While staying true to the themes and the characters from the DC Comics masterpiece, HBO's Watchmen was actually able to do 5 things better than the original source material but did 5 things much worse to the comic book in return. Because 300 director Zack Snyder had already adapted the critically acclaimed comic in an epic and faithful feature film, The Leftovers showrunner Damon Lindelof had the difficult task of evolving the complex narrative into a television format. Lindelof had to re-imagine the characters created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins while modernizing the narrative for today's audience.
34 years have passed since the major events of Watchmen. Though the world has changed, the people haven't been able to move on since the alien squid landed at the heart of New York. While small baby squids continue to fall from the sky, Angela Abar (Regina King) patrols the gritty streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma as the vigilante known as Sister Night. Racial violence has escalated to a boiling point that police officers now have to wear masks in order to protect themselves. Elsewhere, Doctor Manhattan lives on the moon, listening to prayers.
10 10. Rorschach (Better)
Throughout Watchmen, Walter Joseph Kovacs, aka Rorschach, wrote down his hate-filled monologues into his journal. In the open ending, Walter left his journal, which details every part of Ozymandias' master plan, to the right-wing newspaper, New Frontiersmen. On the HBO drama, Lindelof imagines what would happen if Rorshach's journal was finally discovered.
Rorshach's racist ramblings and anti-government rants ended up inspiring conspiracy nuts, terrorists, and white supremacists. Kovacs' rhetoric created the Seventh Kavalry, the white supremacist group, that would end up killing police officers and starting a war against them.
9 9. The Owlship (Worse)
Nite Owl made his way around the city in his flying vehicle known as the "Owlship." Laurie called the ship by its other name, Archie, short for Archimedes, after Merlin the Magician's pet owl. In the Watchmen, the owlship's flamethrowers were used to help rescue the fleeing residents of a burning building.
On the HBO show, the Owlship is used by Chief Judd Crawford (Don Johnson) on a violent police raid to bring down the Seventh Kavalry. The Owlship is then completely destroyed during the raid. Why would Daniel Drieberg ever sell his design to the police?
8 8. Doctor Manhattan (Better)
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is simply amazing in the role of the godlike and all-powerful Doctor Manhattan. Because of his powers, Dr. Manhattan has been stripped of his humanity and appears to be devoid of emotion.
Abdul-Mateen portrays Dr. Manhattan as a tough shell cracking bit by bit because he is falling in love with Angela (King). His own humanity is brought back by the end of his character arc. Knowing that the Seventh Kavalry has found a way to hurt him, Dr. Manhattan chooses Angela to be with him because he doesn't want to die alone.
7 7. Nite Owl (Worse)
Daniel Drieberg played a huge role in the original Watchmen as Kovacs' friend and partner as the crime-fighter, Nite Owl. Daniel witnesses the death of Rorschach at the murderous hands of Doctor Manhattan, in order to keep Ozymandias' truth hidden from the public.
It's such a shame showrunner Damon Lindelof ignored Nite Owl from his show because there is so much interesting material for the character. Nite Owl is sidelined for the entire show and we only know Daniel is sitting inside a federal prison cell for a crime that's not mentioned.
6 6. Laurie Blake (Better)
In Watchmen, Laurie Juspeczk had such animosity towards her own mother, Sally Jupiter, and hated the costumed vigilante life as Silk Spectre. The HBO show continues the characterization as Laurie has made a professional career as an FBI agent out of chasing after masked vigilantes.
There is also growth with her character as Laurie has now chosen to accept her dark past and takes the last name of her father, Edward Blake, also known as The Comedian. Jean Smart plays Laurie, who has hardened herself but still yearns for her former romantic partners.
5 5. Bernard (Worse)
Bernard, the newspaper vendor, served as the Greek Chorus, commenting on the political and dramatic action of the doomsday clock, in the original Watchmen. Bernard was selling his newspapers to Rorschach, who wasn't wearing his mask. At his newsstand, Bernie is reading the comic book, Tales of the Black Freighter.
Both Bernie and Bernard died in the bloody massacre when the giant alien squid landed in New York. Tulsa has a corner newsstand in the HBO version but it feels more like a nod to the comic book, instead of an active contribution to the narrative.
4 4. The Squid (Better)
Ozymandias' master plan was to create the illusion of an incoming alien invasion in order to prevent a nuclear holocaust. Rival nations realized there was an even bigger threat on the horizon and commenced peace talks.
A giant squid landing in the middle of New York may seem ridiculous and convoluted, but showrunner Damon Lindelof grounded the scene as a metaphor for the terrorist attack on September 11th and the collapse of the World Trade Center. The giant squid attack left the Big Apple in economic collapse and the entire city grieving.
3 3. John David Keene (Worse)
Senator John David Keene of New York had so much hatred for superheroes that he wanted them outlawed by the government. The senator wrote the bill known as the Keene Act, which made any form of vigilantism by any costumed superheroes illegal in the United States.
After the bill was passed by Congress, President Richard Nixon signed the Keene Act in law but excluded Dr. Manhattan because he was working for the government. All of a sudden, John has been secretly racist and working for white supremacists the entire time.
2 2. Hooded Justice (Better)
In Watchmen, Hooded Justice was a brutal vigilante who would beat up criminals to a bloody pulp. During his time in the superhero team, The Minutemen, Hooded Justice rescued Silk Spectre during her sexual assault from The Comedian.
On the HBO drama, Hooded Justice was really Will Reeves, a prominent black man in the police force who fought against racism. Because white culture would never accept an African-American as the founding member of the Minutemen, they erased his skin color from history. Will wanted to fight against white supremacy but the Minutemen wanted fame.
1 1. Ozymandias (Worse)
Towards the end of Watchmen, Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, orchestrated the mass genocide of innocent civilians in order to create world peace. Ozymandias got away with the ultimate crime against humanity because Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, and Dr. Manhattan promised to keep their mouths shut, refusing to tell the whole world the truth.
So why did Laurie suddenly decide to arrest Ozymandias at the end of Watchmen? Doesn't Laurie know she will get in trouble with the law as well for the cover-up? Was Ozymandias going to prison really necessary for a forced happy ending?