She Was Killed by Space Junk

To those worried about the direction HBO's Watchmen was going, Episode Three has picked up tremendously in quality. I will admit though, 'She Was Killed....' may not work with everyone as it clearly has its eyes on fans of the comic book (mind how i said the book, not the movie). Mysteries and open questions are starting to come together and the world Lindelof is creating is starting to be recognizably Watchmen just set 30 years later.

This episode focuses mainly on an FBI agent played brilliantly by Jean Smart who is called in to investigate the police murder by the 7th Kalvary. She is witty, determined, thick-skinned and just a really likable protagonist; so much so I kind of wish she would remain the main character. She works really well in balancing the new elements and characters (who so far haven't been the greatest) with the cynical and learned perspective of the elders and Alan Moore-esque comic universe who lived in the time of Dr Manhattan, The Comedian and Rorschach.

There are still issues with show runner Lindelof thinking he's smarter than he is with some hokey dialogue, twists that are pretty predictable and a few too obvious nods to the comic book, but overall the episode works really well and was the first one that genuinely made me invested in this take on the Watchmen property. Just not sure if newcomers to Watchmen will be left even more confused with it starting to adhere closer to fans of the comic. Overall, pretty damn good.

Jean Smart absolutely nails this one, a delight to watch. Also the music has been growing on me throughout the series. When I found out it was Trent Reznor, it made sense. Subtle but fantastically atmospheric.

It appears I am higher on the first two epis then most of ppl is. I really enjoy the mystery and wtf moments that Lindelof has laid down so far. However, I'm starting to get to the point to where I need answers pretty soon. He has created quite a hole of weird and insane to dig himself out of.

Obviously one of the big critiques of Lindelof from Lost and Leftovers is that he creates too many mysteries that he can't explain. However, I still have confidence that he will deliver in the second half of this season.

Can totally see why 'Watchmen' won't be for all tastes, though the way that those that didn't like the show have expressed their dislike in my view has been on the extreme and ignorant side. Can also totally see why it has appealed to so many though, as it has grown on a lot of people (myself included) and some loved it from the get go. The third episode "She Was Killed By Space Junk" epitomises this. While the previous two episodes were promising but also heavily flawed, it was with this episode where 'Watchmen started to get great.

It is the most entertaining episode up to this still early stage, things start to progress, the pacing is much better here and we are also introduced to one of 'Watchmen's' most interesting characters Laurie Blake who makes quite an impression in "She Was Killed By Space Junk". On a brief side note, is it just me or does anybody else love the wonderfully kooky episode titles? Anybody that didn't care for the previous two episodes may find to their relief that this is where the show does get going and starts to get much better.

Sure there are still unanswered questions and not everything is clear, how Veidt has any connection to everything else going on is still vague in terms of motivations and what his purpose is for instance. It is also slightly too exposition-heavy but not in a way that distracts terribly, in fact flaws are in comparison minor this time.

Things however in "She Was Killed By Space Junk" do move forward quite drastically, both in momentum and story progression. It builds upon what came before with some inspired referencing while effectively introducing new ideas (namely Laurie getting introduced). There is a lot more energy here than before, a good deal happens but there is less of a "trying to do too much" feel. Also really appreciated that the tone is a lot more playful in this episode too and there is a lot less of a heavy tone, the main source of it being Laurie, while still keeping the enigmatic mystery in a suspenseful way.

Although motivations are vague still, Veidt's (actually intended to be a mystery in the previous two episodes) identity is made clearer here through a well executed and "making one excited for what's to come", if admittedly not that surprising (it's basically confirming what had been strongly suspected before the show aired), revelation. Again his story intrigues and entertains, and is also more cohesive here, but this is Laurie's show. Out of all the introductions for the show's characters, hers was the best executed and most promising with some amusing humour.

Like the previous two episodes, "She Was Killed by Space Junk" is very stylish and atmospheric. In a way worthy of a film and can easily be mistaken for one visually, not just because of the quality of the photography but just as much the gorgeously designed and ambitious production design. The music score from again Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is one of their best of the show, so cleverly utilised and very haunting. There are some inspired music choices, the best being "The Brick" and Prokoviev's "Dance of the Knights". The script has wit and bite, especially with Laurie, and also some nice referencing, including ones to Rorschach's diary and when Veidt dictates his letter. Laurie is a great character here and of the uniformly great acting Jean Smart is great fun but also tough as nails.

In conclusion, terrific and 'Watchmen's' first great episode. 9/10

Senator Keane (James Wolk) recruits Laurie Blake (Jean Smart), the former Silk Spectre, turned FBI vigilante specialist, to the investigation of the murder of Chief Crawford, believing that the 7th Kavalry group may not be behind it. Blake's abrasive style rubs up against Sister Knight (Regina King) and Looking Glass (Tim Blake Nelson). Meanwhile Adrian Veidt (Jeremy Irons) continues to experiment on his cloned servants and clashes, in strongly worded letters no less, with a mysterious figure about the terms of their agreement.

I've been saying so far that "Watchmen" was a show I admired rather than loved, this was the first episode that this wasn't the case. This was glorious. Jean Smart, straight off the brilliant run on "Legion" is wonderful in an episode that is almost entirely about Silk Spectre, teaching us about where she is now and providing hints about what might have happened since the events of the graphic novel. She is a dark and sardonic character - as disinterested in due process as the rest of the police seem to be - and also still bitter with Dr Manhattan for abandoning both her and the human race. Because she's the focus of it, the episode is the funniest it's been. It's perhaps also the most straightforward episode so far too, with the conceit of a federal agent taking over a local murder enquiry being a familiar one - admittedly with the agent telephoning Mars for much of the backdrop of the story being slightly less traditional.

Technically it remains as good as ever. Nicely shot, good effects and the music is excellent, there are lots of links to the previous story and Easter Eggs in this episode to keep your eyes open for (the name of the motel!). I keep saying it every week, but I'm hoping rather than expecting that enough of the answers are coming as to more of the outlandish elements, or at least hints. If it can maintain this level of quality though I'll be very happy.