Watchmen HBO Eyeing ‘Watchmen’ TV Series from Damon Lindelof

[Kane52630]

 

[Detective Conan]

 

[David H.]

Damon Lindelof did a quick breakdown of Watchmen’s alternate film history that was too cute by half.

'Watchmen' Exclusive: All of Your Burning Questions About the Robert Redford Administration Have Been Answered

It pertains to Bob Redford’s absence from the screen and includes a few fun tidbits, including this one I think we all saw coming (or are expecting a visual reference to on the show any episode now):

The Horse Whisperer (starring Scott Glenn (replacing Redford)) - The Horse Whisperer came late in a wave of “rural chic” films that began in the late eighties amid the urban flight movements that followed the Dimensional Incursion Event of November 2, 1985. Directed by George T. Miller, it was a modest success but and successfully launched the career of Scarlett Johansson, who is perhaps best known for her role as the swashbuckler-spy Black Sash in Charlton’s Marauders franchise; she’ll next be seen in Crisis On Infinite Seas.

Also, in this universe, John Cazale didn’t die and went on to star in The Old Man and The Gun (a lovely little film, in case you haven’t seen it (it’s on HBO right now.))

like I quoted, “too cute by half.”

 

[Eddie Dean]

I like that show, but that is some reddit fan fic baloney.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

I don't remember from what but something I watched said Veidt's "I did it" hands represent the doomsday clock. All he did was knock the clock back a few minutes. I've read this book numerous times over 11 years and I still get things pointed out to me.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I did it
Do you think I've gone too far?
I did it
Guilty as charged
I did it
Dropped a squid on your home
I did it
Yeah

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

No. But, I would not write off some of Moore's criticisms. You can still enjoy something, while acknowledging some of the problematic undertones, even if it isn't intentional on the writers parts. Even when they aren't being obvious about it (looking at you Civil Wars...) there can be a bit of a fascistic undertone to superheroes. Which, looping things around, is kind of what this show is doing, by tying superheroes to police.

One of the things I adore about the British side of superhero comics is guys like Moore, Wagner, Millar, Ennis etc not only understood that superheroes are inherently fascist in concept, but they also weren't afraid to use this flaw of the genre creatively.

 

[Kane52630]

Butcher Billy (@billythebutcher) | Twitter

 

[Deck Rickard]

Those are great. Although I’m not sure why the Kingpin is dressed up like Daredevil.

 

[Detective Conan]

Those look pretty Kirby-esque.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Are those based on classic comic drawings? Aside from Red Scare obviously looking like the Kingpin, Veidt looks like the Red Skull or something.

 

[Mutant 77]

I've rewatched Episode 5, and all they say is that there was this transdimensional portal in 1985. It could have "attracted" the Squid, not pulled it from its origin world. Which makes sense, because the point of the whole Squid Ruse was "to evoke" the notion of a transdimensional "ATTACK".

Oh, by the way:

Next episode will be dedicated to Angela's grandfather. Will we see the Minutemen?

 

[TMP98]

FYC ad

Man, how awesome would this getting Golden Globes/Emmy love be

 

[Elayis]

I guess I'm the only one that thought episode was the weakest so far. Everything in it was either stuff we already guessed or new but predictable. I was honestly bored at times, a huge letdown after the greatness of eps 3 & 4. The only interesting part for me was the opening (so cool that we got to see the squid in live action). I'm starting to wonder if this show has any more mysteries to offer or if they've all been guessed by now.

Those of you who likened it to The Leftovers may have identified why I didn't care for it. I tried and tried to get into that show but I have no interest in Judeo-Christian theology and the unrelenting nihilism and dourness left me cold. Looking Glass was more interesting when he was an unknown.

Hopefully tomorrow's installment is more exciting.

 

[TMP98]

Butcher Billy (@billythebutcher) | Twitter

 

[Deck Rickard]

LOL, I can’t listen to that George Michael song anymore without thinking of Deadpool.

 

[Doctor Jones]

It was the same for me too, but I think this episode changed that for me. I've been listening to the song all week. This episode just sticks with you. My favorite shot is Wade's face after he finds out the conspiracy. His whole world is turned upside down now that he can't even tell what's true and what's not anymore.

After really thinking about it, I think this one was the best episode so far. Which is saying something because it was between that or episode 3. They're just works of art.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah I really like Wade as a character and Tim Blake Nelson just knocks it out of the park. What I like about LG and a lot of the other characters in this sequel is that there are subtle nods to the characters in the graphic novel but these characters also feel like their own thing. For example, LG could have just felt like a Rorschach clone - and there are similarities like the mask, the paranoia, and eating beans out of a can with his mask on - but he also feels like a new, fully formed character. It’s different than a lot of 20-30 years-later sequels where the main characters just feel like reboots of the originals. You can tell Lindelof really took his time crafting this.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Yeah I really like Wade as a character and Tim Blake Nelson just knocks it out of the park. What I like about LG and a lot of the other characters in this sequel is that there are subtle nods to the characters in the graphic novel but these characters also feel like their own thing. For example, LG could have just felt like a Rorschach clone - and there are similarities like the mask, the paranoia, and eating beans out of a can with his mask on - but he also feels like a new, fully formed character. It’s different than a lot of 20-30 years-later sequels where the main characters just feel like reboots of the originals. You can tell Lindelof really took his time crafting this.

Agreed. Looking Glass is my favorite. An interesting observation is that I like how this story is more about a protagonist and a supporting cast than an ensemble like the comic.

Can these people write the next Star Wars movies? At the very least Lindelof. This show is like the polar opposite of what SW is now and what I've been harping on for so long. You can still be respectful of what came before and not do the same exact thing or jog in place. Can you imagine if Abrams or Disney approached this?

The Soviets or China would be the threat again, with another nuclear stand off, it takes place in NYC and they dropped another giant squid. "We need to go back to Veidt tower, it's been condemned for all these years!" Oh, and the conspiracy would be that Nixon would still be kept alive and be behind it all.

I'd say out of all the revivals of the decade, this, Twin Peaks and Blade Runner 2049 did it right.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Agreed. Looking Glass is my favorite. An interesting observation is that I like how this story is more about a protagonist and a supporting cast than an ensemble like the comic.

Can these people write the next Star Wars movies? At the very least Lindelof. This show is like the polar opposite of what SW is now and what I've been harping on for so long. You can still be respectful of what came before and not do the same exact thing or jog in place. Can you imagine if Abrams or Disney approached this?

The Soviets or China would be the threat again, with another nuclear stand off tand it took place in NYC and they dropped another giant squid. "We need to go back to Veidt tower, it's been condemned for all these years!" Oh, and the conspiracy would be that Nixon would still be kept alive and be behind it all.

I'd say out of all the revivals of the decade, this, Twin Peaks and Blade Runner 2049 did it right.

Haha yeah I almost mentioned Star Wars in my post but I decided not to because I know it’s a bit of a sensitive issue with a lot of people. But it’s true. Kylo Ren and Snoke were just a wannabe Vader and Emperor, who built another Death Star. But wait! It blows up multiple planets instead of just one! Vanilla Ice Voice: It’s not the same! It’s different!

And now in the last film, their big, epic idea is to... bring the Emperor back. Oh and give Kylo his mask back. lol

Agreed, this and Blade Runner 2049 are the way to do this type of sequel. Never watched the Twin Peaks Revival but overall heard good things there too.

 

[TMP98]

Can these people write the next Star Wars movies? At the very least Lindelof. This show is like the polar opposite of what SW is now and what I've been harping on for so long. You can still be respectful of what came before and not do the same exact thing or jog in place. Can you imagine if Abrams or Disney approached this?

Disney got the wrong Lost co-creator on Star Wars haha. Agreed on this though, first thing I thought after seeing this first episode was how interesting it was seeing how Abrams and Lindelof both treated nostalgia for works that influenced their career while making continuations of said work. People want Abrams on Superman, but imagine how incredible a Lindelof-scripted one would be

 

[Deck Rickard]

To be fair to Abrams, Lindelof did write some real duds like Star Trek Into Darkness, Prometheus, Tomorrowland and Cowboys & Aliens. Obviously Abrams is also to blame for STID but not the others. Maybe Lindelof just works better in a TV format and struggles when he has to condense a story into a 2 hour film.

 

[TMP98]

To be fair to Abrams, Lindelof did write some real duds like Star Trek Into Darkness, Prometheus, Tomorrowland and Cowboys & Aliens. Obviously Abrams is also to blame for STID but not the others. Maybe Lindelof just works better in a TV format and struggles when he has to condense a story into a 2 hour film.

Cowboys & Aliens and Star Trek 2 were both co-written with Orci/Kurtzman though, and Prometheus was co-written with Jon Spaihts, the guy who did Passengers. Tomorrowland's really the only one I can blame on Lindelof, and even that one was co-written by Bird

 

[Sithborg]

Or, some people work better in different formats than others. Also, some grow in their craft.

 

[David H.]

Working at HBO finally gave Lindelof the freedom pursue his creative ambition, which is to say write the story that A Serious Man already is.