Watchmen Review: If You Don’t Like My Story, Write Your Own (Season 1 Episode 4)
Birth, life, and death are factors that Watchmen Season 1 Episode 4, “If You Don’t Like My Story, Write Your Own,” hold dearly. Adrian may not hold onto them as dearly as he has in the past, but it’s something that is driving Angela as she grows closer to some form of truth about her past.
That truth belongs in Will, and how he fits into the larger narrative. With the reveal during his talk with Lady Trieu that Will is not as wheelchair-bound as initially suspected, it becomes a question of what’s been real to this point. His past is fragments still, between his escape from the Tulsa slaughter and being a police officer in New York. We’ll need more, like Angela, to start seeing more broadly.
photo: Mark Hill/HBO
Maybe those pills from the glove box of Angela’s car will prove fruitful, if Looking Glass can come through with his ex. They appear to be another goose chase, but maybe one with more information with how Trieu makes sure Angela knows about them.
It’s great to get exactly what we want out of the gate, Laurie and Angela teaming up on the investigation. Laurie’s still too smart and knows that Angela is connected in some way, but their delicate dance of being friendly but cautious leaves them as two endlessly compelling figures always trying to read one another.
Luckily, Petey is there to give history lessons when needed. But Laurie’s idea of pain forming the reason for the mask, and that protection is just another word for pain, is a fascinating angle to take her character’s belief system.
The episode lays out the question whether Laurie already knows all that she needs to know, and is essentially waiting to see what happens next, or if she puts out the idea that she knows a lot to test people.
photo: Mark Hill/HBO
Angela spending time with her family continues to be a wonderful addition. Those quiet moments allow us to form a personal connection when all the rest is so madcap and chaotic, and grounding it all down to the simple pleasures of Angela loving her family and revealing more about her family dynamics makes Angela a much stronger character.
Adrian’s section of the episode continues to be where the madness starts to set in, and this episode continues that trend.
Adrian fishing clone babies from the water is certainly something I’ve never seen before, and while the initial shock of the moment stays, it becomes a sequence of realizing that while Adrian has saved lives in the past during the events of the graphic novel, his treatment of life at the baby pond and the slaughtering of the clones appears to show his worth in humanity is dwindling.
It’s a distinct change in his character, but comes from his admission, finally, that he is imprisoned. The fade-away appears to allude to that prison being the Moon, but it could always still be Mars with Doctor Manhattan, and just a space-driven dissolve. Or perhaps it’s a moon that belongs to Mars.
photo: Mark Hill/HBO
The launching of the clone corpses into the clouds (and the clouds seemingly being a void) is just like his attempts during Watchmen Season 1 Episode 3, “She Was Killed By Space Junk,” where he is sending his cohorts into “space” in an attempt to see what is beyond this prison and what he will be coming up against in the future. It’s also possible he’s leaving a trail of corpses for Manhattan to confront him over.
But what Watchmen Season 1 Episode 4, “If You Don’t Like My Story, Write Your Own,” does remarkably well is continue the episode-by-episode expanding of the Watchmen world, allowing us to see more while only being able to speculate what it all means (at least so far).
The introduction of Trieu may be the piece of the puzzle needed to figure out the larger narrative, beyond the Seventh Calvary, that is occurring. Is Trieu trying to help Adrian escape, or is her larger game something to do with Doctor Manhattan? Buying up Adrian’s company after his disappearance leaves the wonder if she plans to continue his work.
One thing is for certain, though: Watchmen knows how to keep building, and making it mindbogglingly fascinating in the process.
A few stray thoughts on the episode:
- Special shout-out to Lube Man, the funniest moment on the episode. He may not be the best hero on the show, but he certainly knows how to make an exit. It’s worth putting out there, his thin frame looks a lot like Laurie’s lackey, Petey.
- The music continues to be a dominating factor on the show, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross bringing so much cool and emotion to their score.
- Angela’s husband Cal appears to have a story about their time in Vietnam, as there is mention of an accident. Will this become an important piece of information later?
What did you think of this episode of Watchmen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Watchmen airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.