Coming Soon: The Watch

TVNZ OnDemand will stream the first full season of Discworld adaptation The Watch from April 2.

The eight-part dystopian fantasy pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon (which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it).

Inspired by the characters in Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, The Watch stars Game of Thrones’ Richard Dormer and had a troubled production history before its January debut on BBC America.

The Wall Street Journal quipped the comedic thriller can’t be taken as seriously as Game of Thrones. “On the upside, it’s a lot more fun.”

The Los Angeles Times thought it “colourful and energetic and amusing, and full of interesting throwaway ideas” while TV Guide praised it as “the most crazily enjoyable series” since Preacher.

But The Hollywood Reporter warned that “compared to the show’s imaginative world-building (and apparently lavish budget), the plots are crushingly rote and uninvolving.”

And Variety predicted the “generic world building, one-dimensional characterisations and lack of consistent wit will disappoint the kind of niche audience it’s trying to attract.”

Rotten Tomatoes summed up the critical consensus as: “Despite fantastic production design and a solid cast, The Watch simply doesn’t capture the wonder, whimsy, and world building of Terry Pratchett’s beloved novels.”