'Watchmen' Episode 9 'See How They Fly': The Game Warden's death was both Adrian Veidt's funniest and most tragic moment ever
There are only a few characters in comic books or on screen with as much nuance to them as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias (Jeremy Irons). Over the course of his long life, Adrian has been a hero, a scientist, and a mass murderer and all of those roles have inevitably led to tragedy.
Jeremy Irons' portrayal of the character on HBO's 'Watchmen' TV series really brought a dark humor to the character which has been quite enjoyable. But in Episode 9 'See How They Fly', the show finally delivered an Ozymandias scene with the perfect balance of tragedy and comedy.
The scene in question happens when Ozymandias finally kills his longtime foe, the Game Warden (Tom Mison).
We finally get to see the Warden's face in the episode (surprise, it's another Mr. Phillips) and we get to see the unmasked Warden die in the arms of his nemesis, who refuses to acknowledge the Warden as a worthy opponent even at the hour of his death.
As sadistic as this might sound, it's honestly quite funny how Veidt ruthlessly denies the Game Warden the satisfaction of a happy death. It's a classic Ozymandias move and we could easily chalk the scene up as yet another hilarious Mr. Phillips death.
But this scene was also one of the most tragic moments for Ozymandias on the show because it confirmed that his rivalry with the Warden, their faceoff, Veidt's trial, and his humiliating punishment were all part of Veidt's plan.
Not just that, it was all basically just one huge play he put together so he could keep his mind occupied while he devised a way off Europa and back to Earth.
What that implies is that Veidt orchestrated the moment when his former servants pelted him with produce and declared him guilty. He wanted to be humiliated by being compared to a pig and locked up in a cell.
What this hilarious yet devastating scene reveals is that beneath all that bluster and arrogance, Adrian Veidt truly despises himself. What could be more tragic than that?
'Watchmen' Episode 9 'See How They Fly' aired on HBO on December 15.