Watchmen

[prisma]

I only watched the first episode and then decided to watch the whole season at once. The Tulsa riots stuff really got to me and I figured if this is going to be a painful exploration of the effed up race relations in our country, I’d rather knock that out at once than drag it over months. Plus, Lost and The Leftovers were ultimately disappointing for me, so I wanted to know if it was worth the time.

So is the consensus here that it is still a good show?

[Babycakes]

I'm still watching, and I think it's amazing. I have no idea where this story is going, and I'm happy for the crumbs that they give me every week. I loved Jean Smart's portrayal of Laurie, and what's she's become. I do hope she and Angela team up soon. I want answers, but I'll wait and see how things play out without too much speculation. I saw a theory that Ozymandius may also be on Mars with Dr. Manhattan, and using the clones to develop an escape method. He's being punished for his past actions (squid monster), and he clearly wants out. We'll see if he makes it out of his "prison" and comes back to Earth and causes more trouble. Keane and Judd's wife are definitely dirty. I'm not sure if Judd was all the way dirty, but I am convinced his wife definitely is. I believe there's more to Angela's hot husband than meets the eye. You don't hire that guy just for eye candy and to be the perfect stay at home dad. There are still layers waiting to be unpeeled.

I have to admit that I am disappointed by the lack of response to the show across the usual geek/cultural media. It's heady at times, and requires some familiarity with the source material; but a lot of the complaints I've seen are people being put off by the demonizing of white supremacists(!), and using a black woman as the protagonist initially. Apparently people couldn't identify and latch on from the first episode because a black woman was the focal point. I've seen multiple reviews stressing that Laurie's episode should have been the pilot, and she should have been the protagonist from the start in order to hook people in. #Disappointednotsurprised.

[biondetta]

Mar 27, 2005 13:52:29 GMT -4 Babycakes said:

and using a black woman as the protagonist initially. Apparently people couldn't identify and latch on from the first episode because a black woman was the focal point.

JFC. I hate people. My husband and I are both loving the show and we're completely unfamiliar with the source material. I've heard of the comic, but never read any of it. When Sister Night was "trying to pick a fight" with Cal, I had a brief moment of realizing that you've got a series where you have a black couple as lead characters and it just seems normal. And I love that. I love Laurie's character, especially when she starts laughing at the end of the third episode (trying not to spoil it for others). However, I don't think she needs to be the main protagonist. The whole show has been moving, fascinating, and a fun ride. I kind of which I could binge it, but I'm also glad I have to spread it out and savor it.

[Babycakes]

Seriously, once you think you're getting somewhere with the plot, BAM!, new shit drops out of nowhere, and redirects your brain somewhere else. The Lube Guy in episode 4 had my jaw on the floor. The show is amazing. I can't wait for episode 5 which seems like it will focus on Looking Glass. He's easily one of my favorite characters thus far, even with the limited screen time he has had so far.

I also love Angela's and Cal's relationship. It's so refreshing to see a man not intimidated by a strong woman, or resentful for being (I'm assuming) the primary care giver to the kids. And the way he flat out told the kids about life and death? Wow. So, so good. I can't wait to hear Cal's backstory. No way is he just a regular dude. He has to have a hidden super power of something.

[batmom]

I think that being hot and emotionally mature is a kind of superpower...

[kostgard]

Nov 13, 2019 22:40:43 GMT -4 Babycakes said:

Seriously, once you think you're getting somewhere with the plot, BAM!, new shit drops out of nowhere, and redirects your brain somewhere else. The Lube Guy in episode 4 had my jaw on the floor. The show is amazing. I can't wait for episode 5 which seems like it will focus on Looking Glass. He's easily one of my favorite characters thus far, even with the limited screen time he has had so far.

I also love Angela's and Cal's relationship. It's so refreshing to see a man not intimidated by a strong woman, or resentful for being (I'm assuming) the primary care giver to the kids. And the way he flat out told the kids about life and death? Wow. So, so good. I can't wait to hear Cal's backstory. No way is he just a regular dude. He has to have a hidden super power of something.

I also enjoyed Lady Trieu, and I'm curious to see what she is up to. I saw someone recently point out that this show has three main characters who are women over 40 (two of whom are women of color) and they are all fascinating.

Cal really is great. I'm almost afraid that he's too good to be true. I hope that isn't the case and he remains awesome.

[kostgard]

This latest episode...holy shit.

Here’s a good BTS article on the episode

Lots of the stuff in the episode based on real people/events/things (like the use of the “ok” symbol used by racist shitheads today).

[save lilo!]

Wow.

[petitesuite]

*WOW. I am completely blown away.

[save lilo!]

Oct 22, 2019 12:09:17 GMT -4 Ladybug said:

Oct 22, 2019 12:02:17 GMT -4 kostgard said:

Sort of a side note, but...yes. It is unbelievable that this doesn't even get mentioned in most high school history classes and it was a major event. So even though this is an alternative history, it could prove interesting/educational.

I also learned about Japanese internment camps not in school, but from...The Karate Kid. The way we whitewash our own history is truly stunning.

See also - the Osage murders. I just finished reading Killers of the Flower Moon, and I had never heard about this, but it was a major national news event in the 1920s. It's remarkable the stuff that gets left out. And it's not just history class, but the collective historical consciousness. Think of the monuments, the memorials, celebrations, documentaries, etc. that we just end up knowing about or the sensational stories that people never seem to lose interest in the like Lizzie Borden, or the Lindbergh baby or Amelia Earhart or the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. And these other major events get left out.

I hadn’t heard about the Osage murders until this thread — just wanted to point out that they’re making a movie about this based on the book. Happened to look up Scorsese today after watching The Irishman and fell on that news!