I’m going to come right out and say it: I watched the first episode of “Watchmen” and immediately wanted to research and write about it. It is one of the finest pieces of television I have seen in a long time. That being said, the rest of this article will contain some MAJOR spoilers about the first episode of “Watchmen” titled “It’s Summer and We’re Running out of Ice” so please avoid this until you have seen the episode. For those who have stayed, I am not only going to review this episode, but take a deep dive into some more on the nose symbols and images that are not as obvious as they may seem.
The show is loosely based on the 1986 DC comic series by the same name, but takes place in 2019. Several events that took place in the comics exist in the show’s universe, and make the episode a little easier to understand. In this world, the US won the Vietnam War and made Vietnam a state. A villain named Adrian Veidt launched a squid-alien attack in New York, an action which has had lasting effects in the show. American actor Robert Redford has been president for decades. One of the main premises of the show is that police officers now have to wear masks to protect their identities from a white supremacist group, the 7th Calvary, which closes mirrors the KKK. Masks were instated after a mentioned but unexplained event, The White Night, in which group members presumably tracked down and targeted police officers and their families. And all of this is just enough to follow the FIRST episode.
(Photo via HBO)
The Review
Now for the review: this is the most expectation shattering pilot episode I have ever seen. The opening scene of the Tulsa Race Riots was jarring and immediately grabbed my attention. The entire episode was full of such rich symbolism in every image and line that forced me to pay the episode my full attention the entire time I watched it. I was confused and confounded by the mysterious storytelling in the absolute best way possible. This DC universe is grounded enough to make it believable and real-life scary, but fantastical enough to keep it interesting and strange. From the unexplained changes to American history as we know it, to the seemingly normal squid storm in the middle of the freeway, my mouth was constantly ajar in surprise and my eyes were widened in shock. The star among all these twists, turns, and surprises was the amazing performance by Regina King. I could not think of a more perfect actress to portray the heroine of this show. She is likable, she is powerful, and despite her superhuman heroism, she is perfectly human. She is exactly what I imagine a superhero would be like if they were real.
(Photo via HBO)
The Analysis
Easter Eggs:
-The bleeding smiley face
-”The Watchman’s Son”
-Old man potentially being Adrian Veidt
-Rorschach masks
Symbols:
-Oklahoma!
-Police arms locks
-Wheelchair man
-Hung police officer
-Horseshoe
-White children (adopted?)
Background:
-Tulsa race riots
-7th calvary
-Vietnam war
OR I can talk about things that only play off the title of the show
-the play “The Watchmaker’s Son”
-the sign “Watch over this boy
-Watch ticking at various times