The first trailer and clips for The Watch does make me wonder if they have actually read any of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books

From Left: Jo Eaton-Kent as Cheery, Marama Corlett as Angua, Lara Rossi as Lady Sybil Ramkin, Richard Dormer as Sam Vimes, Adam Hugill as Carrot.

I posted some images from The Watch, based on some of the books by Terry Pratchett, back in January. It all seemed a bit off. I am still not sure whether I am actually looking forward to this or not, but BBC America has now released the first trailer, which debuted at NYCC.

Critically acclaimed actor and playwright Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones) leads the cast of the BBC new original scripted series, The Watch, co-produced by Narrativia and BBC Studios.

Set in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, where crime has been legalized, The Watch is a uniquely anarchic drama. The series centers on a group of misfit cops as they rise up from decades of helplessness to save their corrupt city from catastrophe. The Watch is an inclusive genre-bending series inspired by the legendary ‘City Watch’ subset of Sir Terry Pratchett’s bestselling “Discworld” novels and its many iconic characters.

Okay, it says inspired by the books and I understand that they want to put their own stamp on things, but after watching the trailer I really don’t know about this. I never really imagined Vimes as being a Captain Jack Sparrow knock-off and never though Vimes would be playing in a rock band – that did happen in the trailer didn’t it? It is more like somebody described the Pratchett books to the show’s creator during a drunken conversation. It’s a shame Lady Sybil is not the plus-size force of nature she was in the books. I’m also not sure why they made Death look like a tall Jawa! Also, the amount of eye shadow every character is wearing makes me wonder whether they’re all auditioning to be the next Batman!

Let’s try and be positive. The golem looks great and it is just a trailer and a few clips. Maybe if it wasn’t linked to the Discworld in any way I would be more up for it.

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

It also stars Adam Hugill (1917), Jo Eaton-Kent (Don’t Forget The Driver), Marama Corlette (Blood Drive) and Lara Rossi (Crossing Lines) together with Sam Adewunmi (The Last Tree). Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Selma) and Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, Year of the Rabbit) are joining the series voicing the characters of “DEATH,” a dry, sardonic Grim Reaper, and “Wayne,” a magical speaking sword, respectively.

Dormer stars as Sam Vimes, Captain of The Watch, disempowered by a broken society that’s reduced his department’s jurisdiction to almost nothing. Jo Eaton-Kent is Constable Cheery, the ingenious non-binary forensics expert, ostracized by their kin and finding a new home and identity. Adam Hugill plays Constable Carrot, the idealistic new recruit, raised by dwarfs, but really a human abandoned at birth. Marama Corlette is the mysterious Corporal Angua who is tasked with Carrot’s training and keeping the rookie alive. Lara Rossi plays the formidable Lady Sybil Ramkin, last scion of Ankh-Morpork’s nobility, who’s trying to fix the city’s wrongs with her chaotic vigilantism. Sam Adewunmi is the wounded and wronged Carcer Dun, out to hijack destiny itself, take control of the city and exact a terrible revenge on an unjust reality.

Further casting includes Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones) who plays Inigo Skimmer, a.k.a. The Duke of Stab, a member of the Assassins’ Guild whose long and distinguished career is jeopardized when he runs into The City Watch, as well as Ralph Ineson (Chernobyl) who is voicing Sergeant Detritus, a huge a troll made of stone and a member of The City Watch. An elemental exemplar of truth, loyalty and kindness, Detritus and Vimes have been close friends for many years since each saved the other from ruin.

The show will premiere in January 2021 on BBC America.