Watchmen (HBO) (2009)

About Watchmen (HBO)

The HBO series 'Watchmen' is actually more of a follow-up to the 1985-1986 Watchmen comics by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, than a direct adaptation. However, the story stays true to the spirit of the original content. The series, set in an alternate universe where masked vigilantes operate against the backdrop of societal dysfunction, extends the world of Watchmen to contemporary times. Racism, justice, and the perversion of power are themes deeply interwoven into the series narrative.

Making/Production

The show's development started in 2015 when HBO began talks with Zack Snyder, who had previously directed the 2009 feature film adaptation of 'Watchmen'. Eventually, Damon Lindelof, a long-time fan of the comic, took over as showrunner. The series was filmed primarily in Atlanta, Georgia and Macon, Georgia and it premiered on HBO on October 20, 2019.

Actors

• Regina King as Angela Abar/Sister Night: King delivers a powerful performance as a detective who tackles white supremacist terrorism while grappling with her own mysterious past.
• Jeremy Irons as Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias: Irons brilliantly portrays the mad genius, living in exile, whose past actions have a profound impact on the series' plot.
• Jean Smart as Laurie Blake/Silk Spectre: Smart plays former vigilante turned FBI agent who takes no crap and holds her own in a male-dominated society.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The series features several real-life historical events such as the Tulsa Race Massacre.
• The squid rain from the sky is a nod to the original comics where a giant squid was teleported into Manhattan.

Awards

Watchmen received widespread critical acclaim and went on to win 11 Primetime Emmy Awards from 26 nominations, the most wins of any show at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series.

Quotes

• "We don't do lollipops and rainbows. We know those are pretty colors that just hide what the world really is. Black and white." - Angela Abar/Sister Night
• "It's not 1985 anymore, Rorschach's journal didn't rid the world of its sins." - Laurie Blake/Silk Spectre

Music, Soundtrack

• The original score for the series was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
• The soundtrack features eclectic choices from hip-hop to opera, which imbues intense emotions and deepens the narrative.