English with "Watchmen" HBO
Beyond super...
STREAMING
6/17/20245 min read
What's to be learned in this blog lesson:
-Why is it relevant for an English learner to watch HBOmax's The Watchmen?
For English learners, watching HBOmax's The Watchmen offers several benefits. The series presents complex dialogue, diverse vocabulary, and a variety of accents and speech patterns (1), which can help improve language comprehension. Its layered storytelling allows learners to engage with nuanced expressions and idiomatic phrases while also enhancing their listening skills in real-world contexts.
The series tackles important social and cultural issues that are highly relevant today. Themes like racial injustice, systemic oppression, and identity are explored in depth, particularly through the lens of historical events like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The Watchmen also addresses the role of authority, vigilantism, and the consequences of unchecked power, encouraging viewers to think critically about societal structures. These topics resonate in contemporary discussions on racial inequality, police violence, and social justice, making the show not only a learning tool but also a conversation starter for understanding current global issues.
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Section glossary:
1- speech patterns: patrones de habla
layered: en capas
engage: (here) involucrarse
nuanced: matizada
5- The series tackles...: La serie aborda...
in depth: a fondo
The Vocabulary
"Masks make men cruel."
First, I'll list some nouns, verbs, adjectives and relevant phrases (so that you can get an idea what's in the Newsletter and the book). Later, texts, everything related to the series and the subject.
Nouns
Justice – The concept of fairness and moral rightness.
Vigilante – A person who takes the law into their own hands without legal authority.
Racism – Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone based on race.
Trauma – Emotional or psychological injury caused by a deeply distressing experience.
Authority – The power or right to give orders and enforce rules.
Verbs
Explore – To investigate or study a subject in detail.
Uncovering – To reveal or discover something hidden.
Manipulate – To control or influence something skillfully.
Perceive – To become aware of something through the senses or understanding.
Orchestrate – To carefully arrange or direct a complex plan or situation.
Adjectives
Iconic – Widely recognized and well-established as a representative symbol.
Contemporary – Belonging to or occurring in the present time.
Regulated – Controlled or governed by rules or laws.
Violent – Involving physical force intended to hurt or damage.
Useful Phrases and Sentences
Tackle – To deal with or confront a difficult issue directly.
Taking the law into their own hands – When someone acts outside of legal authority to enforce justice.
Willingness to engage – The readiness or openness to deal with challenging issues or topics.
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HBO's Watchmen is a limited television series that aired in 2019, created by Damon Lindelof. It's based on the iconic 1986 graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, but the series is not a direct adaptation. Instead, it serves as a sequel set 34 years after the events of the original comic, reimagining the story in a contemporary context. The show blends (1) elements of superhero fiction with real-world social and political issues, particularly focusing on themes of race, identity, and justice.
Plot Overview: (SPOILER ALERT!!!)
The series is set in an alternate version of the United States where superheroes (referred to as "costumed adventurers") exist, but their activities are heavily regulated. The story primarily takes place in 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a world still grappling with the legacy of the original Watchmen events.
In this version of America, the police wear masks to protect their identities due to a violent attack on law enforcement by a white supremacist group known as the Seventh Kavalry, which idolizes the writings of the original Watchmen character, Rorschach. The series delves into the tension between the police, masked vigilantes, and the Seventh Kavalry, exploring themes of systemic racism, trauma, and the role of authority.
The narrative is complex, weaving together multiple timelines and stories, including flashbacks to the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, the legacy of the Minutemen (the original group of masked heroes), and the lives of both new and familiar characters.
Section glossary:
1- to blend: mezclar
social and political issues: cuestiones sociales y políticas
the series is set in: La serie está ambientada en
grappling with: lidiando con, enfretandose con
legacy: legado
Main Characters:
1. Angela Abar / Sister Night (Regina King):
- The protagonist of the series, Angela is a former detective who now works as a masked vigilante (1) known as Sister Night. She is deeply involved in the fight against the Seventh Kavalry while uncovering shocking truths about her family's past and the legacy of the original Watchmen.
2. Calvin "Cal" Abar / Dr. Manhattan (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II):
- Angela’s husband, Cal, appears to be an ordinary man but is later revealed to be Dr. Manhattan, a god-like being who can manipulate matter and perceive time non-linearly. His relationship with Angela and his role in the larger cosmic events are central to the story.
3. Judd Crawford (Don Johnson):
- The Tulsa police chief and Angela’s mentor. He is seemingly a strong ally in the fight against the Seventh Kavalry, but his true nature and motivations are more complex than they first appear.
In the Newsletter (and even more in the upcoming book), we discuss in more detail:
4. Laurie Blake / Silk Spectre (Jean Smart),
5. Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias (Jeremy Irons),
6. Will Reeves / Hooded Justice (Louis Gossett Jr. and Jovan Adepo),
7. Lady Trieu (Hong Chau)...
Key Locations:
1. Tulsa, Oklahoma:
- The primary setting for the series, Tulsa is depicted as a city still haunted by the 1921 race massacre, an event that plays a crucial role in the story. The city is also the base of operations for the masked police force and the Seventh Kavalry.
2. The Greenwood District:
- A historic area in Tulsa that was once a thriving African American community before being destroyed in the 1921 race massacre. The legacy of Greenwood and its impact on the characters, particularly Angela and her family, is a central theme.
In the Newsletter (and even more in the upcoming book), we discuss in more detail:
3. Adrian Veidt’s Mansion / Prison,
4. New York City,
5. Karnak.
Themes and Impact:
HBO's Watchmen tackles a wide range of social and political issues, most notably racial violence and systemic oppression, through the lens of the superhero genre. The show reimagines the concept of masked vigilantes as a reflection of both historical and contemporary struggles for justice, questioning the morality of their actions and the consequences of their power.
The series also explores the legacy of trauma—both personal and generational—particularly through the experiences of Angela Abar and Will Reeves. The storytelling is layered and non-linear, with flashbacks and alternative perspectives enriching the narrative.
Overall, HBO’s Watchmen stands out as a thought-provoking continuation of the original comic, expanding on its themes while making them relevant to modern audiences. The show received widespread critical acclaim for its bold storytelling, complex characters, and its willingness to engage with difficult topics, solidifying its place as a significant work in both the superhero genre and television as a whole.
Section glossary:
1- a vigilante: una justiciera