Watchmen

For the comic book ''purists'', it was blasphemy. To the racists who were offended, it was an insult. I hate to generalize but when you upset two of today's most toxic groups, that believe they know something you don't, then you will certainly have my attention.

Lindelof's approach is not canon and it's fine. Watchmen's current and official sequel in the comic books ended last Wednesday with the release of Doomsday Clock #12 where the long-awaited confrontation between Dr. Manhattan and Superman will finally occur.

But personally I think it was a great show. He took the world from the comic book and gave it a different voice. He built an interesting mystery around certain characters from the original story and rooted it in fairly relevant themes that as it showed from its first episode and until its last, encompass decades of hatred that are still alive today.

Until now it's believed that it will only be a stand-alone season and if so I'm okay with it. I'm open to a second one, but I think the story that was told was enough. And believe me that I enjoyed it week by week since it started.

My only but and that's why I didn't give it the 5 stars is that despite the good handling of the plot, Lindelof made a mistake in order to make his romantic story work and that is that he weakened Dr. Manhattan. A lot.

I understand it's his vision, but you're telling me that Ozymandias being the smartest person in the world didn't manage to capture that omnipotent being but a flock of racists did? C'mon.

Nonetheless it was a great show. If you haven't watch it, start now.

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Original Review (based on the season's first six episodes handed to press):

When I discovered that a new show based on the world of Watchmen was in the works, I really didn't have any sort of reaction. But then it was announced that Damon Lindelof (responsible for co-creating my favorite TV series ever, Lost) was the mind behind all of it and that the show wouldn't follow either the graphic novel or Zack Snyder's film, I was genuinely excited. I really enjoy 2009's Watchmen, but I always felt that a single movie (even with an extended runtime) was not enough to showcase its complex rules and layered themes. With this series, Lindelof delivers one of the best new TV shows of the year!

Within the first six episodes, it's already remarkable what he's able to achieve. I've seen some people complaining about how political the season is... You do know we're discussing Watchmen, right? Both the comic and film are packed with politics and social messages relevant to this day and age. So, obviously, the TV series is also heavily centered around a political tone, and it's handled beautifully. Nowadays, it's challenging to produce anything that addresses sensitive issues because, well, people get offended pretty easily. Having in mind the opening sequence of the pilot (so brutal), it's undeniable that the show is incredibly brave in tackling historical moments in a fictional work.

While Snyder's style is occasionally present, the graphic novel has a tremendous impact on the series regarding its references and story. By now, the first episode has already aired, so you already have at least one hint of where the show might be placed in time and space. What I love the most about this season is undoubtedly its storytelling structure. Lindelof borrows his own tricks from Lost and uses the back-and-forward way of telling how the action is happening. This non-linear chrono...

Exceptional in every way; thematically rich, aesthetically breathtaking, and emotionally devastating

The first thing I saw in the moonlight was the placard with its legend in large, block letters: "I defiled my race." Above the placard leered the horribly bloated, purplish face of a young woman, her eyes wide open and bulging, her mouth agape. Finally I could make out the thin, vertical line of rope disappearing into the branches above. Apparently the rope had slipped a bit or the branch to which it was tied had sagged, until the woman's feet were resting on the pavement, giving the uncanny appearance of a corpse standing upright of its own volition.

I shuddered and quickly went on my way. There are many thousands of hanging female corpses like that in this city tonight, all wearing identical placards around their necks. They are the White women who were married to or living with Blacks, with Jews, or with other non-White males. There are also a number of men wearing the l-defiled-my-race placard, but the women easily outnumber them seven or eight to one.

• William Luther Pierce; The Turner Diaries (1978)

Looked at sky through smoke heavy with human fat and God was not there. The cold, suffocating dark goes on forever and we are alone. Live our lives, lacking anything better to do. Devise reason later. Born from oblivion; bear children, hell-bound as ourselves, go into oblivion. There is nothing else. Existence is random. Has no pattern save what we imagine after staring at it for too long. No meaning save what we choose to impose. This rudderless world is not shaped by vague metaphysical forces. It is not God who kills the children. Not fate that butchers them or destiny that feeds them to the dogs. It's us. Only us.

• Alan Moore; Watchmen (1985)

_I might point out that despite what some might view to be their later excesses, the Klan originally came into being because decent people had perfectly reasonable fears for the safe...