Dark delight well worth watching Graphic novel update defies the odds

Fans of Alan Moore’s original Watchmen graphic novel – and Moore himself – claimed it was unfilmable.

Zack Snyder took a stab – a very good one – at a movie adaptation in 2009 but HBO were on even shakier ground by green-lighting a TV series set after the dramatic climax of Moore’s work.

But the studio and show creator Damon Lindelof have defied fears, and the low expectations of many, to deliver nine superb episodes that develop – and crucially don’t trample all over – Watchmen and its characters’ lore.

There are some genuinely jawdropping surprises in store which creates an atmosphere and environment where anything goes.

It’s set in an alternate history – 34 years after the novel – where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws and there’s a lot of iconic imagery reminiscent of Snyder’s trademark big screen visuals.

We get to the heart of the characters too, not least a never better Regina King’s Angela Abar; her incredibly developed, well-rounded arc is the main driving force.

As a big Jeremy Irons fan, it’s great seeing him bring his traditional gravitas and gravelly vocals to the mysterious, eccentric Adrian Veidt.

Impressive character actors are sprinkled throughout the episodes, notably Louis Gossett Jr, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson and Don Johnson.

The score by Trent Reznor and

Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails fame is marvellous too, with many tunes perfectly fitting key scenes.

A second season is on the way – and if it’s even half as good as this first foray into Watchmen on TV then we’re in for a dark-toned delight.

I’d even go as far as to say I prefer this blistering first run to Snyder’s film adaptation.