Once every blue moon I will discover a show that will blow me away and grip me with every emotion under the sun. [ Insert reaction gif and hashtag FEELS here! ] Before I start my review, I know full well that Amazon’s Man in the High Castle is not for everyone. I mean, an alternate reality where the Nazis won is bold storytelling right there.
Disclaimer: I do not support Nazism in any way, shape, or form. The following post is a review of a well written show with a diverse group of characters that is set in a “what if” reality.
Map of The Man in the High Castle’s alternate reality
Image is from Wikipeida with all the CC information found here
The Characters
The story kicks off when Juliana Crain’s sister is shot by the Kempeitai for being a member of the resistance. Juliana finds out she was transporting some sort of game changing film to the Neutral Zone. Her life changes after she watches it.
Meanwhile, we have the Japanese trade minister (and his strange meditations) and Rudolph Wegener, a Nazi officer, plotting to even the tides between the Reich and the Japanese Empire because war between the two is inevitable if Hitler dies. Yes, as odd as this sounds, Hitler is the lesser evil in play here.
Then we have Obergruppenführer John Smith (my problematic fav) who is a loyal, ruthless Nazi officer, but isn’t your one dimensional, villain of the episode asshole. Nope. He is one of the most well written characters I’ve ever come across. He’s a family man, a loyal friend/coworker, a cunning Obergruppenführer, and carries the darkness from his past like an invisible burden—it’s always there, beneath his eyes. I do not condone Nazis, but this character was truly well written.
Lastly there is Frank. He was my second favorite. He suffers the consequences of Juliana’s actions and is forever damaged by them.
The Scenery
They did an excellent job of making the backdrops look and feel like this would actually be the world these characters live in had the Japanese and Nazis won. On the East, you’ve got the Greater Nazi Reich with all their stern architecture, propaganda, and technological advancements. On the West, you’ve got the Pacific States with a heavy Japanese influence, but they’re grittier and more rundown than their Nazi counterparts.
Every little detail, right down to the street signs, posters on the walls, and people walking around in the background, feels like it should belong in this dark, alternate reality. Women’s fashion is still stuck in the forties, but with subtle changes in their dresses and hairstyles (it’s set in 1962). There are no mini skirts or wild beehives. Everything feels right for the setting, and you find yourself immersed in it and transported to the fictitious world.
Screencaps from the show
My One Complaint
As soon as I finished the show, I scoured the Internet to see what everyone else thought. I found a common theme: no one liked void-of-personality Joe or naive-makes-mistakes Juliana and what (at first) feels like a half assed love triangle. If you find yourself in the first or second episode and wanting to stop, DON’T! There are so many awesome things about this show. You will miss out!
Their story feels secondary to everyone else. I found myself watching it for the other characters and the danger they found themselves in. It turns out I was not alone in this. There were many people who found themselves rooting for problematic characters like John Smith and Chief Inspector Kido. Then there’s the trade minister. I haven’t come across a single person who doesn’t like him.
The End
I don’t want to drop the biggest spoiler of the universe, but the very last scene will leave you scratching your head and wondering if there will be a Season 2.
I give Man in the High Castle 5/5 stars. I recommend this show if you’re a fan of sci-fi and alternate histories.
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