'Watchmen': Knowing the backmatter makes it a richer experience but HBO show can be enjoyed even without it
There aren’t a lot of shows out there that make you feel like you should be doing your homework. Between the original comic, its dense backmatter that expands the world of ‘Watchmen’ in great detail, and HBO’s ‘Peteypedia’ that does the same thing, it’s easy to feel like ‘Watchmen’ is a show that can’t be enjoyed without studying for it as obsessively as only comic book fans can. How well does the show hold up for a more casual viewer who just wants to sit back, and have fun?
Surprisingly well, as it turns out.
It’s true that there’s a lot happening on the show. It’s a weird world that’s set up. Policemen are in costumes, Robert Redford is the president, there are phone booths to a godlike being who lives on Mars, it rains little squids and everyone acts like it’s normal. References to events of the comic, and the world behind the scenes are everywhere. There are connections everywhere, and sharp-eyed fans have been picking up on every little Easter Egg they can find, and speculating on what it all could mean. It is, however, all just speculation. Ultimately? Knowing the backmatter provides a richer experience, but the show can be thoroughly enjoyed without it.
The mystery woven into the show is just as baffling to obsessive ‘Watchmen’ fans as it must be to new viewers. The show’s creators are obviously keeping new viewers in mind, as everything relevant to the season’s plot is revealed at a relaxed pace, in entertaining moments that aren’t just exposition dumps.
Whether it’s a play rehashing Doctor Manhattan’s origin, or agent Dale Petey (Dustin Ingram) recounting Laurie Blake’s (Jean Smart) backstory to prove a point about superheroes and trauma, ‘Watchmen’ is inventive in the ways it plucks out the most relevant information and ensures it’s communicated to people who don’t have the time to go diving into additional material.
Additionally, the show is set decades after the events of the original comic - there is a lot that’s new to both casual viewers and longtime fans alike. The writing staggers its reveals brilliantly - enough answered questions to keep people satisfied, enough mystery to keep them coming back for more.
There’s a lot about the show that’s confusing - but it’s positioned as intentional. The writers want you to be baffled at this time, and the show promises that all will be made clear in good time. It requires a certain amount of faith, but the evident quality of the show thus far has done a lot to justify that faith.
Writing aside, the performances alone are enough to make the show a gem in its own right. Regina King, who plays Angela Abar, Jeremy Irons as Adrian Veidt and Jean Smart are just three of the actors that set the show apart. Whether it’s King’s intensity, or Irons’ joyful eccentricity, there’s a weight to each scene. Take the scenes out of their complicated contexts, and they still remain very entertaining.
‘Watchmen’ is definitely a show that rewards investment - the more work you put into understanding the world it creates and the themes it explores, the more you get out of the show. However, a combination of great writing, performances, and direction make the show a special experience for anyone who wants to watch it - like Dale Petey himself, the show is completely aware that sometimes people just want to focus on what’s right in front of them.
The next episode of ‘Watchmen’, ‘Little Fear of Lightning’ airs November 17, on HBO.