PASADENA, Calif. – “Watchmen” won a loyal following and critical acclaim, as the superhero comics series was adapted into a politically relevant drama about race and the criminal justice system.

But don’t look for a second season of the drama, which wrapped up its nine-episode run last month, largely because creator Damon Lindelof isn’t interested in doing it.

HBO programming chief Casey Bloys told USA TODAY Wednesday that Lindelof, the co-creator of ABC’s “Lost” who also created HBO’s “The Leftovers,”  “brilliantly took this graphic novel and just kind of broke it open and created a whole new world,” in which Regina King starred as a masked cop in Tulsa, in a 2019 when Robert Redford is president.

“It’s really in Damon’s thinking about what he wants to do. If there’s an idea that excited him about another season, another installment, maybe like a ‘Fargo,’ ‘True Detective’ (anthology) take on it, or if he wants to do something different altogether. We’re very proud of ‘Watchmen,’ but what I’m most interested in what Damon wants to do.”

The answer: Nothing.

Lindelof told USA TODAY this week that he’s told the story he wants to tell and has no interest in a second season, though he’s “given my blessing” to HBO should it want to pursue a new installment with another writer-producer.

But Bloys concedes that’s unlikely to happen: “It would be hard to imagine doing it without Damon involved in some way.”

In a time where there really aren’t any good TV shows on, this isn’t the news I needed to see. Maybe it would’ve softened the blow a little bit if I were in the middle of a season of Succession or The Mandalorian right now, but sadly, we’re in the offseason.

I really wanted there to be another season of this show; I feel like there truly were so many more stories to tell. I’m not discrediting the genius of this lone first season, but the cliffhanger that ended the final episode really made it seem like they would continue the show. What happens to Ozymandias? Does Angela become Dr. Manhattan? And who the fuck was lube man?

I guess HBO really only saw Lindelof as the guy capable to lead Watchmen. Obviously he did an incredible job, but there are tons of other writers and directors who I’m sure could’ve continued the story. Hopefully one of the writers comes goes to HBO with an incredible idea for a second season so they can continue the story. However, if they choose to leave it as is, I can’t be upset with them not wanting to mess with perfection.