MovieChat Forums > Watchmen (2009) Discussion > Why was The Comedian murdered?

Why was The Comedian murdered?

posted 8 years ago by lordrosemount
20 replies | jump to latest

Please forgive what I'm certain is a repetition of a question that must have been asked and answered earlier, but it's something I've been wondering about and I haven't been able to find the answer.

Why, in the movie, was The Comedian murdered?

In the comics, it was because he'd seen from the air the island where Ozymandias was creating the giant monster that was to destroy half New York and present the threat of an alien invasion. Having seen that, and started to talk about it (to Edgar Jacobi), Ozymandias felt he knew too much, risked the plan and must be eliminated. But in the movie, there was no faked alien invasion: his plan was to set up Dr Manhattan as the threat to mankind. That means the Comedian can't have seen what he saw in the comics, because it didn't happen.

So why did Ozymandias murder him?

[–] GingerVitus 8 years ago

It's been a while since I've seen the film, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong but here's the way I remember it: Nixon had the Comedian spying on Ozymandias, so somehow he figured out Ozy's plan. HOW he found out is never made explicitly clear. When the Comedian visits Molloch he tells him about his name being on a list, so we can assume that the Comedian must have found some files or something. Ozy found out that the Comedian was spying on him (again, we don't know how exactly) and killed him.

[–] lordrosemount 8 years ago

Thanks, that's a great start! I wonder whether anyone else can elaborate at all?

[–] iamtherealbg 8 years ago

Yeah, he was spying and found the "list" with the people's names who Veight was secretly giving cancer to. Veight was giving these people cancer to make it look like Manhattan was the cause of it so it would effect Manhattan emotionally and he'd end up abandoning the earth to go to Mars and be out of the way. Which he did. When Veight found out that Comedian had learned about his "list" he had to eliminate him so his plan could come to fruition.

[–] Chopperbubba 8 years ago

Ozy found out by having Moloch's apartment bugged. When Comedian showed up drunk and crying to Moloch while he was sleeping, Ozy figured he was "cracking" knowing the magnitude of such mass murdering plan, and the guilt was too much to bear.

[–] movie_nazi 8 years ago

Ozy found out by having Moloch's apartment bugged. When Comedian showed up drunk and crying to Moloch while he was sleeping, Ozy figured he was "cracking" knowing the magnitude of such mass murdering plan, and the guilt was too much to bear.

What? Does Ozy reveal this in the final monologue?

My Vote history: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur1914996/ratings

[–] movie_nazi 8 years ago

It's been a while since I've seen the film, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong but here's the way I remember it: Nixon had the Comedian spying on Ozymandias, so somehow he figured out Ozy's plan. HOW he found out is never made explicitly clear. When the Comedian visits Molloch he tells him about his name being on a list, so we can assume that the Comedian must have found some files or something. Ozy found out that the Comedian was spying on him (again, we don't know how exactly) and killed him.

Yeah, it doesn't make sense that any files found could possibly reveal Ozy's plan. I mean, I doubt he would write down:

Phase 1 to ultimate plan to destroy half the cities of the Earth and blame John.....

It just makes no sense. The Comedian knew enough that he planned to kill a bunch of people. Why not simply report it back to Nixon? Instead he keeps it to himself, then tells Moloch? Seems to me they should have explained this better.

My Vote history: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur1914996/ratings

[–] Dr_Apoc 7 years ago

You are partly right, Ozy would never write that down.

So we have to assume that Blake strung ALL the facts together with his own spy contacts and pieced the WHOLE plan together.

Remember, Blake's last words were, "Its all a joke" and "Mother forgive me." What he's asking for is forgiveness for knowing and doing nothing because he understands the whole truth of Ozy's practical joke.

In short, we have to assume that not only did Blake figure out the whole plan, but also came to understood why it was necessary...this is what broke Blake. He was perfectly at home murdering a person here and there for his interpretation of "the greater good" and "the American Dream" but when faced with not only the plan to kill millions, but also the absolute necessity to do so, Blake found himself in unable to accept the magnitude of it all.

It also helps to realize that the cynicism Ozy had for human nature was 100% in line with Blake's own.

THIS is why he doesn't tell Nixon...because then Nixon would have stopped Ozy and, in Blake's mind, Ozy's plan was the only salvation that humanity had.

----------
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who get binary and those who don't.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] !!!deleted!!! (19664510) 8 years ago

For the reasons explained in the movie.

[–] triplegrim 8 years ago

There is a reason why the movie is not so popular with the casual viewer.

[–] fzane (999) 5 years ago

I'm soooo glad they didn't make this film for the casual viewer. I had a great time watching it over a 3 night period, rewinding parts i didn't understand, and really getting into it. When the plot hit the crescendo, i was ready, and understood every last bit of it. This movie is a masterpiece, and a great film for people who like to engage and think.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] FlorisV 7 years ago

As mentioned, it was never explained HOW Comedian spied on Ozymandias but he did and found out too much. It's weird he decided to spill his guts to Moloch and not tell Nixon. He may have done that later but seemed lethargic, as if it was all too late.

But there is a second, more hidden motive for the Comedian's murder. It's not a simple, cold blooded assassination, it's a humiliating showdown by someone who has hated his guts for over 10 years. During the "Watchmen" meeting back then, Ozymandias was humiliated by the Comedian even though he knew the Comedian was right. I think he still felt butthurt but would never admit it.

[–] Dr_Apoc 7 years ago

He never told Nixon because, in learning the whole plan, he realized that it was necessary. Blake was too cynical of human nature to not buy into Ozymandias' conclusions (because, over the years, Ozy had become as cynical as Blake).

As for that showdown, I'm not sure I agree with you 100%.

I'm sure Ozy was still very "butthurt" over the whole situation but he still didn't choose to go after the Comedian until it was a necessary. When he saw Blake's breakdown was when he chose to take him out because Blake became too unpredictable.

Now I'm sure he enjoyed himself...he did hate The Comedian. But so close to the end of his master plan, Adrian was far beyond minor revenge.

----------
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who get binary and those who don't.

[–] ExTechOp (2737) 5 years ago

I think being butthurt was a major factor in the "how" if not the why.

Remember, while Ozy was investigating the disappearance of Hooded Justice, he met and got beaten up by the Comedian. Strike one.

Then Comedian humiliated him and Captain Metropolis at the Crimebusters meeting. Strike Two.

So silencing the Comedian was his motive, but he could've done it any number of ways. Beating him to death was definitely motivated by Ozy's butthurtedness.

[–] twofacetoo 7 years ago

I always assumed it was part of a smoke-screen, like when he hires an assassin to try and kill himself, only to force a cyanide pill into the assassin's mouth, making it look like the assassin killed himself to avoid being identified.
I assumed the Comedian was killed for the same reason, to make Rorschach come out of hiding and divert everyone's attention away from what Veidt was really doing, like a magic trick, to make them look away from Vedit pulling the rabbit out of the hat.

[–] iamtherealbg 7 years ago

Rorschach wasn't in hiding. He was the only Minuteman/Crimebuster left still fighting crime. The government had outlawed "Masks" by the beginning of the story. He didn't play by their rules and kept busting bad guys. Ozy did bring Night Owl II and the Second Silk Specter out of hiding though.

[–] twofacetoo 7 years ago

True, I meant more bring him out in the open, expose him and get him looking around more. Yeah, he was off crime-busting basically 24/7, but with the Comedian's death he went out to the other heroes, people he hadn't seen in a long time, even going to find an old supervillain. He made himself more public, which I think was part of Veidt's plan

[–] iamtherealbg 7 years ago

Gotcha. That's basically how I saw it too. The movie has slight differences than the GN but the all around story is the same. I always took it as Rorschach making his nightly rounds when he happens upon Comedians smiley face badge and then boom right into the investigation.

[–] twofacetoo 7 years ago

I took it that the police were investigating, Rorschach found out about that, and him finding the badge was a visual way of saying that Rorschach is better at his job than the police are, since they never even saw the badge.