Senator Keane (James Wolk) recruits Laurie Blake (Jean Smart), the former Silk Spectre, turned FBI vigilante specialist, to the investigation of the murder of Chief Crawford, believing that the 7th Kavalry group may not be behind it. Blake's abrasive style rubs up against Sister Knight (Regina King) and Looking Glass (Tim Blake Nelson). Meanwhile Adrian Veidt (Jeremy Irons) continues to experiment on his cloned servants and clashes, in strongly worded letters no less, with a mysterious figure about the terms of their agreement.
I've been saying so far that "Watchmen" was a show I admired rather than loved, this was the first episode that this wasn't the case. This was glorious. Jean Smart, straight off the brilliant run on "Legion" is wonderful in an episode that is almost entirely about Silk Spectre, teaching us about where she is now and providing hints about what might have happened since the events of the graphic novel. She is a dark and sardonic character - as disinterested in due process as the rest of the police seem to be - and also still bitter with Dr Manhattan for abandoning both her and the human race. Because she's the focus of it, the episode is the funniest it's been. It's perhaps also the most straightforward episode so far too, with the conceit of a federal agent taking over a local murder enquiry being a familiar one - admittedly with the agent telephoning Mars for much of the backdrop of the story being slightly less traditional.
Technically it remains as good as ever. Nicely shot, good effects and the music is excellent, there are lots of links to the previous story and Easter Eggs in this episode to keep your eyes open for (the name of the motel!). I keep saying it every week, but I'm hoping rather than expecting that enough of the answers are coming as to more of the outlandish elements, or at least hints. If it can maintain this level of quality though I'll be very happy.
