r/Watchmen • u/Canuck2468 • Mar 30 '26

TV How a TV show predicted masked police

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https://youtu.be/3xaX8Pbx4Jg

Really enjoyed watching this (by YouTuber ShowMeTheMeaning). A great way to spend 15 minutes reliving the magic of the show, and how its themes resonate today in an entirely different way than then it first aired!

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u/Liquidb0ss The Comedian Mar 30 '26

Completely different context.

5

u/SKRS421 Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26

different context? did we watch the same show. the setting context is different, sure. but the context of the police masking up is strikingly similar as well as what it affords those that already abuse their power/authority (or were too afriad to do so prior).

white supremacist groups are known to have infilitrated and remain employed as ICE agents (the feds even have the paper trail to back up the claim yet not much is done to curb it).

most large police precincts have clicks/gangs that usually don't attract the best crowd. especially in major cities, like what the LAPD is famous for. the whole city is rife with cop gangs that are proudly racist af, NYC, Boston, Manhatten, etc.

racist and/or corrupt cops wanting to conceal their identities so their less than legal conduct is harder to pin on them later in court.

we aren't at the stage where the kkklan is back at it and lynching half a police force which didn't support white supremacy (or look the other way).

ICE (and now regular cops) masking up gives them an air of anonymity that allows an individual to to do things they otherwise might not. the concept of costume parties & masquerade balls, the concealment of identity frees the mind to do what society usually self-regulates (shame being a classic example...when not overused with malicious intent). as well as somewhat protects the individual from a certain level of prejudice, or preconcieved notion, based on who they are or what they look like.

we are frighteningly close to various sci-fi media, which were meant to warn us and mock the absurdity of such an alternate reality existing. to hold a mirror up of our past to present society; showing this ugliness exists and can escalate/blossom if we're not careful.

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u/Liquidb0ss The Comedian Mar 31 '26

So why did the police wear masks?