- We're cracking open all of the Easter eggs
and comic book references
in the first episode of HBO's "Watchmen".
The first episode of HBO's "Watchmen",
the sequel/ode to the iconic graphic novel
adapted by Damon Lindelof finally hit the small screen
and holy hell, we are on board.
Set 34 years after the events of the original comic series,
the show has everything you'd expect
and want from "Watchmen".
Cool characters and interesting mystery,
excellent world building
and current events political commentary.
But, another thing this pilot episode has,
other than a banging soundtrack, by Trent Reznor
and Atticus Ross is a ridiculous amount of Easter eggs
and references to the graphic novel.
Seriously, it's packed to the,
well whatever squid's use as gills, not gills?
Anyway, it's packed to the not gills
and we would be remiss if we didn't break down
all the references and Easter eggs in the first episode.
So let's do this.
Obviously, there will be spoilers for the first episode
of the HBO series from here on out.
So, if you haven't seen it yet, make like the Comedian
and exit the story right at the beginning.
(loud rumbling)
After the violent opening that is a depiction
of the real events that occurred in 1921 Tulsa,
the first Easter egg is a reminder to the audience
that this is indeed the same world.
We see a truck retro-fitted to run on battery power.
A reference in the comics to all cars going electric
thanks to energy hydrants
and Doctor Manhattan creating enough lithium for batteries.
Something we'll get into more in a moment.
It's also in this scene that we get another
reference that is going to run throughout this whole season.
Rorschach's mask and how it has been co-opted
by the White Supremacist group, the 7th Calvary.
Presumably after Rorschach's journal is published
by the New Frontiersman at the end of the "Watchmen" book.
Then we get a pretty obvious callback to an iconic piece
of "Watchmen" imagery.
An egg yolk smiley face complete with blood spot.
This is definitely meant to
evoke Comedians famous smiley face pen.
But, that's not the only on the nose reference
in this scene.
There's an anatomy of a squid poster,
which feels like a reference to the alien squid
that attacked New York.
There's a nod to Vietnam being a state,
thanks to Doctor Manhattan and a poster
with Richard Nixon and Robert Redford
listed as important presidents.
Nixon won a third, fourth and fifth term
and it's hinted at the end of the comic
that Robert Redford would run for the office.
References to these two political figures
will run deep through, well, probably the whole show.
Next, we get more squids.
This time raining from the sky.
Whether these are truly inter-dimensional attacks,
remnants of Veidt's original squid attack on New York
or a government conspiracy to keep the peace
by presenting a constant threat.
Well, that remains to be seen.
This one is less of an Easter egg, but it is
a direct glimpse of a live 24/7 feed
of Doctor Manhattan on Mars.
So obviously, he's been there awhile.
As Angela Abar visits her bakery
we get a bunch of Easter eggs at once.
There's a protester with a, "The Future is Bright", sign
that directly contrasts the sign Rorschach carried
in the comic, "The End is Nigh".
There's a newspaper headline that swears Adrian Veidt
is officially dead, although we're not sure
audiences are convinced.
There's also an airship and a bus advertising
the TV show, "American Hero Story: Minutemen",
showcasing Hooded Justice.
The Minutemen were the group of heroes
that were the precursors to the Watchmen in the comic.
We even see this show referenced with a commercial
that has a bunch of the heroes in it.
Comedian, Silk Specter, Night Owl, Dollar Bill
and Hooded Justice.
Later, when Tulsa police chief, Judd Crawford,
played by Don Johnson, plays the 7th Calvary speech,
the White Supremacist's reference one of Rorschach's
most iconic lines with, "We will whisper no".
Also, in that scene, Judd Crawford recites
in Latin, "Who watches the Watchmen?"
But, don't worry, we won't put you through
our attempt at Latin.
It's worth noting that Crawford also has a copy
of "Under the Hood" on his desk,
which is the autobiography
of the original Night Owl, Hollis Mason.
Another reference to Rorschach is arguably
with Detective Looking Glass's mask.
An interesting take on Rorschach,
in that his disguise reflects what's going on around him.
In his interrogation scene in the pod,
we also see that Nixon has been added to Mt. Rushmore,
a reality we were spared in our world.
We also hear someone on the radio mention
that Joe Keen Jr. is running against Redford for president.
In comics, the elder Joe Keen is
the person responsible for outlawing masked vigilantes.
Another one of the more fun references
was given by Jeremy Irons, who is most definitely
playing Adrian Veidt a.k.a. Ozymandias in some way.
Although we're sure there will be some sort of twist
since the shows creators have been coy about his character.
Turns out, probably who you think he is,
has written a play called the "Watchmaker's Son",
an obvious reference to Jon Osterman a.k.a. Doctor Manhattan
whose father was a watchmaker.
Hopefully, we'll get a chance to see this play
because we already got a production of "Oklahoma".
♪ Oklahoma ♪
During the tent shootout at the Calvary house,
there is the big reveal that the police
have an airship similar to Owl ship used by Night Owl too.
We doubt it's the same one
and it's more likely that this
is a tool available to all law enforcement.
Also, at the cattle rance, there's a poster
with the hero Dollar Bill
and later when one of the 7th Calvary uses the suicide pill.
This feels like a visual callback to how Ozymandias kills
the assassin who comes for him in the graphic novel.
Also, when Angela and Judd discuss
the Calvary's plans after dinner, Angela says
that the Calvary were collecting old watch batteries
with synthetic lithium, which Doctor Manhattan created in
the book in order to make batteries for electric cars.
Turns out synthetic lithium gave people cancer,
which also feels similar to the plot Veidt put in place
in the book of giving people close
to Doctor Manhattan cancer to convince him to leave earth.
Maybe Adrian's lie was closer to the truth than we thought.
Finally, the episode ends on a great Easter egg
as blood drips onto the police chiefs badge.
Not only is this another reference to Comedian's pin
but the Comedians death is what kicks off the book
and we would argue that Crawford's death
is going to help kick off the mystery of this whole series.
Also, the blood on the pin is one
of the most iconic images in "Watchmen".
There was no way they couldn't do a callback to it.
Overall, there is a ton, ton, going on in this show.
Like the source material, this HBO series
seems to be a very layered story
and there might be callbacks that we won't even catch until
the season finishes up.
To be honest, it is from one of the guys
who brought us Lost, so we should have expected
this from the beginning.
But for now, we're on board.
But what do you folks think?
Did you catch any other Easter eggs
from the original Watchmen novel?
Which was your favorite?
And what's going on with Adrian Veidt?
There's something weird at play there.
Huh?
Let's discuss.
Thanks for watching.
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(bright electronic music)