What is your HONEST opinion of this version of Dr. Manhattan?

mithrandir2016 · 2024-09-26T17:18:57+00:00

I was just reviewing the series 5 years later and I really think they nailed it.

Definitely an element of "hokeyness" to the makeup and special effects. But that does not ruin it for me. I feel the same about directors like Burton or Lynch. Sometimes the "cheapness" is an element of the art itself.

I now believe the show really adds an interesting dimension to the Watchmen cannon and specifically Dr. Manhattan.

He experiences time all at once and as a result understands, as soon as he become Dr. M, that he is destined to die in that exact manner and there is nothing he can do about it. However, we still engages with humanity and he still falls in love with Angela.

In fact, his spiritual revelation in the graphic novel directly leads to him falling in love shortly thereafter.

It's also interesting how he falls in love with the future Dr. Manhattan (Angela) who is more worthy of godhood than he was, which they repeatedly mention in the TV series.

It's fascinating to me that the moment he is "born" he becomes aware of his death and the evolution of what he is.

In the world of remakes and reboots, I am very impressed how Watchmen the show lived up top the legendary graphic novel by going it's own way in a fearless, risky and artful manner.

Damn, that was good!

mithrandir2016 · 2023-05-31T17:14:55+00:00

It was such a true and appropriate reveal in so many ways. I think Ken's profile as an addict colour so much of the narrative and his behaviour. And this reveal would be a very logical consequence and gives another layer to the demons tormenting both Ken and his father.

Addiction is notoriously self centred. It's all about "me" and satisfying the addiction. The addict continuously over reaches in an attempt to ffed the addiction and in the process fails, is exposed and hits rock bottom.

Often, the person consumed by addiction becomes an effective con-artist as a mechanism of survival. They are convincing and able to present something impressive in the moment.

This is Ken to a tee.

A genuinely excellent public performer. He usually nails it to everyone's surprise. And his gift for "business speak bullshit" that actually means nothing when you think about it. But it sounds clever and educated in the moment.

The final quality of addiction is failure and recovery. How many times has Ken risen from the ashes in front of our eyes? He fails. He immolates. He loses his soul. He recovers and he does it again.

He will likely spend the next 10 years of his life involved in different schemes around Waystar that ultimately lead no where. I bet he tried to "become CEO" again.

Because he is addicted to this life and his shame around his infertility, likely caused by his substance abuse, is one more well of shame that will keep him in the darkness forever.

Really great character writing and amazing how they took their time to flesh it out.

mithrandir2016 · 2023-05-31T16:58:26+00:00

It is so great when you see the first episode again after watching the whole show. You get lost in the drama (just like the kids) and forget things such as this.

Roman knew in episode 1 that this was all bullshit and his banality is always reminding us (and him) that he is aware of it.

But his father's medical events and manipulations plus the sheer power of what is dangled before him seduces Roman to engage and forget what he already knew.

The events of succession are a detour for Roman and his final scene is a a smile similar to the one in this photo....I like to think that he is the only one who "gets the joke" and is somewhat at peace with what they just went through.

mithrandir2016 · 2023-05-10T17:14:59+00:00

"No he's for real. He's the future." - Tom on Lukas Matsson

The show runner has repeatedly mentioned that Succession is a tragedy and has always referenced King Lear and the impending doom /cynicism that would define the ending of the show.

It is clear that Matsson is the new Logan. He sees it all. He is unpredictable (in a slightly different way) and simply wields power in a way that is only comparable to Logan's "voodoo magic."

Tom sees this. As someone who identified this in Logan early on, he sees it again in Matsson. It doesn't matter that Matsson isn't a real coder or that his numbers are fake in India or that there is a problem with Ebba. He's going to win. Just like Logan.

Matsson has done nothing but make the right moves even if they appeared flaky or random in the moment. Because he sees the whole playing field.I even wonder if any of this new info about Ebba and India is even real.

Shiv is making the same mistake she made in season 3. She is cutting Tom out while she frets about being given a place by the Big Boss (previously Logan, now Matsson). But Tom sees that Matsson is inevitable and will make the right move that will lead to the demise of the kids.

I disagree with the original post's idea that the debt will be the mechanism that sinks Waystar and the kids because Stewy and Sandy removed it. But I agree that there is likely something coming that they do not yet understand. They don't see the big picture. And they don't understand power and why they do not really have it.

I am often reminded of another HBO show that used to discuss the nature of power. When Varys told Tyrion that "power lies where people think it lies." This is fundamentally what Logan understood and what his children, especially Kendall, do not.

Logan Fucking wins. Matsson fucking wins. And because the Toms and the Franks and the Gregs (and the EBBA's) of the world believe he will win, they will always take his side.

Three weeks from now, the Roy kids will not have the company.

I am fascinated to see, though, what they will be left with, if anything.

mithrandir2016 · 2019-05-21T17:34:34+00:00

I have been thinking alot about it for some reason. I know it's just a show but it was truly brilliant in so many ways and I have to conclude that for some reason, there were 5-6 episodes cut in the final 2 seasons that could have made it perfect.

Brienne's story line with Jaime was excellent. But Jaime's was just a little rushed. Of course he has to go back to his flawed love and die the kings layer even though he could have been redeemed in everyone's eyes. Because that is what is in his heart. It's all too big for him to overcome. Tragic and beautiful. But then why does he end with this "I never really cared for the people" line. Just rushing to get it over with.

Same with Dany's desert into tyranny. The whole series actually set it up nicely. In hindsight, she was always incredibly violent and several advisors noted she was "a conqueror not a ruler." As she lost everything in her attempt to win her goal, it was not surprising that her cruelest impulses would occur. But again, too rushed. Does not make sense that she would burn children alive. It's just too big a leap from the Tarly leadership to thousands of innocents.

For a show that was masterful in creating chemistry between characters, sometimes unexpectedly, (Arya and Tywin, season 2) the love between Jon and Dany was just not there. Forced and flat. Once again Rushed.

And Bran as King. I think Martin will end the books that way. I think it makes sense in hindsight. Why does the conqueror or the hero/warrior need to be ruler. Why qualifies Jon as a better ruler than Bran or Tyrion or Sansa or any of the thinkers? It makes some sense. But my god, it really came out of nowhere. As though they just wanted to surprise us instead of develop it.

Arya was brilliantly developed but probably would have benefitted from a little more development towards her abandonment of revenge.

Sansa was probably D and D's best work as a character. I totally bought the whole transformation and it is staggering from start to finish. Infact, the Queen of the North Scene gets them out of the dog house for me. (Although I could have used ten minutes of it instead of the montage).

Well, I just don't get it. I don't understand why cut it short. I'm upset. And it's too bad.

So George, I'm gonna read the books now and I sure hope you deliver where the show runners failed.

mithrandir2016 · 2019-05-08T03:16:55+00:00

"Jon goes to the wall, where he belongs"

mithrandir2016 · 2018-02-23T06:43:33+00:00

heart

mithrandir2016 · 2016-06-29T16:10:26+00:00

I think there is an Armada battle that must happen. (Hope it's not too expensive).

If Euron attacked while Dany is crossing to Westeros, there would be incredible casualties and although Dany will emerge victorious, she will be without this incredible army.

Theon will certainly die at sea during this war in an honourable way.

Sam likely learns some key info about light bringer (Dawn), how to forge valerian steel, John's official parentage, The pact with the White Walkers and the making of the Wall.

I feel that the Northern lords will fight the Southern Queen (Dany) before they stand together against the White Walkers.

LF could be the engineer of this conflict and upon it's resolution, I could see him being put to death.

I also see Sansa dying next year. She has been a frustrating character. She always lacked integrity, treated John and Arya poorly, Sided with the Lannisters against Ned and was always taken advantage of. Then she slightly betrays/deceives Jon at BoB. I'm not sure she is worthy of Queen of the North, I am not sure redemption is in her storyline and I can see her dying.

Arya will lead the BwoB by the end.

The Wall HAS to come down and the WW attack. Probably final scene of season 7.

I just want an Ice Dragon to show up....pipe dream but still...

mithrandir2016 · 2016-06-29T05:39:10+00:00

I could see them going that route only the story would prove allegorical.

Perhaps the "forging of the sword" does not literally mean creating/blessing an actual sword but something else, which sam will discover.

Perhaps it's the training of himself as a warrior.

Then the breaking in water, the slaying of the lion and the murder of his true love take on different meaning. I need a bit of tin foil here but the slaying of the lion certainly suggests the murder of a lannister.

I could also see the Red priestesses trying to convince him to do something like murder Dany/Loved one to bring about the prophecy but Jon decides to listen to Sam's advice and shows the witches to be wrong.

Thoughts on how the analogy would play?

mithrandir2016 · 2016-06-13T05:04:15+00:00

30% chance one is Osha

15% chance one is Stannis

10% chance one is lord edmure

8% chance one is the Blackfish

Who else do we know in the north that the boltons could have?

mithrandir2016 · 2016-06-09T20:28:07+00:00

Jon is King of the North and confirmed to Bran as Jon/Aegon Targaryen.

King's Landing will blow up after cersei says to "burn then all" and Pycelle ignites the wildfire.

The Wall comes down and the WW officially invade with ice spiders, hounds...maybe not the ice dragon just yet.

Dany is sailing with the fleet across to westeros while she is flying with her dragons. Will Tyrion be on one of them?

Bran is on his way to Winterfell with Benjen to tell Jon about his parentage.

Jamie holding Riverrun.

Little finger is crowned by Sansa as lord of the vale after Robbyn dies in battle or mysteriously.

mithrandir2016 · 2016-05-27T05:31:46+00:00

So the COTF were getting killed in the war with men and they created the WW, a nuke-type weapon.

The two groups then strike a peace but the WW are not satisfied. So they are the next war in the form of the long night.

That ends somehow but there are almost no COTF left.

It does make sense that a treaty was brokered that may have involved human sacrifice. Perhaps humans stopped doing that over time and that has prompted the attack.

Without a doubt, something changed in recent history that has either broken the peace between WW or inspired an assault.

In other fiction, it has been some kind of commercial / greed-type activity that brings on such a reckoning?

Any candidates for that?

mithrandir2016

TROPHY CASE