Watchmen
Pupule rating: 3.8 (out of 4)HBO
The graphic novel, the movie... I had not a single taste of them. But HBO has opened my little universe of entertainment, and the Watchmen series, written by Lost and Leftovers creator Damon Lindelof, is his finest work. The nine-episode series flies by with both a flurry of flashbacks to the Tulsa Wall Street Massacre of 1921 — a history lesson for most Americans, including myself — that really tilts the action for viewers who love period pieces. This is one of the most creative and gritty series based on a comic-book storyline (DC) ever. This is also not something for your children to watch randomly because of graphic content. For mature audiences, this is something unique, for sure, because of the blend of masked crime fighters and the omnipotent, supernatural powers of Dr. Manhattan. The fact that the story is compelling even though Dr. Manhattan is not a central character until the final few episodes is a testament to Lindelof.
Maybe he has finally found his stride. All that was really missing from Lost and The Leftovers was a superhero. Regina King, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeremy Irons. Come on, this was built to win.
There are layers to this tale stretching over the course of a century. But the payoffs along the way are really satisfying. What makes Watchmen ultimately hypnotic is its parallels to the current state of the union. Hate crimes. Hate crime history. Hate groups. Justice. Power at the highest levels in danger of falling into the hands of the story's version of the KKK, the 7th Kalvary.
Final note: the music was a perfect fit. Unlike Westworld, which turned into a glut of synthesizer turbulence, Trent Reznor's maestro touch combined finesse with power to stoke Watchmen higher. 'Nuff said.
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