Watchmen Series?!?!?

[wayfriend]

HBO is promoting it's Watchmen series to be released in 2019 sometime.

From Damon Lindelof and set in an alternate history where "superheroes" are treated as outlaws, this drama series embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own. The cast includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hong Chau, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, and James Wolk.

The first teaser is here: Watchmen | Official Tease | HBO

I watched it, and I have to say, it is NOT AT ALL what I expected. I am both fascinated and terrified. What they did with Rorschach is pretty cool. But I am not seeing any empathetic characters yet. Also: Don Johnson? Adrien Veidt is the only recurring character, and well-cast IMHO by Jeremy Irons.

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

At first blush, looks good to me.

I doubt (hope) they go down the "no empathetic characters" route. That's, IMO, what made the diff between BSG and Caprica and what made the former a masterpiece and the latter a drudgery.

[sgt.null]

It looks interesting. I'd love go see
Some characters like Dollar Bill.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

It looks interesting. I'd love go see
Some characters like Dollar Bill.

He died back in the 1950s, but I suppose there could always be a second Dollar Bill just like there was a second Night Owl.

One presumes that Seymour, having published Rorshach's Journal in The New Frontiersman, spawned a group of devoted followers out to expose the truth. Good luck trying to take down a genius, billionaire, martial-artist/former superhero who has political, business, and underworld contacts.

[aTOMiC]

Never read the comics so only a fan of the film and not seeing much of a connection in the trailer. I am wary of anything Damon Lindelof is involved in so I am cautiously optimistic.

[sgt.null]

Tom - you need to read the graphic novel.
See if your local library has it if you don't
Want to purchase it. It is that good.

[wayfriend]

It's available now. I haven't watched any of it yet, and am avoiding spoilers. But I am hearing very good things.

Watch WATCHMEN!! Hercules Says The First Six Episodes Of HBO's New Sci-Fi Sequel Are Magnificent!!

I think HBO's Watchmen is tremendous television. Lots of people will strongly disagree.

'Watchmen' HBO series presents its own Rorschach test

Critics give it 93% on the tomato-meter. The audience gives it 49%.

[SleeplessOne]

Lots of people wearing camp masks and a ton of gun violence.
Plenty of American navel-gazing.
Loved the graphic novel, but I don't think I'll be able to persist with the Lindelof show.

[wayfriend]

Still haven't seen episode one (but ... tonite!) and I am not trying to go on and on about it ... but this review from Roger Ebert is so ... effusive ... that you almost have to wonder if he's serious.

... This is breathtaking, ambitious television that only gets richer with each subsequent episode. ...

... Lindelof and his writers have an amazing ability to subvert imagery and narrative expectations. It's a show that very rarely telegraphs where it's going next, but always feels confident in how it takes you there. It's the kind of thing I'm positive people will want to watch again when it's over to see how it fits together and how Lindelof and his team are playing with themes early that rise to the surface later. ...

... Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Oscar winners for "The Social Network," wrote an original score that is quite simply one of the best in TV history. ...

... Rarely have I been more and more impressed with a show as each episode unfolded. The book had a similar power, wowing you with its world building in early chapters, but feeling even richer when it was complete. It is often cited as a game-changer for its entire medium. The show could find a similar fate.

[I'm Murrin]

Wayfriend, Roger Ebert died 6 years ago.

But yeah, I've been hearing good things about this.

[Zarathustra]

Wayfriend, Roger Ebert died 6 years ago.

burn!

[wayfriend]

Sorry. That was rogerebert.com, not Roger Ebert himself.

[Skyweir]

Still haven't seen episode one (but ... tonite!) and I am not trying to go on and on about it ... but this review from Roger Ebert is so ... effusive ... that you almost have to wonder if he's serious.

... This is breathtaking, ambitious television that only gets richer with each subsequent episode. ...

... Lindelof and his writers have an amazing ability to subvert imagery and narrative expectations. It's a show that very rarely telegraphs where it's going next, but always feels confident in how it takes you there. It's the kind of thing I'm positive people will want to watch again when it's over to see how it fits together and how Lindelof and his team are playing with themes early that rise to the surface later. ...

... Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Oscar winners for "The Social Network," wrote an original score that is quite simply one of the best in TV history. ...

... Rarely have I been more and more impressed with a show as each episode unfolded. The book had a similar power, wowing you with its world building in early chapters, but feeling even richer when it was complete. It is often cited as a game-changer for its entire medium. The show could find a similar fate.

Awesome what a brilliant review

I wonder if it will come on Fox if its an HBO show

Sounds phenomenal... cant wait to catch it.

[wayfriend]

I did see the first episode. It was, in fact, brilliant. Now I am waiting to see if there is any interest in discussing it here.

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

I did see the first episode. It was, in fact, brilliant. Now I am waiting to see if there is any interest in discussing it here.

Tho I don't have HBO, I might well be up for it -- assuming I've anything to contribute -- after I've rented the blu-ray from the library -- assuming they get a copy.

Glad ya like it, tho. That's an encouragin' sign.

[wayfriend]

It manages to be something new while yet capturing the layered storytelling style of the original work. In fact, I need to watch ep 1 again. Not as a chore, but as a matter of full appreciation - it's dense.

[Skyweir]

Wow .. sounds fab .. as soon as the data refreshes Ill see if I can find it.

[Cagliostro]

Ok, I've seen the first two episodes and I'm interested. I'm glad they made it a sequel of sorts instead of either a re-imagining or whatnot.
I don't 100% understand why they built on the Watchmen license, but perhaps that is coming. So far, it could have been its own thing as very little fits together other than stylistic touches like some of the arty shots that feel like the comic, the ticking clock, and some of the same characters. Thematically, I don't see a connection at all yet.
I do have to say this may have been the first time I've liked Don Johnson in a role.

[wayfriend]

IMHO what connects the series to the book is it dissects the notions of heroes, masks, and masked heroes. For example, they (quite rightly) draw a connection between Klan garb and [super]heroes who wear masks.

[Cagliostro]

Yeah, but it just doesn't feel the same to me. Seemed like before it was mostly anti-vigilante in its criticism of the genre. So yeah, they've shifted the focus, and that's fine.
I guess my disappointment was that it would be more of an ensemble piece. But I'm definitely interested.