“The following is based on a true story. No names have been changed to protect the innocent because nearly everyone was found guilty.” Then as you see a band of misfits failing to gain entry through a locked door, “There were four Watergate break-in attempts. This was number two.” So, begins HBO’s tale of the bizarre, bungling, and oh so serious affair known as Watergate: the hapless espionage scheme that toppled a Presidency and spawned the suffix “gate” as the go-to namesake for future political scandals. From the creators of Veep, it’s a five-episode limited series running Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. PDT from May 1-29 (HBO runs repeats throughout the week and it’s also streaming on HBO Max, or I guess it’s just Max now). So, this is an early review just based on the premier episode.
Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt) plays E. Howard Hunt and Justin Theroux (The Leftovers) is G. Gordon Liddy. They’re ex-CIA and FBI, respectively and seemingly hired for their ultra patriotism as opposed to their expertise and success in secret missions (their previous attempt to silence Daniel Ellsberg is shown to be a complete bust.) They’re the masters of operation for the Special Investigative Unit charged with bugging the Democratic National Committee offices. They’re joined by a ragtag trio of Cuban expats. Their equipment consists of crude lock-picking tools, over- the-top disguises, and pure static walkie-talkies. Liddy is so excited that he makes a letterhead…for the top-secret assignment. They pick “The Plumbers” for the sign on their door because they fix leaks. It’s all hilarious, but true. This dichotomy sets the tonal dilemma for White House Plumbers: does it run with the farce and caricatures or stay grounded in a more serious character and historical study?
Harrelson as Hunt looks like he’s going to explode at any minute. With his jutting chin and raspy voice, he’s conflicted, unfulfilled, and emotional. Theroux as Liddy is almost cartoonish with his thick black mustache, blatant Nazi sympathies (e.g., playing Hitler’s speeches at full volume for dinner company), and irritable demeanor. Hunt is a mad man, while Liddy is truly a madman. Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) plays Dorothy Hunt, a CIA agent herself, who looks like she may break out of the common lonely wife at home portrayal. Judy Greer (Married) as Fran Liddy not so much yet. Domhnall Gleeson (Run) plays John Dean. Kathleen Turner, F. Murray Abraham, and Kiernan Shipka will appear in future episodes.
Bugging the opposition party’s headquarters…seems so quaint these days. It’s enough to make you yearn for simpler times. How will it play out today, particularly for the younger generation? Do they know much about it or care to? Who are these people? Well, they’re the odd couple of hatchet men who took orders from on high to do the dirty work and get Nixon re-elected. Their inept shenanigans are funny in an ambiguous way. You don’t know whether to laugh out loud or shake your head at the whole pathetic situation. We’ll see in future weeks how HBO knits together the tragedy and comedy of it all.
D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐
Trivia: What was the pseudonym for, and identity of, the secret informant that provided critical inside scoop to Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein?
Answer: Deep Throat was revealed to be Mark Felt, FBI Associate Director