Juliana Crain is on a mission to take down Reichsmarschall Smith, as the Nazis use the Die Nebenwelt Portal to infiltrate other worlds. Helen Smith struggles to protect her fractured family. Chief Inspector Kido is caught between the Imperial Army and the Royal Family as the Japanese Empire faces its greatest challenge. Amid these tensions, a new rebel force rises: the Black Communist Resistance.
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Reviews
Community reviews for The Man in the High Castle, shown here with its season details.
m
mgenth
6.0
How appellant the idea of a multiverse where the wavefunction collapse doesn't turn realities unreachable from the other quantum fluctuation results, in brief terms, referring to the "Many Worlds Theory" or the different view of Laura Mersini-Houghton. So the gods want, personna dream. As if the kraft happens, the series goes beyond the original work, admiringly well. The details, scenarios, characters. As a youngster I read mostly the twisted Philip K. Dick stories, those with bugs... Who knows how many, forty years ago? Not me.Heinlein or Le Guin, The Stars My Destination, the Heechee saga, Dorsai, even "old style space operas" by EE Doc Smith, Clifford Simak, to name a few, seemed to leave a clearer picture than Philip K. Dick which one must reread here and then considering the number of superb cinema and TV "Adaptations", too much to refer or choose one as "the best".
Not a fan of dystopian literature or ordinary TV series. But nothing of ordinary is here at play and there are Utopian undeniable traces. Art, decadence, suffering and resilience, life at its fullest. Love, and the hero within each child to crown the cake.
This work of distinguished direction, production, excellent acting and good pace, constitutes a good ensemble, rising the level and not defrauding our founded expectations. For personal reasons I usually expect the conclusion or at least two sequences and then let some distance from trailers, critics. Tasted it at a given opportunity. Better late than sorrow.
It was a pleasure to follow, in a row, three seasons of The Man in the High Castle. Congratulations to the crew.
Honored, with a bow.
t
tmdb32847728
9.0
# One of the best TV dramas in recent memory
<b>First, a disclaimer:</b> I've not read Dicks' original version of <i>The Man in the High Castle</i>, nor do I intend to read it. I am judging the show entirely on its own merits, without any influence or critiquing related to the novel.
## On to the review!
I'm going to keep this short and simple, so you don't have to read a shit-ton of stuff and so that I don't write any spoilers. Here's what you need to know:
As a sci-fi story, <i>The Man in the High Castle</i> falls a bit short. The showrunners tried to wrap up the sci-fi bit at the end, but they did a pretty piss-poor job. Budget cuts? Rushed delivery? Who knows? Fortunately, the sci-fi aspect of this story isn't actually what makes it great.
What makes <i>The Man in the High Castle</i> great storytelling and great television is the alt-history and the in-depth character story arcs; in particular, the story of the Smiths—the highest-ranking family in the Nazis' American Reich—is absolutely fantastic. In John and Helen Smith, we get to explore what it might have meant for regular Americans to throw their lots in with the Nazi Party had the Axis powers won WWII. Through dialogue and flashbacks, we get to see how joining the Nazi Party twisted both John and Helen into persons unrecognizable from their alt-world selves. Truly, the Smiths' story arc was easily my favorite, and it is the backbone of the show. You will never feel sorry for John or Helen, but you will understand them—and you will feel sorry for their children.
Add to this mix some solid intrigue and action, plus a strong, capable female protagonist, and you will see why <i>The Man in the High Castle</i> is really good television.
Also, don't let my initial talk of the sci-fi component scare you off. The showrunners may not have done a great job of resolving that part of the story, but the characters' stories were all resolved to my satisfaction. (Well, with one exception, but...it didn't ruin the show for me.)
I recommend this show highly to people who enjoy:
- Military fiction
- Historical fiction
- Alt-historical fiction
- [Light] sci-fi
- Political intrigues/dramas/thrillers
G
GenerationofSwine
1.0
So, the problem that we are facing with this is that the episodes exceed the story. It's the same problem that a LOT of television shows on streaming services suffer from. They have a few too many episodes for the story they are telling in the season.
About 8 episodes per season and about 5 episodes of actual story. The result is so much filler that it seems to drag and not really accomplish anything of value.
However, the story is interesting, as is the world that it is set in. Unlike A Handmaiden's Tale, or really, a lot of other shows, it doesn't feel like you are being lectured to.
But it does feel like it dragged. All they needed to do was lesson the amount of episodes to fit the story, or add a subplot or two more and it would have been a killer show.
Instead, the result is a good show that has been stretched until it's paper thin
And then season 3 hit and what was good was replaced with woke messaging. And the lectures became nonstop.
Episodes
Episode 1
Hexagram 64
6.7
Nov 15, 201959 min20 votes
Juliana Crain finds herself in a new world. In the wake of an attack on Trade Minister Tagomi, Chief Inspector Kido begins a crackdown against the suspected culprits: the Black Communist Rebellion. John Smith leads a military incursion into the Neutral Zone to capture Wyatt Price and his rebel army. Helen Smith’s new independence is tested as John comes to claim his daughters.
Episode 2
Every Door Out...
6.5
Nov 15, 201961 min22 votes
John Smith receives key intelligence from his officers at the Die Nebenwelt complex, while back at home he struggles with the changing dynamics of his family. Bell Mallory and the BCR join forces with Wyatt Price’s rebels. Kido tries to bond with his estranged son, Toru. Childan makes a connection with his Japanese assistant. Juliana discovers an enemy in one world can be a friend in another.
Episode 3
The Box
6.5
Nov 15, 201946 min20 votes
Wyatt’s rebels and the BCR join forces to attack Tokyo’s elite at Robert Childan’s auction. Helen comes back to the Reich to protect her children. Kido receives an unexpected call from the Yakuza. Smith sends an assassin to kill Juliana.
Episode 4
Happy Trails
7.1
Nov 15, 201948 min19 votes
John and Helen host Himmler and his wife for dinner, along with a new and dangerous threat from Berlin, Obergruppenführer Goertzmann. Juliana returns to the High Castle world, arriving in the ruins of what is now known as “The District of Contamination.” Kido is forced to turn against the Crown Princess by his general. A captive Hawthorne Abendsen shares some new tales from the High Castle.
Episode 5
Mauvaise Foi
7.5
Nov 15, 201951 min19 votes
John Smith is forced to confront the choices he’s made. The Empire attempts secret peace talks with the BCR. Kido arrests a traitor, threatening to divide the Japanese against themselves. Helen is assigned a new security minder. Juliana reunites with Wyatt to plan the fall of the American Reich.
Episode 6
All Serious Daring
7.1
Nov 15, 201947 min19 votes
John Smith discovers that one can get lost on the path not taken. Juliana attempts to decode hidden messages from Abendsen. Amid voices of dissent, Bell devises a new strategy for the BCR. Kido must decide where his true loyalties lie, even if it costs him the Empire.
Episode 7
No Masters But Ourselves
6.8
Nov 15, 201946 min19 votes
The BCR launches a massive assault across the JPS, and Kido finds the fate of the Empire in his hands. Childan becomes a captive of the Kempeitai. Helen resolves to support her husband by re-entering public life. Juliana and Wyatt arrive in New York to plan a daring new strategy against Smith.
Episode 8
Hitler Has Only Got One Ball
7.1
Nov 15, 201951 min19 votes
Juliana’s instincts about Helen are put to the ultimate test. As San Francisco evacuates, Kido goes in search of his son, only to find himself a captive. A letter arrives, forever changing Childan and Yukiko’s lives. The BCR receives an unexpected offer of help from the Yakuza. Abendsen condemns Smith with his final prediction.
Episode 9
For Want of a Nail
7.5
Nov 15, 201951 min22 votes
Smith and Helen’s true loyalties are placed on trial by an old nemesis. The BCR struggles to maintain order across the JPS. Kido is forced to confront his atrocities. Bands of roving vigilantes threaten Childan and Yukiko.
Episode 10
Fire from the Gods
5.0
Nov 15, 201959 min23 votes
On the brink of an inevitable Nazi invasion, the BCR brace for impact as Kido races against the clock to find his son. Childan offers everything he has to make his way back to Yukiko. Helen is forced to choose whether or not to betray her husband, as she and Smith travel by high speed train to the Portal - with Juliana and Wyatt lying in wait.