First of all, the fact that they’re making a television show and not a movie is very exciting. Zack Snyder’s film was a commendable effort. However, despite his best efforts to remain faithful to the source material, the film had a few issues because of trying to cram so much content into a feature. In an episodic medium like television, the characters can evolve more organically, and the backstory and lore of the world can be explored better.
In addition, storylines hinted at in the comic can be explored more fully in a television show. Imagine being able to witness the rise and fall of the first minutemen – seeing how some went crazy and how some of them were murdered. How about exploring the early partnership and friendship between Rorschach and Nite Owl II and seeing how that changed over the years? Plus, DC released ‘Before Watchmen’ a few years ago. Perhaps material from that could be used in the series as well. The storytelling potential is endless.
Furthermore, HBO’s involvement is a plus. Their quality output speaks for itself – ‘Westworld’, ‘Game of Thrones’, etc. A Graphic novel of Watchmen’s prestige deserves the most prestigious cable channel of today. With this partnership, creativity and risk taking in the storytelling will be encouraged. Most comic book shows end up on the CW, Netflix, ABC, and others; a gritty, mature take on the genre by HBO could be a game changer in my opinion. If this show is successful, imagine the possibilities for more great comic book classics on our screens: Sandman, The Invisibles, and Transmetropolitan – the possibilities are exciting.
Damon Lindelof as showrunner is another reason I’m excited for this show. Say what you will about the ‘Lost’ finale -- and I’m sure many have unfavorable opinions on his movie output. One thing is certain – the man makes great television. His recent run on ‘The Leftovers’ being an excellent example. Also, he’s a hardcore fan of ‘Watchmen’ and often cites it as an influence on his work. The flashbacks on ‘Lost’ and some of the mystery elements had a very Watchmen flavor. I look forward to seeing him put his stamp on an alternative version of New York. I’m certain folks will be pleasantly surprised.
Finally, I think the world needs a Watchmen series because it is still topical. Consider the world in 1986 when the comic was released. The cold war was in effect and the threat of nuclear war hanged over everyone’s heads. Today, looking at the constant barrage of bad news, there’s a feeling of anxiety over an impending disaster. Imagine if the creators of the show tapped into that and explored it in the storytelling. How would a character like Ozymandias react when countries openly threaten each other with nuclear annihilation? How would that affect his great plan to restore peace to the world?
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