocide and a creating an "extraterrestrial" squid was a good idea.

I enjoyed the second episode. The slow build up and character development is intriguing. I'll definitely watch the rest the season.

 

[TAsunder]

He was always bonkers. He thinks genocide and a creating an "extraterrestrial" squid was a good idea.

I enjoyed the second episode. The slow build up and character development is intriguing. I'll definitely watch to rest the season.

Those sound bad, but hardly as bonkers as unnecessarily creating a tomato tree.

 

[OhFiddle]

As someone who didn't read the comics, I feel like I must be missing something as well. I did watch the movie not long after it came out but all I remember at this point is: I definitely saw it, it was based on a comic, it was long, something about nuclear energy, and there was a giant naked blue guy in it. So far the HBO show is holding my attention, but it does seem like a bunch of disjointed little stories that will hopefully all come together at some point. I'm fine with that as I don't mind shows that are unconventional and slightly confusing at first. I was beginning to fear though that this might be like Legion, which I really wanted to like and gave it two seasons. That show I felt like you either had to be already familiar with the source material or be really high to fully enjoy it. I alternated between being confused and falling asleep, so I ended up just giving up on it. I was kind of relieved to see Watchmen was going to be a one and done, so that it doesn't turn into another Legion situation for me.

 

[cbrrider]

Those sound bad, but hardly as bonkers as unnecessarily creating a tomato tree.

Hey, if you like tomatoes, been living as a recluse for the last 30 years, and have the genetic engineering resources to make a tree, why not?

 

[uncdrew]

Another episode with more buildup but no real payoff yet.

Random thoughts and questions...

The reveal about Judd wasn't totally unexpected since it was hinted that he had a dark past (so to speak). Did the world's smartest man go slightly bonkers? Or why is Veidt staging bad plays about Dr. Manhattan with his clone army? And who picked up Will Reeves with the giant electro-magnet?

"I have friends in high places."

Hahah, well played, old guy.

 

[uncdrew]

I'm at the opposite end. I thought episode 2 was outstanding and am absolutely loving it. The energy of the episode and the flow was just great. I love what they are doing with Hooded Justice and it seems more and more likely to me that it's going to turn out it's Will and they whitewashed his character. It's not exactly the meta-comic that the Black Frigate was but it's still pretty clever. I saw a few fun references to the comic and movie and I'm sure I missed more.

So far, two episodes in a row now, I've learned something pretty interesting about history. First the Tulsa Massacre and now the WW1 propaganda.

Interesting that there's a backstory about technological regression and technophobia but they still have DNA testing, voice recognition, etc.

Yeah, seeing her answer a landline phone with a cord was a bit odd. I took it as they don't trust (certain) technology, butt who nose?

 

[trainman]

Interesting that there's a backstory about technological regression and technophobia but they still have DNA testing, voice recognition, etc.

...in-car GPS systems (as seen in episode 1), flat-screen TVs, anti-gravity model-building kits... kind of seems like everyone's fine with everything except cell phones and personal computers.

The fact that it was the FCC that issued the viewer warning about "American Hero Story" was a good "authoritarian government" detail. (The fact that it was rated "TV-X" instead of "TV-MA" was a good "alternate timeline" detail.)

 

[TAsunder]

Yeah, seeing her answer a landline phone with a cord was a bit odd. I took it as they don't trust (certain) technology, butt who nose?

There's more detail about the technophobia on the HBO supplemental site "Peteypedia" -- note that those contain spoilers under this site's definition since they are extra material not seen in the episode.

 

[logic88]

I love what they are doing with Hooded Justice and it seems more and more likely to me that it's going to turn out it's Will and they whitewashed his character. It's not exactly the meta-comic that the Black Frigate was but it's still pretty clever. I saw a few fun references to the comic and movie and I'm sure I missed more.

It sounds like they are pulling from Before Watchmen as well. I haven't read that yet but I should probably get around to it.

 

[Hoffer]

I find I like the episodes. I listen to this movie podcast, that has done a spoiler talk about the first two episodes. I find I then enjoy the episodes more after listening to the podcast. They talk about details I didn't notice, absorb or have a clue is related to anything.

 

[3D]

I was kind of relieved to see Watchmen was going to be a one and done, so that it doesn't turn into another Legion situation for me.

I didn't realize it was a one and done. Where did you see that?

 

[logic88]

I didn't realize it was a one and done. Where did you see that?

I believe Lindelof has said in interviews that season 1 is self-contained and won't end in a cliffhanger. But that doesn't mean HBO won't greenlight more seasons, with different storylines.

Edit:

'Watchmen': Damon Lindelof Suggests His HBO Drama May Last Only One Season

As for the television series, Lindelof and his team have envisioned the first season - and beyond that? There may not be any more. At the least, Lindelof said he views the coming season as a complete story, not unlike the Watchmen graphic novel.

"One of the things that makes the original perfect is those 12 issues are designed with a beginning, middle and end in mind," he said. "They knew exactly what they were doing. We knew we had to do the same. We plotted these nine episodes with every mystery and question being resolved. I sometimes have a different sense of resolution than others, but we wanted it to feel immensely satisfying. We didn't want it to end with [a cliffhanger] for season two."

 

[3D]

I believe Lindelof has said in interviews that season 1 is self-contained and won't end in a cliffhanger. But that doesn't mean HBO won't greenlight more seasons, with different storylines.

Edit:

'Watchmen': Damon Lindelof Suggests His HBO Drama May Last Only One Season

Thanks. I'll take it with a grain of salt. There was a show a few years back from Christopher McQuarie where they said the same thing (I believe it was called Persons Unknown). Turned out to only be partially true. Also, I'm a Lost defender, but Lindeloff doesn't have the best track record with those kinds of promises. My guess is the major storylines will be resolved but I would not be surprised if there are developments later in the season that leave us hanging.

 

[TAsunder]

Thanks. I'll take it with a grain of salt. There was a show a few years back from Christopher McQuarie where they said the same thing (I believe it was called Persons Unknown). Turned out to only be partially true. Also, I'm a Lost defender, but Lindeloff doesn't have the best track record with those kinds of promises. My guess is the major storylines will be resolved but I would not be surprised if there are developments later in the season that leave us hanging.

He has done things since Lost. Notably: The Leftovers, which had fairly self-contained seasons that got better and better.

 

[3D]

True, and I loved the Leftovers (and like I said, I'm a Lost defender). Also one of the few who really enjoyed Prometheus, so I'm a fan of his work. That said, I don't know whether he ever made any statements about the self-containment of The Leftovers. I'm only saying he's been known to misdirect through public statements.

 

[DevdogAZ]

Interesting that there's a backstory about technological regression and technophobia but they still have DNA testing, voice recognition, etc.

...in-car GPS systems (as seen in episode 1), flat-screen TVs, anti-gravity model-building kits... kind of seems like everyone's fine with everything except cell phones and personal computers.

And holograms, X-ray goggles, electromagnet hovercrafts, cloned humans, tomato trees, etc.

 

[EWiser]

This show is one that does require a little extra from the viewer than the average tv show.
It helps to watch YouTube reviews or listen to a podcast devoted to the show.
You develop a more full interest in the show an can enjoy it once you do.
I think show producers are making more shows like this that are very dense and do not dumb the story down to network standards.
Here is a good podcast for this show.

Series Regular