The best superhero TV series of 2019 as rated by the famous Rotten Tomato, is a controversial series that caused a huge divide between critics’ and audience’s reviews. The two interesting points above made me pay attention to this series, plus I also had great affection for the 2009 movie version, so I decided to watch it, and it was definitely the right decision. I was hooked right from the first episode by the quite cool soundtrack, strange character costumes and the intriguing, mysterious storyline.
And after finishing the 9 episodes, I have to say WOW!!! This is a series that possesses the ultimate balance a legendary movie needs, both visually and aurally – excellent soundtrack, colorful high-quality visuals, and a storytelling method that gives you the most refreshing and satisfying mind-blowing experience of the year.
It’s really surprising that the series only has an IMDb score of 8.1 – it deserves a higher score than that.
But I guess the answer to that surprise isn’t too hard to find.
What I like most is another thing – the story of this series is completely new and not an adaptation of the famous comic, which adds even more value to the movie.
The timeline of the story is set 34 years after the comic or 2009 movie version (1985), in 2019. You’d think after the horrific event 34 years ago caused by “Ozymandias” Adrian Veidt, the world afterwards could become more “peaceful”. But no, the world of Watchmen’s future afterwards is still the same – bizarre, freaky and even more violent than before. The human craziness towards equality concepts escalates scarily, now not only the self-proclaimed superheroes wear masks to hide their identities, now even the criminals and law enforcement also wear masks, also owning their own secret identities. It seems like everyone in the society of this world also has their own distinct fashion style and coolness, along with each person also suppressing fear and violent rage behind the mask, just waiting to be unleashed outside.
Viewers will follow the main character Angela Abar, aka Sister Night (the dark night nun), as she solves the questions and unravels the many mysterious layers hiding the most sinister conspiracies of the villain, as well as the most painful and darkest secrets of the characters around her .
Angela Abar aka Sister Night by Regina King
Enshrouding the world of the film are mysteries, huge political conspiracies, melancholy haunted memories of the characters. And most notably, yes most notably is the Bizarre, freaky, insane and sick calculations and actions, not only of the villain but even the main characters themselves.
Weird, Mysterious and Unpredictable, yes, that’s the distinctive feeling of Watchmen to me, very strange and interesting
Why does such an amazing series like this only have an IMDb score of 8.1 and not higher? Why does it cause divided opinions between critics and audience?
Perhaps it’s because of the very blunt and heavy political nature of the film.
That’s also the characteristic of the Watchmen brand – right from the Watchmen comics it was based on real political events in America to portray its own unique American world, from World War 2, the bloody 1921 Tulsa race riots, nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, and especially the Vietnam War (America won, turned Vietnam into a US state, thanks to the omnipotent blue superman ). The Watchmen’s America goes through real world events and transforms them in its own way, sometimes fun and sometimes ugly.
And of course in a movie that takes sensitive real political events, modifies them in some way then applies that America could be like this, oh well it can please unrelated people but upset related people or those knowledgeable about the modified events very easily.
I heard that even in its home country America, the movie was badly panned by audiences, mainly surrounding the character Roschard and racial issues, some far-right stuff…..Or some people simply didn’t like this 2019 Watchmen brand because it crammed in too much political propaganda, too sensitive.
Using sensitive political events to build the world of the movie, but Watchmen’s core still remains very humane and neutral, always so, from the comics, Zack Snyder’s movie version, and this amazing series by Damon Lindeloft. Watchmen always raises debates about the human nature of superheroes, the meaning of their existence, why characters become heroes, what true peace is, the balance between good and evil, and ultimately whether the characters deserve to be called heroes.
Specifically about this series, I advise you to definitely watch until episode 8. Oh My Blue God!!!! It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a TV episode with such an incredible nonlinear storytelling style, truly mind-blowing . A very weird yet also beautiful love story, typical Watchmen style, hats off to writer Lindleloft.
Watchmen 2019 is highly entertaining, but in my opinion also not an easy watch due to the heavy political nature and eccentric, confusing character building and storytelling, requiring viewers to be patient with the story if the visuals don’t hook you. However, if you’re patient enough to absorb the framework, atmosphere and plot of the film, and perhaps think a little neutrally about the political issues, I can assure you you’re enjoying a Masterpiece.
