TV REVIEW: Watchmen – Graphic Novel begets Television Show

P Hayden

5 years ago

First off let me say this, I love the original graphic novel, it takes a certain place of pride in my collection. The story keeps you on tender hooks, the characters are compelling and complex, the artwork is beautiful and the use of colours are the cherry on top to keep the readers captivated.

The television show picks up the creative baton and continues the pace of storytelling incredibly well, keeping the tone and complexity for its characters. I’m six episodes in and I’m ready for number seven, while we all wait for that let“s recap….if you haven’t watched it, some spoilers ahead!

Episode one is like a visual drop kick to the senses! It“s straight in with a harrowing dark opening scene set in the twenties that has a strange underlying feel of the last son of krypton to it. Fast forward to present day and you’re transported to a post- Watchmen America, not just with the obvious; Rorschach masks being worn by a seventh cavalry (or kavalry as it is sometimes shown) member but in the policemen’s black uniforms complete with yellow mask which instantly reminded me of the classic smiley badge colours and book cover. Everywhere you look there are Easter eggs galore and homages to the source material.

The lead character of Sister Knight/Angela Abar is played phenomenally by Regina King and is the driving force of the series. Her story intertwines with characters both past and present and she is the perfect lead for the series. Sister Knight is a powerful and mysterious hero but it was her vulnerable and loving family woman scenes that really stood out. She has many brilliant moments throughout but as far as the storyline goes, episode 6 is outstanding! It plays out like an incredibly dark episode of Quantum Leap, showing Angela reliving a vital part of her family history through her grandfather’s eyes.

A personal favourite character of mine is Looking Glass/Wade Tillman or as I see him Rorschach 2.0, he is portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson who embodies the character perfectly. At first glance he appears to be unfeeling and detached from those around him but he is far from it, he’s a damaged and paranoid soul who was affected by the events in 1985. He is totally deserving of having his own backstory being told so when episode 5 did that it was fantastic to delve into!

The real home run was the inclusion of two of the original team; Adrian ‘Ozymandias’ Veidt and Laurie ‘Silk Spectre’ Blake (now taking her father’s name instead of Juspeczyk) played by Jeremy Irons and Jean Smart respectively.

Irons plays Veidt as a superbly surreal sinister satire (try saying that 4 times in a row) he seems to bask in over the top role of the now retired Ozymandias in what appears to be a bizarre exile. It’s definitely something to pay attention to.

The wonderful Jean Smart plays Laurie Blake as a very jaded version of the former hero, seemingly turning her back on that life and becoming a vigilante-hunting government agent, the fairy-tale ending of her relationship with Nite-Owl in the graphic novel now over and her disdain for the masked police of Tulsa evident from the word go. It shows a new depth to the character and how the effects of her life has lead her on this path.

There’s so much more I could happily go through about this series but I urge you to go and witness it with your own eyeballs. It“s everything you could ever want in a continuation on what is arguably one of the greatest graphic novels ever created. Seriously go and watch it….trust me it’s worth it!