increase font size A QAnon revelation suggests the truth of Q’s identity was right there all along An HBO series has reinvigorated debate about the clues of Ron Watkins' role in one of the biggest conspiracy-theory movements of the Internet age. By Drew Harwell and Craig TimbergThe Washington Post Share QAnon supporters wait for a military flyover at the World War II Memorial during Fourth of July celebrations last year in Washington, D.C. An HBO series has revived speculation about the identity of Q. Photo for The Washington Post by Evelyn Hockstein The identity of Q, the supposed top-secret government operative and prophet of the extremist ideology QAnon, has for years been a fiercely debated mystery. But a possible slip-up in a new documentary suggests the answer was always the most obvious one: Ron Watkins, the longtime administrator of the message board 8kun, the conspiratorial movement’s online home.