Related
Watchmenseason 1 instalment 6 , " This Extraordinary Being , " is a extremely - stylized hour of television , which devote tribute to two distinct picture show motion : film noir and surrealism . The episode is almost entirely a aspiration episode revealing key information about the characterWilliam Reeves . While the episode is mostly a vehicle for providing cardinal selective information necessary for plot growing , it managed to bear its exposition in a extremely - entertaining and dynamical manner .
HBO’sWatchmenTV serial is an adaptation lay out 34 years after the effect of the original DC Comics modified series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons . In addition to lionize the originalWatchmen , instalment 6 director Stephen Williams also paid tribute tofilm noirand pipe dream logic surrealism . " This Extraordinary Being " is an homage to both styles , as Williams freely motley constituent of the two movie movements in his direction of the episode .
Related : Watchmen possibility : The Mysterious Lube Man Is [ SPOILER ]
The episode keep up detective Angela Abar , a.k.a . Sister Night , as she navigated the memories of William Reeves , her primary suspect in the execution of Judd Crawford . Abar divulge in episode 2 that Reeves is also biologically her grandfather . Reeves is 105 twelvemonth sometime , so have his memories effectively transported Abar back several decennary ; the absolute majority of these events occur in the thirties and 40 , which coincides with the rise of block out crimefighters in theWatchmenuniverse . Reeves is reveal to have unwittingly started the trend byfighting crime as Hooded Justice .
The episode is mostly shoot in black and livid , make up the time period in which the legal action takes position . The sequence ’s subject affair ( crime ) and prison term time period ( principally belated 1930 ’s into mid-1940s ) is very fitting with the traditional categorization for film noir : this is a writing style of grim and white criminal offence dramas filmed using humiliated - cardinal mellow - direct contrast light . The genre borrow from German Expressionism , which itself is known for trace and slant angles . Sets are often ratty , urban context . Theclassic example , likeThe Maltese Falcon , andOut of the Past , are all from the forties .
The events in " This Extraordinary Being " are not real - life , however : they were someone ’s memories . Williams reminded looker of this by using element of ambition logic surrealism . Surrealist films likeUn Chien Andaloucombine various symbols into one image , allowing the viewer to interpret the apposition for themselves . Williams similarly combined various visual elements in episode 6 , such as switchingactress Regina Kingand doer Jovan Adepo ( who plays a young William Reeves ) in certain shot , visualize a memory within a remembering on the background of a shot like an sure-enough film , and including out of place section from other memories , such as Reeves ' mother playing piano on the street . At time , these other memories appear in color , further signifying that they are out of place .
The mixture of figure serves a narrative purpose in addition to its stylistic result . The combination symbolize the fragile nature of Abar ’s mind , as these memory she experienced bled into each other , replacing her own . Abar is read to recklessly cut into deeper into Reeves ' chronicle , even after Blake warn her of the peril this posture to her mind . The use of pic noir and surrealism inWatchmenepisode 6 show the dark side of nostalgia , and the danger of obsessing over one ’s traumatic experiences .
The next installment ofWatchmenairs Sunday December 8 , on HBO .
More : Watchmen possibility : [ SPOILER ] Is Holding Ozymandias Prisoner
