![]() Dick wrote THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE after being inspired by the novel Bring the Jubilee, by Ward Moore, whose novel is an alternative history of the US where the Confederate States win the Civil War. This story is less science fiction in the traditional sense and more alternative history. Dick’s daughter was involved in the production of the tv version, overseeing her father’s vision. Dick’s novel of the same name (which I have not yet read, but will soon because I enjoyed the series so much). THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE is not a new story, but it was imagined anew by creator Frank Spotnitz for our era. I give this story a PG 13 rating, so be warned, parents. Also…I know I’m a little late to the game, but it’s hard to keep up, especially if you’re trying to read and watch scifi! There’s a lot of good content out there in the multiverse. Though some of the characters, notably Tagomi, aren’t given their deserved spotlight in the pilot, the first episode of the “Man in the High Castle” proves that Amazon can stand on its own as a creator of quality content and that the time for challenging, thought-provoking entertainment is far from over.I recently finished viewing all 4 seasons of THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE and loved it. Despite its genre and its more fantastical elements, “The Man in the High Castle” might be the most political show currently produced. The series has already ignited a great deal of discussion, and for good reason. ![]() In particular, the much freer Japanese territories showcase a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures that reminds American viewers how ignorant the view of the Allies as all-good and the Japanese as equal to the Nazis truly is. Despite the show’s bleak tone, the cast and crew create a highly engrossing alternate universe that is always believable. It’s the world of the “Man in the High Castle” itself, however, which truly stars as the series’ main character. Rufus Sewell (“Dark City”) rounds out the cast as Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith, whose solid, albeit par for the course performance might be unfairly compared to the Jew Hunter played by Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds.” Tagomi, along with Juliana, are truly the main heroes of the show, and Tagomi’s storyline on the show will hopefully mirror the tremendous arc he goes through in the novel.įinally, Rupert Evans (“Hellboy”) plays Frank Frink, a half-Jewish factory worker and boyfriend of Juliana whose luck finally runs out after his significant other becomes the target of the SS. The series also sees Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (“Mortal Kombat”) as Nobusuke Tagomi, the Trade Minister of the fictional Pacific States of America, whose allegiances lie against the tyranny of the Reich. On the way, she runs into fellow resistance fighter Joe Blake (Luke Kleintank, “Max”) who may have some secrets of his own. Ironically, it seems the only hope for us to have any meaningful, intelligent discourse is through platforms like “The Man in the High Castle.”Īs in the novel, we follow a number of different perspectives, including Juliana (Alexa Davalos, “Clash of the Titans”), a young woman seeking the film reels’ creator, the mysterious Man in the High Castle. The only hope for a better future exists as a series of film reels called “The Grasshopper Lies Heavy,” which shows an alternate reality, one where the Allies have won the war. In both “The Man in the High Castle” and, unfortunately, our own world as well, challenging authority and people’s personal perceptions is a near-impossible task. Like all great speculative fiction, “The Man in the High Castle” is as much about today’s world as it is about post-World War II America. ![]() Though the series does feature many characters connected to the struggle of the resistance - a major but welcome change to the source material - the most unsettling aspect of the series aren’t big set pieces (though there are plenty) but the quiet moments of resignation, where we witness Americans who have moved on with their lives following the most heinous war crimes in human history. Free from the restrictions of mainstream feature films, “The Man in the High Castle” is an epic, sprawling dystopia that is one part political thriller and one part horrifying parable of what happens to a nation engulfed by fascism. “The Man in the High Castle,” however, represents a huge leap forward in adapting Dick’s work. ![]() Since then, the once-ignored author has received a plethora of big-screen adaptations including “Total Recall,” “Minority Report” and the criminally underrated “A Scanner Darkly.” The series comes to us from executive producer Ridley Scott (“The Martian”), whose classic film “Blade Runner” revolutionized science-fiction for the screen and brought Dick’s work to the attention of Hollywood. Dick, represents Amazon’s latest foray into original content, and it does not disappoint. “The Man in the High Castle,” based on the acclaimed novel by the late Philip K. ![]()
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