Why TV series "Watchmen" is worth a look even for those who have not read the comics

On HBO (in Russia "Amediateke") launched a long-awaited series "Watchmen", which continues the story of the legendary graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

Once an original work literally captivated the audience, telling the superhero story in the setting of important social issues. Realistic very confusing and ambiguous morality detective story with a plurality of small parts of steel hallmark comics.

Now, all these components are picked and author of the new TV "Guardians" Damon Lindelof (creator of the series "abandoned»). In this case, the director does not try to repeat the classic and does something entirely his own, relevant today.

New story with an eye on the classics

Lindelof said from the beginning that the show will be neither a remake nor a direct continuation of the original. The project just keeps the spirit of the original source, and some of the characters.

The action takes place in the same alternate world in the United States in the city of Tulsa. After President Nixon's government headed by actor Robert Redford. And he stayed in office for a long time, so many laws in the country are very conservative: no mobile, strictly non-smoking and the use of weapons by the police even need a separate resolution.

Masked Avengers banned, but because of rampant crime, povlokshego attacks on police officers and their families, are now themselves the guards hiding face. They have to hide their place of work, even from friends. Ordinary policemen wear uniforms and yellow headbands and detectives can afford to wear strange costumes. In fact, they are themselves look like comic book heroes.

The plot revolves around a detective police Abar Angela and her colleagues. After the shooting on the road, in which nearly killed a patrol, they have to deal with the looming danger over the city.

Confronts them racist cult, calling himself "the Seventh Cavalry." They wear masks, like the costume of Rorschach, and even quotes him as saying. That's just the idea of ​​the fundamental superhero followers strongly distorted.

And this is the first but not the only reference to the classic comics. And the plot is built so that they do not read the original just did not pay attention to the analogy, but the world and the characters they will open gradually.

But those who love the graphic novel, will catch the references one by one. Starting from the smallest detail, such as a raised mask a policeman nicknamed Mirror - just behaved real Rorschach during meal time. And ending with the advent of the classical heroes: and if Dr. Manhattan until flashes only on the background, then Ozymandias devoted an entire storyline.

"Keepers" successfully adopted the structure of the original. They repeatedly remind us that this alternative world, the police are strange and sometimes funny costumes, and the sky suddenly begin to pour squid.

But this series is very realistic: it raises urgent questions that more and more mature in the modern society.

sinister sociality

Opening the first episode scene immediately alludes to the atmosphere of the series. It all starts with an old movie about superhero a masked executioner (by the way, again a reference to the comic strip).

And after that show real and very violent events that occurred in the city of Tulsa in 1921: whereas group residents under the leadership of the local Ku Klux Klan organized a mass pogroms and murder among the black population.

Many years later, in our time all the racial question is as relevant to the country. Although Lindelof does not go too deeply into this topic. It's not about skin color, and that the police, who protect ordinary citizens from lawlessness, she was in danger.

Confrontation between the two layers of society and becomes the leitmotif of history and, obviously, the main character will have to realize the ambiguity of the situation. Because in fact the police, hiding the face, put themselves above the law.

Suspects simply kidnapped and recognition of them literally knock. And from a certain moment the police are allowed to use weapons. And it turns out that they had already turned into a punitive agency of the totalitarian state. Where will lead a brutal confrontation, we can only guess.

Very stylish shooting

It is no secret that many people know, "Guardians" film adaptation due in 2009 from Zack SnyderThat gave not only close enough story retelling, but also incredibly sleek visuals.

In this case, fans of the film is better at least briefly acquainted with the comic. They have different endings, and sometimes refers to the series is the source.

Of course, from the series should not expect Snyder aesthetics. But even here enough cool finds. For example, the first scene of the last shot in sepia tones, typical of old movies. Very stylish looks mirror: his mask hides the face and reflects the beholder, becoming both a reference and opposite Rorschach mask.

Interrogation with Mirrors - the most stylish scene of the episode, where behind the speakers show important events in the life of the country. This introduction to the world of the series, and just a very beautiful moment.

And a new "Keepers", as the original story perfectly combine elegance and brutality. The scene of the night assault charged like nice. But the shooting of cattle from large-caliber machine gun especially impressionable viewers can not survive.

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While it is difficult to judge what will be in the series next. Ozymandias role in the plot was not disclosed, is expected appearance of another classic heroine Laurie Blake and of course the almighty Dr. Manhattan.

But more importantly, that the pilot episode clearly alludes to the serious and urgent history. It is unlikely that the world will be here simply divided into good and evil, and the whole story will be devoted to the fight against crime police. Most likely, the brutality of state bodies under the authority of the president-ossified retrograde also show with the unpleasant side.

In the meantime, "Watchmen" is more asking questions than answering them. But at the outset of the series is very curious.