Watchmen Explains Robert Redford’s Presidency (& Why It’s Controversial)

Watchmen Explains Robert Redford’s Presidency (& Why It’s Controversial)

After teasing political turmoil in its season premiere, HBO’s Watchmen has explained Robert Redford’s presidency and his controversial Redfordations.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Watchmen Explains Robert Redford’s Presidency (& Why It’s Controversial)

HBO’s Watchmen has explained Robert Redford’s position as president on the series and his controversial “Redfordations.” The Watchmen story is set in an alternate history where the presence of the superhuman known as Dr. Manhattan helped the United States win the Vietnam war, thus providing Richard Nixon with the popularity required to run for consecutive presidential terms all the way from 1969 to 1985.

Taking place roughly 30 years after the events of the original Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons comic book series, the Watchmen TV series reveals that Nixon was finally ousted as president following the giant squid attack on New York and replaced with the actor Robert Redford, who has remained in the position ever since. In Watchmen’s series premiere, a bratty schoolkid taunted Regina King’s Angela with mention of “Redfordations,” something that angered both Angela and her son, Topher, who branded his classmate a racist. However, the episode wasn’t clear on the nature of these reforms, or why they’re used as fuel by white supremacists in Watchmen’s America.

The second episode of HBO’s Watchmen unveils much more about Redford’s presidency, the Redfordations and the racial split within the country. Redford was elected on a manifesto of left-leaning politics, evident in the “liberal” slurs used by characters such as the news stand vendor, and perhaps also the over-the-top censorship warning that precedes “American Crime Story.” One of the primary tenets of Redford’s election campaign was the Victims of Racial Violence act, a piece of legislation that would require the government to apologize for historic race attacks, such as the 1921 Tulsa Massacre that opened Watchmen’s first episode.

See also  Gilmore Girls 10 Things That Make No Sense About Chilton

In addition to an apology, victims of racial violence and their descendants would receive financial reparations (the so-called Redfordations) as compensation for the crimes. These come in the form of tax breaks, which is why the rude schoolboy asked if Redfordations paid for Angela’s bakery, and why Jim Beaver’s character makes a similar comment when Angela wrote him a check. This concept is taken directly from real-life, and although such legislation has never come to pass, some form of financial reparation has been discussed for victims of racial violence repeatedly in the past, and remains an active topic in the current lead-up to the 2020 elections.

In a grim irony, these financial benefits have apparently led to an upsurge in discrimination and racial violence. While some casually criticize Redford’s policy, others are seen protesting outside the center where citizens can analyze their heritage and discover whether they are entitled the Redfordations or not. Heading into even more extreme territory, the reparations also seem to be one of the biggest points of contention for the Seventh Kavalry and other white nationalist groups. In Watchmen’s premiere, Looking Glass asks whether “all Americans should pay taxes” during an interrogation – clearly attempting to unearth any racial resentment. Additionally, the police round-up scene in this week’s installment features a white nationalist camp site with a massive statue of Nixon out front.

The open discontent among some sections of white people regarding the Redfordations is likely going to boil over into a presidential battle, as Joe Keene seems positioned to ride to the right-wing’s rescue. Although Keene acted cordially enough to Angela, he was apparently a friend of Judd’s, who now has question marks over his own racial stance. Watchmen also appears to be setting Keene as the polar opposite to Redford, suggesting he’s a more conservative candidate that could potentially repeal the Redfordations.

See also  Pokémon Card Game The Pokémon Company Implements Lottery System To Combat Scalpers

Although deriving from reality, the passing of the Redfordations is perhaps a depiction of what might happen if a single politician could campaign indefinitely to remain in office; traditionally divisive policies would breeze through congress. It’s also significant that Watchmen seems to act as a critique of the entire political spectrum. On one hand, the anti-Redfordation camp are presented in a negative light, but the legislation itself has clearly worsened racial relations, suggesting Redford’s liberal tenure hasn’t been wholly successful.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/watchmen-hbo-robert-redford-president-controversial-redfordations/

Movies -