Watchmen Episode #8 // Review
Watchmen Episode 8, “A God Walks Into Abar,” follows a bombshell cliffhanger from last week with a (mostly) quiet love story, and still manages to deliver one of its most compelling, and revelatory episodes yet. Previously, Angela Abar (Regina King) learned that Lady Trieu (Hong Chau) was privy to the secret location of Doctor Manhattan. In addition to the mysterious trillionaire knowing his whereabouts, and the fact that he was hiding in plain sight like a regular person in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it was also revealed that the Seventh Kavalry had access to the same information, and they were coming for him. As if that wasn’t enough, the audience was treated to the shock ending of Angela, herself, revealing that her husband Cal (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) was an amnesiac Manhattan, and she had known all along. Now, Angela must bring Cal/Manhattan to his senses, get him up to date, and attempt to save him from the Seventh Kavalry, while he experiences their entire relationship all at the same time.
Writers, Damon Lindelof and Jeff Jensen, make the most of the Manhattan/Angela love story, by telling it as only the good Doctor could experience it--out of order, and concurrently. The non-linear approach to episode 8 is its key feature, and it even manages to tie the entire series together with one big reveal towards the end. As famously told in Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ original comic book story, Manhattan experiences his entire life all at once, almost a slave to future events. He does not change his future or present, because to him, it has already happened. And it is as concrete as the past is to the average person. This often frustrates and bewilders the people around him, and Angela Abar’s experience with him is no exception. His near-dictation of their relationship in its entirety tests her love for him throughout the episode. And is what ultimately makes for the most heart-achingly beautiful chapter of the show, yet.
Adrian Veidt’s (Jeremy Irons) ongoing B story also comes into play in episode 8, as the audience is finally treated to answers to some of the series’ biggest questions so far. These revelations come at just the right time, as Veidt’s storyline reached the height of lunacy last episode when he was judged by a jury of literal pigs. With that swell of craziness behind him, his story comes crashing back down to reality, and everything finally starts to make sense. Lindelof and Jensen also manage to finally, satisfyingly, marry the A and B plots together this episode, no doubt relieving many fans who had been trying to figure out how everything fits together.
The MVP of “A God Walks Into Abar” is, without a doubt, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. His full acting chops are on display, as he plays three different versions of Manhattan, and pulls it off wonderfully. He, like most of this cast, should not be forgotten at Emmy time. King is also to be commended for her portrayal of a woman in love with a god who has lost touch with humanity. With both actors limited in what they were allowed to emote and receive, they still managed to connect and convince an audience of their deep feelings for each other.
Simply put, if you’ve been enjoying this series, you’re in for a treat this episode. Lindelof and his crack team of writers have slowly uncovered more and more pieces of the puzzle with each chapter of their story, and this one continues that tradition proudly. As the penultimate episode of the season, it really does feel like it hits a plateau, and it leaves you completely clueless (in a good way) as to what could possibly happen in the season finale.
