Published Feb 21, 2026, 7:00 AM EST
Ben Sherlock is a Tomatometer-approved film and TV critic who runs the massively underrated YouTube channel I Got Touched at the Cinema. Before working at Screen Rant, Ben wrote for Game Rant, Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop. He's also an indie filmmaker, a standup comedian, and an alumnus of the School of Rock.
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HBO’s Watchmen series is a better superhero story than just about any movie or TV show getting made today, and it remains a perfect example of a comic book adaptation done right. Rather than doing a straightforward live-action translation of the seminal graphic novel (which Zack Snyder already did on the big screen), Damon Lindelof took a more unique approach to his Watchmen adaptation.
Instead of retelling Alan Moore’s iconic story, Lindelof wrote an original follow-up story. HBO’s Watchmen series takes place after the original comic book, catching up with familiar characters from between those pages while also introducing a handful of fresh faces. Seven years later, Watchmen is still the gold standard for superhero TV shows.
HBO's Watchmen Has Everything Superhero Movies Have Been Lacking
Modern superhero movies have plenty of CGI spectacle and sequel setups, but what they’re lacking is the humanity and relatability of a good story. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies are fun and action-packed, but the real reason they connected with people is because the character of Peter Parker — a lowly underdog trying to do the right thing — speaks to all of us.
HBO’s Watchmen series has that humanity in spades: veteran superheroes living with guilt, newcomers trying to make a name for themselves, civilians struggling to recover from superhero-caused tragedies. Much like the original comic, it uses the tropes and conventions of the superhero genre to comment on social issues in the real world.
Why Alan Moore Didn't Like HBO's Watchmen Series
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Although critics generally agreed that HBO’s Watchmen show perfectly recaptured the spirit of Moore’s comic, Moore himself wasn’t a fan of the adaptation. Moore has never been very supportive of adaptations of his work, especially Watchmen, and that stance didn’t change when HBO came calling. When the adaptation was first announced, HBO’s Casey Bloys admitted that Moore was “not thrilled” about the show.
The main point of contention was that the series took place in Moore’s world, but didn’t take its cues from any of his work. Not only did it change key elements of the original comic; it also ignored official spinoffs like the Before Watchmen prequel comics and the Doomsday Clock sequel in favor of telling its own story.
Watchmen Is More Relevant Now Than Ever
The original Watchmen story takes place in a world where superheroes have become so prevalent that they’ve actually become a detriment to society. With the way superhero culture took over pop culture, and how we’re now seeing the effects of it across the industry in a post-Endgame world (both creatively and financially), Watchmen is more relevant now than ever.
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