DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site

General => Movies and TV => Topic started by: Chino on September 17, 2015, 07:43:19 AM

Title: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Chino on September 17, 2015, 07:43:19 AM
I can't link a video as I am at work.

Has anyone heard of this new show starting in November? It's produced by Amazon. The show looks like America in the 50's had we not beaten the Germans. It looks really good!

(https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54c6846469bedd2c708b4569-2048-1152/nazi-america-the-man-in-the-high-castle.png)
(https://cdn.bgr.com/2015/01/the-man-in-the-high-castle-america-map.jpg)
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Progmetty on September 17, 2015, 07:51:07 AM
I watched the pilot the day amazon prime put it up last year, found it very poorly done for such a cool idea, but I'll check out the upcoming episodes to see where they take it.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on September 17, 2015, 12:24:37 PM
Sounds familiar.

Is it based on a book?
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Progmetty on September 17, 2015, 12:58:44 PM
Yep, heard the audiobook sometime around 2002.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Nekov on September 17, 2015, 01:46:09 PM
Sounds familiar.

Is it based on a book?

Yep, great book by Philip K. Dick. I'm really looking forward to this one.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on September 17, 2015, 01:47:18 PM
Sounds familiar.

Is it based on a book?

Yep, great book by Philip K. Dick.
That's it.

I hope they do a good job with it.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Progmetty on September 17, 2015, 03:03:23 PM
They don't so far, the pilot has been on amazon prime for a while and I just found out they have a second episode on there now so I'll probably check it out over the weekend, hopefully it gets better.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: adace on January 31, 2016, 12:19:28 AM
Just finished watching the first season and holy crap was that intense. Seriously, this is one of the best pieces of drama I've ever watched. Amazing story and incredible acting. Can't recommend this enough.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: kaos2900 on February 01, 2016, 06:41:56 AM
Just started this a couple of weeks ago. Three episodes in and it's fantastic. Well deserving of all the hype.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Tyrias on February 01, 2016, 06:56:43 AM
Oh yes. I watched it a few months ago, just a short time after it came out. It was absolutely awesome. I remember coming home from some trip at 8pm, when I was at around episode 4. I was really tired because I had slept only a few hours the night before, and then had a very straining day. I thought "okay, I'll just watch one more episode and then go to bed", and ended up watching everything in one sitting because I just couldn't stop watching. Went to bed at 3 a.m. that night :lol.

Anyway, great series. It did suffer a bit from the main characters being the least interesting characters (maybe except for the Nazi spy). And they did a great job of making every character, even the "bad guys", seem human, with very understandable motivations and their own problems (see Obergruppenführer Smith and his son, as well as the question of loyality).
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Chino on February 08, 2016, 07:17:16 AM
I watched the first 3 episodes of this over the weekend. I dig it.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Nekov on February 19, 2016, 06:36:00 AM
I finished watching it like a week back. Pretty solid overall. I like that it has a Twin Peak vibe, it mixes up that feeling of something strange happening with some soap opera and making it work really well. I also like the overall background, I think they're portraying both the Nazi and Japanese cultures extremely well and I love the fact that they're not at all shy with the Nazi stuff. I know some people might find it a little too strong or even offensive but I think it gives the show a much needed realism.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: kaos2900 on March 17, 2016, 06:40:54 AM
Final watched the finale last night. I have no idea what's going on or where the films are coming from but what a great show. Can't wait for season 2!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Progmetty on June 05, 2016, 02:14:29 AM
Finally forced myself to finish the last few episodes, I had stopped somewhere around episode 6 or 7 since it was a series fuckin snooze fest for around 4 episodes in a row, but surely enough I loved the last 3 episodes, their pace was faster with little to no filler scenes. This would have worked better as a movie or two max, they dragged it out like crazy.
The Kempeitai detective and the trade minister were the only two good actors on the show IMO, Smith, Blake and whatshisface not-Brad-Pitt were mediocre. I've always liked Alexa Davalos from the Angel days so I enjoyed her.
Also I thought this was a series event type thing but since it's so different from the book they may milk it for longer, I'll check out season 2 when it comes out since this season ended on such a thrilling note.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: CrimsonSunrise on June 09, 2016, 09:02:15 AM
Just finished the first season... AWESOME!!!!!  LOVED the final scene.... :metal
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on June 20, 2016, 08:09:51 AM
I have just started this show.  I'm 4 episodes in.  Really liking it thus far.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 18, 2017, 12:56:24 PM
Anyone else catch season 2?

I thought it was excellent.  Can't wait for the third!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: krands85 on January 18, 2017, 02:15:49 PM
Yeah, I really enjoyed it - definitely an improvement on the first season. Tagomi and Smith  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: CrimsonSunrise on January 19, 2017, 07:57:56 AM
LOVED the second season!  What an awesome show.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Shooters1221 on February 01, 2017, 04:35:34 AM
Half way through season 2. I'm really getting hooked now because of the confusion that has me baffled at the moment. Will finish up this weekend...Can't wait!! Great show! ;D
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Progmetty on February 20, 2017, 02:40:00 AM
I'm half way as well. I've been taking long breaks from it though and it further confuses me as to what's going on :lol
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Nekov on February 21, 2017, 07:51:33 AM
Finished watching it a couple weeks back and I'm pleasantly surprised. I knew they were straying from the book and at some point that started bugging me but they've been doing a fantastic job at driving the story to new places.

*spoilers*
All of Joe's side story is pretty weak, obviously his dad is a very important part of the main plot but he's such an annoying character and most of his appearances seem like filler. I hope he doesn't have any part at all in season 3 though I doubt they'll just get rid of him after having so much to do with most of the important characters in the show.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: kaos2900 on March 01, 2017, 06:51:57 AM
Finished season 2 last night. What a great show. I think it's interesting that I found my self rooting for Smith and Kido and hoping the resistance gets wiped out. Almost everyone in the resistance came off as total assholes. Smith is easily my favorite character on the show and my least favorite is Frank whom I hope is really dead. Going to be a long wait for season 3.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on April 26, 2017, 07:44:22 AM
Bumpety bump time.

I've seen season 1, good but could have been better. It starts slow, it gains momentum in the last episodes, and the season finale is stellar and makes you root for Hitler. Kinda  :D (also, the final mindfuck with the trade minister is kinda cool)

It's a fascinating world the one they built, I like how they don't do big exposition dumbs and from random conversations you discover that Roosevelt was assassinated and Stalin was executed. They should have tightened the plot here and there but I'm glad to know there's a season 2.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: ariich on April 26, 2017, 10:36:30 AM
Almost everyone in the resistance came off as total assholes.
It also now has three Cylons from Battlestar Galactica. COINCIDENCE?!

But yeah, great show. Only watched the two seasons recently, never checked it out before so caught up all in one go.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 03, 2018, 11:03:21 AM
Started this series. Watched first two episodes last night. Interesting enough to keep me watching for now.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on January 03, 2018, 12:40:10 PM
Started this series. Watched first two episodes last night. Interesting enough to keep me watching for now.

It's a slow burn. It will gain momentum as the episodes will go by, and by the end, you'll root for the last person you'd think you'd root for in this show!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: kaos2900 on January 04, 2018, 07:05:51 AM
Any word on when the new season starts?
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on January 04, 2018, 07:25:46 AM
Looked into it and there's seemingly no news about it. There will be a third seaason, but it's not announced when.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 09, 2018, 10:26:08 AM
Finished the first season. I don't know what to think honestly. I really like the concept but for some reason it's falling short for me. For one thing, if I were Frank I'd have left Julianna high and dry by now. She's done nothing but screw him over time and time again. I don't care how good she is in the sack.....she ain't worth it. I can only deduce that their entire relationship has been a series of her apologies by the way she's treated him.

Obergruppenführer John Smith is the most interesting character thus far IMO. Not really sold on Joe Blake....I just think the casting was off on that one. I can't buy his character yet.

Like I said, it's an interesting show.....I reall WANT to like it but it hasn't grabbed me like most shows I'm in to do. I'm contemplating whether or not to dedicate the time to watching season 2 or not.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on January 09, 2018, 11:56:15 AM
Obergruppenführer John Smith is the most interesting character thus far IMO. Not really sold on Joe Blake....I just think the casting was off on that one. I can't buy his character yet.

I agree on both counts.

But what I wanna know is: in the climax of the season finale, did you find yourself rooting for Hitler? 'cause I sure was  :biggrin: I mean, of course the dude can screw himself in reality and in every timeline he's ever existed, but with that chain of events unfolding, you can't help being team John Smith, and by association, being on team Hitler.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 09, 2018, 04:21:21 PM
Obergruppenführer John Smith is the most interesting character thus far IMO. Not really sold on Joe Blake....I just think the casting was off on that one. I can't buy his character yet.

I agree on both counts.

But what I wanna know is: in the climax of the season finale, did you find yourself rooting for Hitler? 'cause I sure was  :biggrin: I mean, of course the dude can screw himself in reality and in every timeline he's ever existed, but with that chain of events unfolding, you can't help being team John Smith, and by association, being on team Hitler.

I guess by default I was rooting for him because I was on team John Smith.

I thought the reveal of the Trade Minister being able to ‘see’ other worlds was interesting. It really makes me thing that the timeline we are seeing and the story takes place in isn’t so much the ‘real’ timeline and all the films are ‘what if’s’....but it’s just one of countless timelines that ‘could have’ happened.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on January 10, 2018, 01:13:11 AM
I've only seen the first season so I don't know how and when that will be explained, but yes, I think the films are all of different timelines and possible realities, and the one of the show is not an alternate one in the "We want to make an alternate history series" sense, but that the whole point is that there are many parallel universes and that ours can co-exist in the realm of the show.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Tyrias on January 10, 2018, 02:26:16 AM
The second season dives a lot further into that whole "alternate worlds" scenario. It's probably worth watching if that's what you found most interesting. There's probably at Least half an episode or more spent in other timelines in the second season (hope that's not to much of a Spoiler). I also liked it better than the first season, especially how everything came together in the finale.

Also, given the teaser for season 3, the whole alternate timelines thing is going to become even more relevant in season 3.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: ariich on January 10, 2018, 02:56:18 AM
I haven't read the book but I know the premise and story of it, and I like that the show is really expanding on that element of it.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 10, 2018, 06:35:37 AM
The OCD in me wouldn’t allow me not to keep watching. Already watched the first two episodes of season 2 and it’s stepped it up a bit and peeked my interest more. Especially already have had Julianna meet the man in the high castle.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Nekov on January 10, 2018, 07:06:11 AM
I haven't read the book but I know the premise and story of it, and I like that the show is really expanding on that element of it.

Spoileres about the book

Well, in general Dick's books ara about how we percieve reality and how we don't know wheter what we see is true or not, not alternate realities. In this book in particular, he gives the sense that what's being described in the book is not real, and that what really happened after the second war is what's seen in the videos they find and the book written by the man in the high castle.

End of spoilers about the book

What I like about the show is that they are grabbing all of the elements in the book and putting them to a great use, even if they change the storyline and add things, it's well crafted and they way it's produced gives it a certain look as if you were seeig it through some kind of veil.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 12, 2018, 08:23:04 AM
The second season is night and day better than the first. I'm enjoying it much more....more compelling storytelling going on. I think I'm on episode 6 now so only a few more to go, but it's certainly gained traction for me.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 13, 2018, 12:41:17 AM
Just finished season two. That was really good. Way better than season 1, characters really started to get honed in. Objergruppenfuher John Smith is by far my favorite character still. The Trade Minister and other Japanese authority guy are close seconds. I like Julianna but those other characters are really cool.

Can’t wait for season 3.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on February 11, 2018, 01:55:15 PM
I'm watching season 2, I just finished the eight episode, Loose Lips, and it's one of the biggest FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU in recent TV history (at least of the shows I'm watching).

That was so high tension and FFFUUUU-ish that it could have well been a season finale, it would have been a fantastic cliffhanger. Glad there are two more episodes to watch!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 11, 2018, 05:47:52 PM
I liked season 1 enough to give the show a chance and watch season 2. Glad I did. Season 2 was awesome and it ends in such a way that I cannot wait until season three gets here!!!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on February 14, 2018, 07:03:45 AM
Finished the last two episodes. Wow. Huge improvement on Season 1 indeed!

The whole premise for Juliana's journey was to find out the dude whose death assured that San Francisco wouldn't be nuked, and when in the end John Smith saved the day in Berlin, I was like "...so? what's the matter? Trudy's father wasn't going to bomb the city anyway", and then comes that beautiful scene with the Man in the High Castle explaining how he bet all the odds on Juliana being strong and good hearted, as he figured out that the killing of Trudy's father meant that Thomas would nave not been outed by them and therefore John Smith wasn't forbidden to travel to Berlin to stop World War III.

I love the moral ambiguities of this show where resistance members are assholes, and Nazi people have feelings and love their family. Is it wrong for example that when Frank shot Kido my reaction was "Noooo!!!!" since he was about to meet with Tagomi to stop the war?

And speaking of moral ambiguities... last season the show had me rooting for Hitler not getting shot. Now in the second season finale, they make me happy that Himmler takes charge of things??? really, show? first you make me happy about Hitler himself surviving and then you make me happy about the father of the holocaust taking over? I hate you show. But also, well done.

Maybe it's a weird analogy but I saw some Gandalf wisdom in the Man putting all his bets on Juliana. Even though in different situations and for different reasons, both teach you the importance of every single life: Gollum was a bad and wretched being but he had to be spared 'cause he would have been instrumental in destroying the ring, and Thomas was a good guy son of an evil person that had to be spared because otherwise his father would have not prevented World War III.

The blind desire for vengeance would have avoided a far more important outcome (in both cases). You can never know how a single life could matter in the grand scheme of things, and so quick judgements of death could be disastrous.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 14, 2018, 07:50:24 AM
The whole premise for Juliana's journey was to find out the dude whose death assured that San Francisco wouldn't be nuked, and when in the end John Smith saved the day in Berlin, I was like "...so? what's the matter? Trudy's father wasn't going to bomb the city anyway", and then comes that beautiful scene with the Man in the High Castle explaining how he bet all the odds on Juliana being strong and good hearted, as he figured out that the killing of Trudy's father meant that Thomas would nave not been outed by them and therefore John Smith wasn't forbidden to travel to Berlin to stop World War III.

That entire 'reveal' scene with the man in the high Castle and Julianna was really well done. Then 'boom'....there's her sister!? Can't wait for season 3. Did you see the trailer for it? It's gonna get crazy I suspect.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on February 16, 2018, 04:00:14 PM
Not yet, I wanna go totally without preconceptions into the next season! I hope it comes soon.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: CrimsonSunrise on October 17, 2018, 01:41:34 PM
Halfway through the new season....  It's NOT disappointing!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: Nekov on October 18, 2018, 05:16:46 AM
Halfway through the new season....  It's NOT disappointing!!!!!!!!!

Didn't know it was out. I have to catch this one
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: ariich on October 18, 2018, 06:52:39 AM
Finished the season last night, excellent stuff - pretty intense. Very interested in the direction the show is going in - very much taken further than the source material!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on November 06, 2018, 01:11:57 PM
Really dug the third season.....this show is fun to watch. The John Smith evolution is one of the more compelling aspects of the show. You can 'feel' him becoming more and more disenfranchised and doubting his loyalty.....yet he knows the only way to keep all who he loves safe is to be 'all in'.

Surprisingly I felt like Julianna's story was pretty tepid this season compared to the first two. It seemed like this Season was really about the Chief Inspector and John Smith.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 07, 2018, 08:57:52 PM
Season 3 was fantastic. Can't wait to find out what they do in season 4.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on November 11, 2018, 11:11:07 AM
I will start season 3 today.

I've just finished a quick recap / rerun of season 2... boy, what a roller coster ride, as I commented in my previous posts! this show may not be perfect and at times, especially in season 1, was slow, but its high are very, very high. The climax of season 2 was fantastic, with all the pieces coming together to allow the two people we'd hate most in the beginning, Kido and Smith, to basically save the world, and then having it paid off by that beautiful, moving and perfect scene of Milton the Man in the High Castle explaing to Juliana how her hope and faith in the best of people, including a sick boy of a nazi leader, helped to achieve that.

And I'm still both pissed and impressed that in the first season finale they had me root for Hilter, and in the second they had me root for Himmler :P I will watch one episode per day so it's a couple of weeks in the Greater Nazi Reich for me!
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on November 23, 2018, 06:52:56 AM
Finished watching season 3. I didn't like it as the other two, but it was still good. SPOILERS FOLLOWING OBVIOUSLY


For sure the pace was sped up, the first two seasons were slow, but they had gigantic payoffs, especially the ending of season 2 which I discussed some posts (but many months) ago which was absolutely stellar. This one was not so climatic, but it had many huge moments.

First of all, while they pulled the wicked irony of having us rooting for Himmler, they didn't whitewash the father of the Holocaust. Last season I was "happy" that he took over, and now in the season finale when he was shot I was like "Choke on your blood you bastard!!!!!", which he totally deserves in this reality, our own and all the other existing ones.

Also the final episode gave us a dimension jump, of Juliana (while being shot nonetheless!!!), that I expected to arrive in at least two moments earlier in the season, but it didn't: when Joe Black was about to shoot Tagomi (whas a cop out to have troops passing by) and especially when Frank Frink was awaiting execution. Poor Frank. I really, really thought that reciting hebrew prayers was his way of calming down and "going zen" so to speak and preparing for a dimension jump but no, they Game of Thrones-'d us with him being beheaded. Shit.

So, basically the two people who shagged Juliana this season got murdered, what a price to pay  :D I really didn't see Joe Black's death coming, but he was such a confusing character to begin with. I'm still not sure if his affection for Juliana this season was sincere, all a cover, or a mix of both.

Oh, and the Man in the High Castle himself was probably the most free person in the jail, it was great to see him confuse everyone with his nursery rhymes and then taunting John Smith with his failure. And what a chilling line from Juliana, I thought he would try to remind him how he saved his life indirectly by killing Dixon but no, she taunted him as well with the idea that he taught his son so well the nazi ideology, that he died for it.

And not that it matters to the overall grand scheme of things, but how badass was sweet, mild and calm Tagomi brutally asskicking the Nazi assassin sent to off him?  :metal never, ever piss off a calm dude, they're the worst when they snap into action!

Looking forward to season 4, I'm curious if John Smith will further slip down the nazi clutches or if he will have a moment of redemption. As I read elsewhere, it looks like this season was about hope - those who have it, even if they die like Frank, pass along their message of peace and longing for a better world, and those who lost hope and switches sides like John Smith, for the sake of his family, now have no family left to protect, with Thomas dead and his wife running away with the daughters.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 21, 2020, 11:00:23 AM
I only have one more episode to finish season 4. 
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: a51502112 on May 18, 2021, 07:00:05 AM
Old thread, I know...

ATM I'm in season 3. So far, I love it, but they're starting to lose me with all this time-travel shit.
Can anyone clarify what that's all about?
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on May 18, 2021, 07:05:05 AM
It's not time travel, it's dimension travel.

The world of the show is Nazi won WWII world.
Tagomi traveled to a world where the Allies won, and Juliana became his daughter in law.
From those alternate worlds the film travel to Nazi-won world, where the Man in the High Castle distributes them.
You can travel through worlds only if you're dead in the other dimension, that's why Juliana's sister could come back at the end of season 2, because she died in Nazi world.

I only have one more episode to finish season 4.

Let us know if you like the ending! I finished the show but "forgot" to comment here.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: a51502112 on May 18, 2021, 08:00:49 AM
It's not time travel, it's dimension travel.

The world of the show is Nazi won WWII world.
Tagomi traveled to a world where the Allies won, and Juliana became his daughter in law.
From those alternate worlds the film travel to Nazi-won world, where the Man in the High Castle distributes them.
You can travel through worlds only if you're dead in the other dimension, that's why Juliana's sister could come back at the end of season 2, because she died in Nazi world.

I only have one more episode to finish season 4.


Thanks. It was a little too much for my tiny brain.

Let us know if you like the ending! I finished the show but "forgot" to comment here.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 18, 2021, 11:29:53 AM
Yeah, I finished it.

I remember not liking the finale all that much.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: gmillerdrake on May 18, 2021, 02:02:14 PM
I remember not liking the finale all that much.

They packed a LOT into those last couple episodes. Could have used an episode or two more to give it some breathing room.
Title: Re: The Man in the High Castle
Post by: MirrorMask on May 19, 2021, 01:22:25 AM
Yeah, the pity is that they got probably told late in the process that Season 4 was the last, they have to rush through the storyline, also I read that the Tagomi actor wasn't available anymore and they had to quickly and hastily write him out.

Probably 5 seasons were needed for the show to end properly, I still like how the final action unfolded and the confrontation between Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Could have ended way better and with more time, but it could have ended way worse.

Season 1 and 2 will always remain the high water mark of this show - it is by no means among the very best of TV, but the climax of season 2 with the beautiful discussion between Juliana and the Man will forever remain for me one of the very best scenes of TV in recent years.