HBO has reclassified Watchmen as a limited series, leaving the door open for season 2 and beyond. Last fall, HBO premiered Watchmen season 1, which served as a continuation of Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore's landmark 1986-87 comic book series. Created by Damon Lindelof, the show used the real-life Tulsa race massacre of 1921 as a jumping-off point for a story about racial injustice and white supremcy, as told through the lens of the Watchmen universe. The critially-acclaimed season was an overall success, growing its audience through word of mouth and bringing attention to an often overlooked historical atrocity.
Although it left a few questions unanswered, the Watchmen season 1 finale was pretty conclusive, and Lindelof has since said (on multiple occasions) he isn't planning to make a season 2. At the same time, he's expessed his support for the idea of the series becoming an anthology where a new showrunner comes in each season to tell a different story based in the Watchmen universe. In the meantime, HBO has made a change that calls further attention to the uncertainty surrounding the show's future.
The network has officially announced it's reclassifying Watchmen from a drama series to a limited series following the end of season 1. In a statement regarding the decision (via Variety), HBO explained "We discussed with the producers and felt limited series was the most accurate representation of the show and any possible future installments".
By doing this, HBO has all but assured the story from Watchmen season 1 will not continue in any and all future installments, should they eventually come to pass. Many would agree that's for the best; the first season was truly subversive in its condemnation of violence and racism in America, and the way it deconstructs the tropes of the superhero genre. Trying to replicate its approach directly or provide a satisfying payoff to season 1's final ambigous scene feels like it's doomed to disappoint. Instead, season 2 would be better off following its predecessor's lead and examining a different time and/or setting in the Watchmen universe. That includes aspects of season 1 that some felt were under-explored (for example, what Vietnam is like as a state in the show's alternate version of history).
Assuming Lindelof doesn't return as showrunner, future installments of Watchmen could also take things further than other current anthology series from an artistic perspective. Whereas ever season of shows like Fargo and American Horror Story have, to some degree, reflected their creators' vision, Watchmen season 2 would allow a different storyteller to come in and really leave their stamp on the property (much like Lindelof did when he adapted Gibbons and Moore's source comics). Further, this could make it easier for the series to sustain itself, with every showrunner pouring all of their ideas into a single season before passing the baton on to someone else. Failing that, if Watchmen season 1 is all we get, it's a strong note to go out on.
We will keep you posted on Watchmen's future as the story develops.
Source: Variety