HBO’s Watchmen recently wrapped up its first season with strong from fans and critics alike. Serving as a continuation of the graphic novel, the series follows Angela Abar (Regina King), aka Sister Night, as she investigates a conspiracy unfolding in modern-day Tulsa, Oklahoma. The questions of what makes a hero and why do we wear a mask, both literal and figurative, permeates throughout the series.
The first season answers all of these questions, creating a self-contained story that deals with pain and healing in a very raw manner that struck a chord with audiences. While series creator Damon Lindelof has indicated he isn’t sure if he would want to return for a second season, HBO is almost certain to renew the series. Below are 5 things fans want to see and 5 they don't from Watchmen season 2.
Want: Dan Dreiberg's Story
Dan Dreiberg, a skilled fighter and technical wizard, was the second individual to take up the Nigh Owl mantle and is the only major character from the graphic novel not featured prominently in the show. After the squid attack in 1985, Dan and Laurie Blake continued to fight crime until the mid-nineties when they where both apprehended for violating the Keene Act. While Laurie made a deal to work for the FBI to gain her release, Dan chooses to remain in prison.
Completely absent from the story, the second season of Watchmen could heavily feature Dan's adventures in prison. Considering how Adrian Veidt's arc ended, perhaps a storyline the show could explore is Veidt and Dan reuniting behind bars.
Don't Want: Returning To Tulsa
Tulsa was a great backdrop for the first season. Infusing the real-life Tulsa Race Riots of 1921 allowed the show to establish the ugly history of racism in the world that framed so much of the Reeves/Abar family arc. More amazingly, the show doesn't just paint racism as the terrible act it is, but also allows the depth of pain, fear, and hurt to illuminate throughout its characters in a very raw manner.
While the finale does raise a few questions, the show addresses most of the mystery surrounding the main plot lines by its conclusion. Watchmen season 1 is a self-contained story. There just isn't much more to say in Tulsa. A better option is for the show to treat each season as an anthology, featuring new stories, locations, and characters.
Want: Adrian Veidt's Trial
Towards the end of season 1, Watchmen took us to Europa to witness the trial of Adrian Veidt for breaking the laws of his confinement. While this moment was carefully orchestrated by Veidt himself, his arc ended with him being arrested back on Earth for his role in the 1985 squid attack.
For the first time in the show or graphic novel, Veidt isn't in control of his situation. It would be fun to watch as he tries to find a way out of his imprisonment. At the very least, following Veidt's trial will allow actor Jeremy Irons to chew up screen time with smarmy, scathing monologues as Veidt defends himself.
Don't Want: More Dr. Manhattan
In many ways, the first season of Watchmen serves as a continuation of the graphic novel despite being a stand-alone story. Due to this, it was inevitable that Dr. Manhattan would show up. While it was fun to catch up with John, his presence drastically changes the makeup of the show.
Watchmen season 1 was its strongest when it served as a character examination and remained grounded in the story. Introducing a being with actual powers changes the tone, creating a story that feels grander than grounded. The end of season 1 does suggest Angela takes on Dr. Manhattan's powers, but this could be a focus of a future season and shouldn't be included in a second season.
Want: More Looking Glass
None of the characters introduced in the series garnered as much love as Wade Tillman, aka Looking Glass. With a cool look and intricate backstory, fans similarly connected with Looking Glass as they did with Rorschach in the graphic novel.
While the show shouldn't return to Tulsa, it could easily follow Looking Glass as he now examines his life knowing the squid attack, which has defined his entire adult life, was orchestrated by Veidt. Tillman was last seen at Karnak with Veidt and Laurie, so a story for Wade could include transitioning to the FBI or perhaps the show could just follow his continued vigilante adventures.
Don't Want: Going Back To Space
One of the most intriguing mysteries in season 1 was Veidt's storyline on Europa. Spanning the entire nine-episode run of the show, fans were kept guessing as to what was happening as Veidt attempted to make his escape from his space prison.
Much like Dr. Manhattan, going to space again would remove the grounded tone that made Watchmen so much fun to watch. This is not to say they couldn't explore more stories in space, but without Lady Trieu and potentially Dr. Manhattan on the board, it just doesn't make sense to return to space.
Want: Incorporating The Minutemen
During episode six, "This Extraordinary Being", Will Reeves is revealed to be the man behind the first vigilante, Hooded Justice. In doing so, the show also expanded on the history of the Minutemen, the original group of heroes that inspired future generations of vigilantes.
The Minutemen have a rich history that would be worth exploring further throughout the series. Having already cast the actors behind the masks, the series could shift focus to a stand-alone Minutemen season. The show has also displayed a willingness to inform the current story through flashbacks, so it is reasonable to think they could go in this direction again. Either way, further exploration of The Minutemen would make great television.
Don't Want: Rehashing Similar Themes
The original Watchmen graphic novel attempts to deconstruct the heroes' journey in a real-world setting. The ideas of identity, fate, ethics, and morality are all touched upon throughout Alan Moore's story in ways that feel realistic despite taking place in an alternate universe. The show also dips into the identity pool, forcing Angela and Will to examine who they are while serving as a necessary rebuke of racism in 2019. In both works, it is the flawed hero that is put front and center exploring these themes.
When taking the show and graphic novel together, it has said all it can on these topics. In a nihilistic world, little is left to explore about identity or ethics. More importantly, the show goes out of its way to point out how flawed all heroes have been, including Dr. Manhattan. A second season should look to explore new themes with new stories.
Want: Lube Man's Back Story
The enigmatic character slid away as quickly as they were introduced. After getting caught tailing Sister Night, Lube Man was never seen or heard from again, though the police had some interesting guesses as to his true identity. The show never directly answers this question, so who the heck is Lube Man?
Peteypedia, a supplemental source site produced for the show, does allude to Lube Man being F.B.I. agent Dale Petey. A second season could explore this, confirming his true identity. Fans would love watching this unique hero slip out of trouble every week. Watchmen has never really explored an origin story before and focusing on Lube Man could allow the show to do that.
Don't Want: Casting Same Actors In New Roles
Watchmen would work best as an anthology series. A few other shows have attempted to serve as anthologies with varying degrees of success. The most notable, American Horror Story, is known for recasting the same actors in new roles. While that has worked for American Horror Story, it would be a disaster for Watchmen.
Considering this show is a connected universe, it would be jarring to see many of the actors we have come to love playing different roles. This would be a terrible mistake that would make it difficult to watch a second season, especially if the show also has a new showrunner.
