Deeply Satisfied With Two Caveats

Published December 16, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi guys,

well I am impressed with what’s been achieved in these nine episodes. I think that I got the general direction of the story which is satisfying but there was enough surprises also. In particular, I would like to praise the following:

1) the writers room for killing off Doctor Manhattan. This was a brave move and deserves praise for that storytelling.

2) Jeremy Irons. What a fabulous episode and he made me laugh constantly from the Ronald Reagan joke to the pompous monologue being cut off by Looking Glass. It balanced out the darkness of the finale.

3) that the racists were two dimensional and despatched. The Dr M underpants were a particular joy at poking fun at their ideology. That they were being manipulated by Lady Trieu for her own ends shows up their hubris.

4) that the entire Veidt on Europa storyline to be a work of fiction written by Veidt. This was a clever surprise.

5) endings are difficult but Lindelof et al stuck the landing. I am more than happy for this season to stand alone.

My two caveats are as follows:

1) the ambiguous ending. As you know I have been hoping for a post God humanity at the end of the story. This sort of gives me that but that what if ending? I am not sure that Jon Osterman would want anyone to lose their humanity. That feels cruel. I also struggle with Angela Abar choosing that over her children.

So I am kind of hoping that it’s a joke and a learning experience. The egg does contain Dr M’s essence, Angela walks on the swimming pool for about ten seconds and then the powers disappear. Wile E Coyote like. “Motherfu…”

2) Lady Trieu. The smartest woman in the world is a two dimensional villian? That felt a little underwhelming. I do have a fix for that in my head canon.

After discovering Veidt on Europa, I think that Trieu goes back to Karnak to retrieve the frozen sperm. Trieu then harvested the eggs from her cloned mother and creates many brothers and sisters (rather than clones). That’s quite a creepy idea.

A season two based around The Boys From Brazil concept could be fun. Have Red Scare and Pirate Jenny looking for these child prodigies in a buddy cop series. ??

I do have some more thoughts forming but I wanted to put some initial feelings down rather than going for the philosophical musings or theorising.

I am particularly looking forward to hearing Gene’s death wish argument in the deep dive. I have oscillated on that idea myself and haven’t made my mind up.

Regards
John Lish

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