Watchmen (TV Mini Series) Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship (2019) User Reviews

Ride of the Valkyries

[southdavid · 7/10 · 30 October 2019]

A few more "Watchmen" elements are reflected in this second episode, and the plot settles down a little more though it's still an "appreciate, rather than enjoy" experience at the moment.

Angela (Regina King) takes Will (Louis Gossett Jnr) back to her shop and begins to question him about the situation at the finale of episode one. The investigation reveals some surprising elements about Chief Crawford (Don Johnson) and also forces her to relieve the attack on her home that drove the Police to hide their identities. Meanwhile Veidt (Jeremy Irons) enlists his servants to perform a play that he has written.

So, there are a few more nods to "Watchmen" in this episode. One is pretty explicit, with Veidt's play re-enacting the creation of Doctor Manhattan each night. Though initially this feels like he might have lost his mind, it's clear that he's continued to experiment with gene splicing (the tree growing tomatos not the least of his accomplishments) and that he again has some sort of plan. You also have a scene that takes place at a news stand, mirroring the ones in the graphic novel and I wonder too if the in world TV show "American Hero Story" will mirror the "Tales of the Black Freighter" story in the graphic novel and provide analogous side stories to the main narrative (whilst also providing an opportunity to tie back into the Watchmen history).

I'm still... concerned... that I'm investing my time in a Lindelof written show, with mysterious elements and I'm not going to get the answers that I'm after. The revelations about Crawford were pretty predictable, and I'm fairly sure that there's another reveal about him to come, based on what we saw in this episode, that won't be too shocking. It's still a beautifully crafted show though, with great music and solid visual effects but I feel like I'm watching it with the anticipation of loving it, rather than actually loving it at the moment.

"Do you think it's Kalvary?"

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 5 August 2020]

The first episode of 'Watchmen' "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice" was a very flawed but still promising start that did well in introducing one to this rich world, establishing the show's tone and setting things for what's to come. Admittedly though the pace was very uneven and coherence tended to be a problem. For all the major flaws it had, there were lots of brilliant things and those brilliant things were obvious throughout the whole of 'Watchmen'.

So hopes were high for "Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship", despite it also being considered one of the show's lesser episodes and an episode that others also found slow and not always easy to follow. Can completely understand why after finally watching 'Watchmen', as they are my overall feelings too. If asked which is the slightly weaker one of the two, though rating wise they are the same for having similar problems and strengths, it would be "Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship", the pace and coherence for me were a little more problematic and there is not many scenes here on the same level as the brilliant opening scene of the previous episode.

"Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship" could have been better. The episode does well on building upon what was set up previously, we see more of Angela and Judd's relationship, what Phillip and Mrs Crookshanks are and foreshadowing of Veidt being up to no good. The storytelling though is still very slight and moves along slowly, on top of that ideas-wise it does try to do too much and doesn't develop them enough. So instead of previous questions had being answered, more questions are raised.

Although the flashbacks are beautifully filmed,acted, help make the current affairs make more sense and set the tone of the episode well, they do make the error (like a lot of flashback-structured episodes for any show/adaptations have) of slowing down the episode's rhythm, they do drag somewhat and are not always eventful. Again the Veidt scenes are entertaining and oddly intriguing, 'The Watchmaker's Son' play scene is hilariously amateurish as intended if a little out of place within the rest of the episode, they are again too much of a disconnect with everything else and one still does not have a clue who he is and what his purpose is.

However, despite how all of this sounds there is so much to admire in "Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship". The above made it sound like it is a bad episode, it isn't. Just heavily flawed that's all. Once again, the production values cannot be faulted. The production design is some of the best and most atmospheric of the year and there is again a cinematic quality to the photography. Especially in the prologue, which was baffling but interesting, and Angela's trip to the Greenwood Center (some cool world-building here too). The sound is also very atmospheric and cleverly used, while the soundtrack itself continues to haunt the mind. Continue to love the diversity of the music choices and that they do not fit awkwardly at all. It is always great to see Mozart's powerful "Lacrimosa" from his Requiem but the standout, as it is so apt to the episode's tone and subjects, is The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion".

Furthermore, the script is witty, pulls no punches and really provokes thought. The story may be very flawed in execution, but still has a lot of intrigue, boldness, cultural relevance (in a quite scary way) and more ambition than most shows of 2019. There is also a surprising reveal that is well done. The acting is again fine, with a powerful turn from Louis Gosset Jr and Jeremy Irons plays this wonderfully strange and eccentric aristocrat with delicious glee. The show still belongs to Regina King, in fearlessly brave form.

Overall, problematic but interesting. Again, the show is still very much finding its feet at this point but it has more than enough to it to be worth sticking with. 7/10

Unfortunate this isn't doing well, I'm loving It!

[UniqueParticle · 9/10 · 30 October 2019]

I have seen much worse shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians - that show is a 1, but Watchmen is at least a 9 or a 8.6 at best. Seems like a lot of sensitive people, Watchmen is very well written and beautiful! I'm gonna give it a chance cause I'm an odd guy and even more odd - my original review got removed.

Fantastic!

[Near-L · 10/10 · 28 October 2019]

How the rates for this masterpiece are so low? How do people not realize this is art at it's finest. Top Notch television in so many aspects.

Damnnnn!

[linares-23164 · 10/10 · 28 October 2019]

This is truly becoming an HBO gem. What performances and the story weaving is hypnotic. 2 shows so far and 7 days is too long. This is great TV. To those who are negatively critical seems like you probably dont have much outside the box that you watch so I can see how this may be too much but as far as quslity entertainment...HBO is nailing it!

Watchmen are here.

[Fanatic_movie_goer · 8/10 · 28 October 2019]

I can't wait for the conclusion of this season.

This was a slow, but a perfect episode. I can't say enough of the music that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have made. The music is perfect.

Regina King and Jeremy Irons are the ones that I'm looking. They are interesting and mysterious at the same time. What will happen in the next episode.

This is not the comic.

[marjankt · 9/10 · 28 October 2019]

I am not sure why people can accept that just like the Marvel and DC universes that this could also just be a part of a bigger universe.

A little bit slow

[k_g_barreto · 7/10 · 14 January 2020]

So, in this episode we had: some backstory from Will, the wheelchair old man. Moth paparazzis. White Night. A TV series in a TV series. A stage play about Doc Manhattan. Did I miss something?

It was a nice episode. The production is HBO level of content, the directing, soundtrack, costumes. It is the writing that has no proven great. We are learning more about the characters, I get it, Jeremy Irons still dislocated. I expect that things improve in the next episodes.

Great show

[tommysokolowski · 28 October 2019]

A fantastic episode. This show is turning out way better then I expected it to be

You can't hide the truth

[deeyojie · 10/10 · 4 November 2019]

It's unfortunate that this show is not doing well because I love it. There's a lot of history being told through the series that some would like to remain hidden, but I'm loving the display of the real American truth. There's no way to look at this series in discontent unless you really don't want to see the hidden truth come to light. Looking forward to the remainder of the season and hope that more people give this a chance.

Mysteries upon more mysteries

[0w0 · 6/10 · 30 October 2019]

This episode is better than the first, but I got so many questions, that I'm just left confused. There's so many people's different stories going on at once, that you're left not knowing ANY of their backstories. Literally 3 people's (the old black guy, the old white guy and the english white guy) stories are so shrouded in mystery that I don't know what's going on. And why didn't she jump into or ontop of the car? Why'd she just let him get away?! That's a plot-hole right there.

Outstanding interpretation with relevant themes!!

[bofield8 · 10/10 · 29 October 2019]

This telling of The Watchmen challenges the viewer to think outside the box! I'm both surprised at the lower viewership and yet I understand given the source material and how it steps beyond the source. People are still unfamiliar with the characters and the references to those who are not on screen. Also, people tend to get judgey when social themes of racism are featured so prominently. I'm a firm believer in the television and cinema as an art form that holds a mirror and forces our culture to look at its true colors. Having a powerful actress like Regina King leading this story was a genius casting strategy! I think that viewers need to be patient and allow the story and its characters to unfold. I, for one, am a committed viewer and look forward to the unfolding!

A slow-burning, yet fascinating instalment of TV's most inventive, bizarre series presently.

[flynnh · 7/10 · 28 October 2019]

HBO'S 'Watchmen', curated with confidence by Damon Lindelof, is unlike any other of its peers currently on the air - the diverse plot threads (namely one concerning Ozymandias' Westworld-esque manor) appear disparate at first, however the connections between them are becoming at once evident and further ambiguous. Each question you propose is answered, albeit with a query of the show's own design that draws you into the grand mystery of this alternate universe. Episode 2 carefully fostered the ideas planted by the pilot, yet the non-lineal, meandering focus ensured this chapter felt less engrossing than its precursor. Ultimately, this volume sought not to serve as a polarising, brazen statement, rather as a milder exploration of the surreal, alienating world we entered this time last week.

I almost fell asleep in this episode...

[cheesemclarson · 2/10 · 28 October 2019]

That had to be the most impressive way of stretching a near hour long episode of TV show that had an absolute limited amount of substance I've ever seen. This episode could be summarized in a line. We get one (totally predictable) reveal that only few didn't see coming & this time around the added action sequences were actually quite short & disappointing. People praising this show through 2 episodes are either shills or quite frankly need to set their standards higher for entertainment. Thank gosh we have a 2009 Snyder film for Watchmen that was overall pretty good to go back to watch because this series is awful.

Episode 2!!!

[bckadish · 8/10 · 28 October 2019]

This episode cleared up a lot from episode one and deepened the lore of the world in unique ways. Really hope more people give this show a chance cause this show is looking like one of the best shows in recent memory.

I love it

[chloerawlings · 9/10 · 1 November 2019]

Try not to take too much notice of the low ratings and watch for yourself

You may be pleasantly surprised

The show started off running

[BeatPoet1972 · 9/10 · 28 October 2019]

And now it is really picking up speed. Solid acting of all. I was so surprised to hear Louis Gossett jnr as Will, I didn't recognize him before he started talking. The man is still a very solid actor.

If the rest of the show maintains the same momentum, then I wish for a season 2.

Better than the first episode

[curlyjohnson · 10/10 · 28 October 2019]

I enjoy that this is a sequel to the comic. It is solid an I look forward to the next episode.

Fair to Middlin'

[Easygoer10 · 6/10 · 29 October 2019]

I don't see why so much hype has been spun about this show. It reminds me of Terry Gilliams "Brazil", HBO's Westworld series & Salvador Dali; all filmed in an Ikea Store. Really just jibberish pablum.

Deal with it.

[glueShoe · 10/10 · 28 October 2019]

It's an incredible story at the right time.

It's an incredible story at the right time.

It's an incredible story at the right time.

It's an incredible story at the right time.

Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 5 November 2019]

Angela is angry that Judd is dead. She is also perturbed by the skeleton in his closet, the KKK robes.

The second episode has Judd's dead body and the perplexing appearance of an old man in the wheelchair who claims he strung up Judd. Will (Louis Gossett Jr) has a link with Angela and an air of mystery and maybe even some powers.

Damon Lindelof is still world building in this episode and too many flashbacks can ruin the flow of the episode. Although the German propaganda aimed at black soldiers does make you ponder on the truthfulness of it.

At times we enter the more knowing world of Watchmen as typified in the new US television show, American Hero Story. Then there is the sly appearances of Jeremy Irons and his cloned staff. Surely he is Adrian Veidt and his scenes must be in the same timeframe as the rest of the main story?

There is still a languid pace to this series but you know there are complex layers being added.

More Angela? I thought we were done with her story

[garabedian123 · 8/10 · 18 June 2020]

The show is called Watchmen right..not Angela...are you saying the whole series is about her?

Slower and a sharp direction.

[cruise01 · 6/10 · 28 October 2019]

3 out of 5 stars.

The second episode is a little slower than the first. The episode continues with Angela trying to investigate her partners death. Some flash backs which was cool and had some brutal fight sequences. And references to the original Watchmen was awesome. Still a cool direction. But this episode was slow and boring.

Journal Entry #2

[thisisbs911 · 2/10 · 29 October 2019]

I am using this as a journal as I go through the series. The huge overlying themes that were in the comic are still lost here. I don't think they'll come back. Global annihilation from nuclear war? Forget that, there's some white trash in Oklahoma that needs clearing out. Wasn't Ozymandias' plan to unite the world was to convince them of an alien threat? Then we would put aside our petty differences and unite as a species. Guess that's weaker then racism, even though people of all races fought the battle between capitalism and communism side by side. And on both sides. But no that's not important there's trouble brewing in Oklahoma. I'm not interested in any of the characters except maybe the black guy in the wheel chair. He seems interesting, but this story is coming from the guy who wrote a bunch of Lost so I don't see any payoffs coming. So far this is garbage. Love the music though, shame it's been wasted on stuff like this

Teach your actors how to fake punch!

[louiepapp · 7/10 · 13 November 2019]

Just in case someone from the production actually reads these reviews. Please teach your actors how to punch or at least fake it. You give Angela these great moves but then she is bending her wrist in all the facial close ups. You can see it in this episodes photo. That would cause your wrist to break when you hit someone. It is what people that never threw a punch do. Her stunt women, awesome job. Regina needs to learn the basics so it isn't so obvious. General acting, Regina crushes it as usual.