Watchmen - Episode 2: Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship
WATCHMEN - HBO
The sophomore episode of Dameon Lindelof's "remixed" sequel to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons international best selling graphic novel of the same name is not too indifferent to its precursor episode premiere. A concise, gripping fall into the abyss where the audience fall down an enigmatic rabbit hole, slowly beginning to reveal itself bit by bit at its own incredibly gradual velocity.
As stated above, it’s more of the same in this mysterious thriller. Director Nicole Kassell and writer Damon Lindelof don't hold back in terms of story development but they are sure-fire to do so on their terms. Such an element is immersive but feels slightly regurgitated without much covered regarding the trajectory of where the story is moving. Nothing is becoming clear, but it doesn't stop the proceedings from being — in any way, shape or form — boring or dull. The image is continuously evocative and engaging with small details in the production design or on-the-nose homages to the world slowly exposing itself to be a far more absurd personality than it originally suggests.
Each moment feels empowering with a strong effect prowess but, just as it starts to get going, Lindelof restricts to showcase any final product. With that, the impact is lacking. To make a good and robust TV show is to have each episode set up to refer back on the storyline that is presented in each particular chapter and not to bait your audience into returning — instead they should want to come back with strong engagement. It is the same problem mid-seasons of Game Of Thrones and much of The Walking Dead suffered from; Watchmen is slowly showing signs of the same disease.
Granted, it is far too close to call as of yet with the series only on episode two. Yet the episode is undeniably eventful with Regina King once again utilised as the primary lead and Jeremy Irons’s mystery role once again taking a back burner. King has a whole host of emotional turmoil to convey through her character, and the result is a tremendous display of an excellently-crafted emotional distress — the embodiment of which devours the screen. However, there’s no question that it feels that two hours of material has passed and Watchmen does not particularly showcase much of a trajectory or path. Perhaps everything is still obscure and the proof will be in the pudding. Only time will tell, and the clock is ticking — tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.
Watchmen is released Sunday and Monday nights exclusively on HBO and SKY ONE.
