Tag: the man in the high castle

High Castle: FYC Promotional Booklet Review

Consider an  Amazon Original: The Man in the High Castle, Season 1 and Season 2

Let me start off by saying that I was thrilled to get these. Ever since glimpses if the promo for Season 1 made their way onto various corners of the Internet, I’ve wanted it. 

What are these things? You might find yourself asking. They’re promotional advertisements sent to award voters (in this case, The Emmy’s) in hopes of garnering their vote. 

When I saw the Season 1 & 2 set for a reasonable price, I couldn’t pass them up. Now let’s dive right into the good stuff!

Season 1

Comprised of quotes from the crew overlaid onto behind the scenes photos and collages, it gives the reader a small peek into the creative process behind the world building. 

I think one of my favorite snapshots was the picture of a costume designer’s notes about Juliana’s blue dress.

Each of the characters in THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE struggles with how to do the right thing in his or her own way. It’s difficult to hold onto humanity if you’re forced to live under inhumane circumstances

Frank Spotnitz , writer/executive producer
Season 2

It was thinner than Season 1, but it was not without it’s own unique twist. It featured two flip pages where the base design was printed on a thin sheet (a faint outline of shapes on the next page is visible). Once flipped, the viewer sees how base design flourished into a detailed, finished set.

It ended with a clever promotion for Resistance Radio. Remember that? It felt like ages ago. Oh, the fun that was! Good memories! If I ever find the promotional record they sent out (top right), I am snatching that up. If anyone knows where I can get one, please contact me on Twitter @MishiWan

Saving the world with High Castle and Field Team 6

Tuesday I had the awesome pleasure of joining the Axis of Good (Joel de la Fuente, Rufus Sewell, Chelah Horsdal, Stephen Root, Jason O’Mara, Frances Turner, Michael Gaston, Sebastian Roché, and Isa Hacket) with Field Team 6 for an evening of textbanking. 

Let me tell you about the absolute blast I had! I didn’t know what to expect–was I nervous going in? You bet I was! I am probably the shyest person you’ll ever meet…until you get to know me, that is! 


The week started off with absolute chaos, as 2020 weeks often do. I spent that day doing a bunch of house projects which involved a lot of nit and grit. I scrambled to get my laptop ready in time without bothering to fix my hair and without any attempt at looking presentable. Normally fans are muted and shuffled to the back of these things.

Well….I clicked the link and HELLO WORLD! Hello Joel in particular because I know you saw me fumbling around and flustered! 😉 

After a minute or so, I managed to turn my camera off (like I said, I am SHY, plus I was also grimy from house projects). 

The event officially started when the rest of the High Castle participants logged on. I cannot express what a joy it was seeing them happy, relaxed, and catching up with each other as we all stumbled our way through the textbanking system those first few moments.

As we began the textbank, I felt at ease because we were all just hanging out and enjoying the company as we did our task. We chatted with them via Zoom’s chat feature, and they responded, read our chats, and laughed away.

I had so much fun that I volunteered for two Field Team 6 text banks next week, and an official Biden/Harris textbank!

Saving the world with High Castle and Field Team 6

Some highlights of the evening:

  • Sebastian letting his dog out (or in…I can’t remember!)
  • Isa showed everyone a prop she had held onto–a picture frame with a photo of the Smiths at the lake. <3
  • Rufus laughed about all the STOPs he kept getting (requests to unsubscribed) and was worried about accidentally unsubscribing an actual reply because of all the button mashing (lol)
  • Sebastian had a hilarious conversation with someone involving playing a scientist on TV (don’t ask, ha ha!)
  • Francis reading some of her replies (oh my goodness, I thought I was going to fall out of my chair!)
  • Jason muting himself and Rufus laughing at him
  • Someone commenting on how they would always switch Rufus’s and Rupert’s names on their chairs (I can’t remember who mentioned this, but I thought it was hilarious they did this on set!)
  • Seeing the Resistance Rises posters in the background of Joel’s and Isa’s home offices
  • Chelah telling us about Canadian political parties
  • Hearing all the mouse clicking as everyone button mashed, ha ha!

High Castle, You are Winners in my Book!

Hello everyone,

This post is long overdue. To say that I am disappointed about the Emmy nominations announcement on July 28th is an understatement. I’m going to sound like a bitter old bat of a fan, but I sincerely feel like everyone involved with Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle deserved a well earned nomination. Sometimes I wonder if High Castle is the red-headed stepchild in the eyes of the powers that be–Take the opinion of a die-hard High Castle fan with a grain of salt, for I am heavily biased in this matter 😉

It’s such an original concept; nothing like it has ever been done before. So much creativity and hard work was put into creating such a unique world. It felt real at times. 

I could go on, but I’ll stop myself; there’s no point in dragging this out. 2020 has enough negativity as it is. 

To the cast, crew, and everyone who was a part of Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle: you are all winners in my book.

Wanted Poster

And now for something different, a #HighCastle tale from another perspective.

Disclaimer: I am just a dedicated fan. I am not affiliated with Amazon Studios

Club High Castle

The Truth is Never What it Seems

I watched the amber liquid splash into my patron’s glass as I poured him a shot. The chatter hummed in the background; it was quieter than usual tonight, but I wasn’t about to complain. The cover charge was working. I had one rule in my bar: don’t cause trouble…also no weapons. Just because this was the Neutral Zone, didn’t mean we had to act like animals. 

I glanced at my patron and set the bottle of whiskey down. 

“Did you hear about what happened at Moe’s?” he asked. I turned and sighed. 

“There’s always something going on there,” I muttered. “Someone shot up that place last week over a girl.”

“Rumor has it he’s in bed with the Yakuza.” 

“He’s not.” 

But I was. 

They kept the peace and offered protection in exchange for drinks. I wish I didn’t have to rely on them, but it was the only way. 

There were times I missed the civility in the Reich. A shudder ran through me. I could never go back; not after the illusion was shattered and reality stared me in the face.

They had ripped my father from his desk and shot him in the head. I remember their black uniforms, shiny boots, and the cold indifference as the one in the leather coat pulled the trigger. 

All over what? Unknowingly giving a blonde haired, blue eyed member of the resistance a ride in the rain. 

Or so I was told. 

I frowned and went to put the whiskey on the shelf. My patron tapped his thick finger on the counter. His handsome brown eyes met mine. 

“More?” I asked. He nodded and slid his glass towards me. 

“Five Marks just to get in is pretty steep,” came a hearty drawl. I glanced up to see a man with shaggy brown hair and a 5 O’clock shadow sliding into the empty stool beside my patron. “A cold one, Lovely,” he winked. I stiffened as I shot him a fierce glare. 

“Well, that’s a no,” he smirked. “Message received. Say, how ’bout helping a man out?” He shifted and produced a wanted poster from his jacket. I recoiled. 

“This bar is for peaceful patrons only. You’re better off hanging that up at the bar on Main Street. I don’t want any trouble.” 

“But you didn’t even look at it.” 

“Fine,” I muttered. If it would get him the hell out of my face, I’d read it. I snatched it off the counter. 

I should have cried.

I should have been angry, but all I could do was erupt into laughter. 

“Hang this up,” I ordered, shoving it into his chest. “Your first beer is on me.”

“This is most unwise,” my patron whispered. “He has eyes and ears everywhere.” 

“Ha! He’s not going to bother with a tiny bar all the way out here,” The newcomer laughed. “What’s he going to do? Come all the way from his fancy office in that high tower of his to this dingy little bar?”

“The rabbit would be wise not to-”

“It stays,” I said. I looked them both in the eyes. “This is the man who murdered my father.”

TMITHC – I want an animated film

Earlier this week I was thinking about all things High Castle (no surprises there!). I know I touched on the finality of the series end last time, so I’ll keep this intro short. With the props and costumes gone, I felt my hopes dashed…and then I started drawing.

The Man in the High Castle – An Animated Film

DISCLAIMER
I am not affiliated with Amazon Prime. As far as I know, an animated film is not in the works. This is purely an idea from a dedicated fan.

My ideas for the film’s opening sequences

Main Plot – Matthew Müller

1961 – Air Force captain Matthew Müller unknowingly travels. He finds himself on the streets of a very different NYC. In disbelief, he stops dead in his tracts. He gazes up at the giant, crimson banner hanging from an unfamiliar building.

He is ambushed and thrown to the ground by the Schutzstaffel

“What’s with the uniform?” a calm voice drawls. The man standing over him lights a cigarette and begins pacing, his movements casual as though he hadn’t a care in the world.

Matthew remains silent as the man carries on like this for what feels like an eternity. The man stops, flicks ash from his cigarette, and nods to someone in the shadows.

Another imposing man in SS black appears and drops a manila folder in front of him.

“It looks like we’re going to have to do this the hard way,” the first man says and walks away.


Secondary Plot

Chief Inspector Kido holds a photograph in his hand, his gaze stern as he looks at the blurry image.

The resistance has been growing bolder, and rumors of a film with dangerous ideas are circulating, but now he has a name.

Trudy Walker


Inspiration for Matthew Müller

I was originally drawing him as a character study for my Alice novel (I will write at least one full paragraph this month, so help me multiverse!). I’ve been discouraged for the past two years, and I want to break past it, but that is a story for another day.