The Man in the High Castle
Dec. 22nd, 2016 08:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scripsiWe finished The Man in the High Castle, season 2, yesterday, and both my husband and I feel a bit shaken. It’s an amazing show and I can’t recommend it enough.
I was actually quite upset over Thomas fate, probably, I eventually realised, because I have a son the same age as him. It was not hard to put myself in Helen’s place and imagine her pain.
But, ultimately, the reason Thomas decided to be killed was because she and John raised him into believing he had not right to live if he wasn’t a perfect physical specimen. Even if Helen and John realise they love their son too much to kill him in the name of ideology, and even if they feel they can put themselves outside the law and protect him, they fail to understand one thing: That Thomas himself will see himself as unworthy to love and go to his death proud over his decision. To completely disregard that he is a bright, intelligent human being who would still be able to use his brain, even if his body fails him.
I’ve read some criticism that the show whitewash the Nazi’s or make them into good guys. I disagree. I think it makes them and their ideology even more frightening because they aren’t all pitch black monster. Human’s aren’t one note, not even fascists. The moments you feel sympathy for Helen and John, only serves to make their actions and believes even more scary. And I think it’s very clear that both the Pacific States and the Reich are oppressive countries to live in, with little regards for human lives, even if they aren't’ exactly the same.
This season, even more than the first, belong to Rufus Sewell. He has always been a favourite of mine, ever since I saw Middlemarch some 20 years ago. He isn’t bad in that one, very good-looking and smouldering, but his acting has still improved a lot since then. I don’t think I know of any other actor who can express so much with just his eyes. I went from feeling sorry for him to scared in the matter of minutes.
I hope there will be a third season, even if this series wrapped up pretty well. The Nazis and Japanese has reached a balance of terror and Juliana has found her sister. But there is plenty of material for another season, not the least the uprising of the Resistance. And I want to know what will happen to the character.
I’m pretty sure John and Helen’s marriage is over. It was the moment she threw “genetic defect” in his face. I think we can be fairly certain Thomas will die as his father is in Berlin and can’t intervene, and I think Helen will crack. I suspect she will take her daughters and leave him, making him find a place for them where no one will kill the girls if they are ill as well. And I would like to find out more to why John Smith becomes such a high ranking Nazist. The season ended with the likelihood of him getting even more power and I wonder what his endgame is.
I wonder if Frank is dead, or not. Personally I feel his character arc came to an end when he went on a suicide mission, and wouldn’t mind if he is gone. If he isn’t, I think he will end up leading the Resistance, though. I’m also glad the Yakuza angle seems to be finished. I enjoyed Ed and Childan’s budding friendship, though.
Juliana is clearly the heroine of the show, and I do like her, but in my mind it’s Tagomi who is the real hero. He s the only character who consistently work to save lives without sacrificing other people- and succeeds. He has the chance of a new life with his family, but decides to go back to save San Francisco without knowing if he will be able to come back. I thought it quite fitting Juliana is his daughter-in-law in the other reality. I hope he will be able to get back there eventually. Chief Inspector Kido remains an intriguing character too and one I would like to see more of. I’d like to see him interact more with John Smith because I thought they had an interesting chemistry. John SMith and Juliana too, even if that seems unlikely right now.
What I liked least with this season was the character of Joe’s father. He went from villain to the devoted father Joe had always longed for to an even blacker villain. It worked, sort of, but felt rather rushed. Also, Joe is a tool. He is right when he accuses John Smith of being a manipulative bastard, but Joe, my boy- you are very easy to manipulate. What about growing a backbone and your own morals instead of being an ethical chameleon? I don’t much care for Juliana/Joe, even if the show seems to push for it.
I was actually quite upset over Thomas fate, probably, I eventually realised, because I have a son the same age as him. It was not hard to put myself in Helen’s place and imagine her pain.
But, ultimately, the reason Thomas decided to be killed was because she and John raised him into believing he had not right to live if he wasn’t a perfect physical specimen. Even if Helen and John realise they love their son too much to kill him in the name of ideology, and even if they feel they can put themselves outside the law and protect him, they fail to understand one thing: That Thomas himself will see himself as unworthy to love and go to his death proud over his decision. To completely disregard that he is a bright, intelligent human being who would still be able to use his brain, even if his body fails him.
I’ve read some criticism that the show whitewash the Nazi’s or make them into good guys. I disagree. I think it makes them and their ideology even more frightening because they aren’t all pitch black monster. Human’s aren’t one note, not even fascists. The moments you feel sympathy for Helen and John, only serves to make their actions and believes even more scary. And I think it’s very clear that both the Pacific States and the Reich are oppressive countries to live in, with little regards for human lives, even if they aren't’ exactly the same.
This season, even more than the first, belong to Rufus Sewell. He has always been a favourite of mine, ever since I saw Middlemarch some 20 years ago. He isn’t bad in that one, very good-looking and smouldering, but his acting has still improved a lot since then. I don’t think I know of any other actor who can express so much with just his eyes. I went from feeling sorry for him to scared in the matter of minutes.
I hope there will be a third season, even if this series wrapped up pretty well. The Nazis and Japanese has reached a balance of terror and Juliana has found her sister. But there is plenty of material for another season, not the least the uprising of the Resistance. And I want to know what will happen to the character.
I’m pretty sure John and Helen’s marriage is over. It was the moment she threw “genetic defect” in his face. I think we can be fairly certain Thomas will die as his father is in Berlin and can’t intervene, and I think Helen will crack. I suspect she will take her daughters and leave him, making him find a place for them where no one will kill the girls if they are ill as well. And I would like to find out more to why John Smith becomes such a high ranking Nazist. The season ended with the likelihood of him getting even more power and I wonder what his endgame is.
I wonder if Frank is dead, or not. Personally I feel his character arc came to an end when he went on a suicide mission, and wouldn’t mind if he is gone. If he isn’t, I think he will end up leading the Resistance, though. I’m also glad the Yakuza angle seems to be finished. I enjoyed Ed and Childan’s budding friendship, though.
Juliana is clearly the heroine of the show, and I do like her, but in my mind it’s Tagomi who is the real hero. He s the only character who consistently work to save lives without sacrificing other people- and succeeds. He has the chance of a new life with his family, but decides to go back to save San Francisco without knowing if he will be able to come back. I thought it quite fitting Juliana is his daughter-in-law in the other reality. I hope he will be able to get back there eventually. Chief Inspector Kido remains an intriguing character too and one I would like to see more of. I’d like to see him interact more with John Smith because I thought they had an interesting chemistry. John SMith and Juliana too, even if that seems unlikely right now.
What I liked least with this season was the character of Joe’s father. He went from villain to the devoted father Joe had always longed for to an even blacker villain. It worked, sort of, but felt rather rushed. Also, Joe is a tool. He is right when he accuses John Smith of being a manipulative bastard, but Joe, my boy- you are very easy to manipulate. What about growing a backbone and your own morals instead of being an ethical chameleon? I don’t much care for Juliana/Joe, even if the show seems to push for it.
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no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 09:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 09:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 09:28 am (UTC)There's such nuances to this show - it's not about whitewashing Nazis but making you realise they were people, with all their faults and flaws and complexities and good values too, and that's the scary thing. It's easy to believe only monsters can think like this, only evil people could do things like this, and I'm not a monster so I never could - but the true evil is that horrors can be done by people genuinely believing they're doing the right thing, that it's for the greater good, and that they're still good people. Or people ducking their heads and going along to get along and allowing the awful things to continue. I think this last year in politics has given a lot of people a greater insight into how regimes like the Nazis get and maintain support, and how people can subscribe to horrible views without thinking of themselves as horrible people...
no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 10:24 am (UTC)it's all the more heartbreaking when you wonder how much Helen and John really believe in the Nazi values, given they were both adults already when the Nazis won and John was fighting against them in the US Army when Washington was nuked.
Yes, I wondered about that too. At some point between 1945 and 48, John must have switched sides, but we don't know why. Helen mentioned in season 1 that they were very poor when they married. Perhaps that is what matters for her- a nice home and financial security. She might have bought into the ideology because she thought she was safe in it- the right race, mother of children who, until Thomas diagnosis, appears to be healthy. Even is she has always seemed supportive of John it was clear she didn’t want him to go to Berlin, but to focus on their family. She might not have thought that if she had known what was at stake, but I’m not so sure about that.
There's such nuances to this show - it's not about whitewashing Nazis but making you realise they were people, with all their faults and flaws and complexities and good values too, and that's the scary thing.
Yes, exactly! Heydrich is clearly Evil, but then he doesn’t seem to have had many redeeming features in reality either. And the Japanese general was pretty much one not villainous too. But the rest have both good and bad sides, and that goes for the Resistance too. They aren’t particularly “good” people in this show either.
I think this last year in politics has given a lot of people a greater insight into how regimes like the Nazis get and maintain support, and how people can subscribe to horrible views without thinking of themselves as horrible people…
Oh yes! Even a person capable of empathy can be convinced a group/country/ideology/religion/whatever isn’t people worthy of consideration. And If they don’t count anymore, then you don’t have to feel sorry for them.
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Date: 2016-12-22 12:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 12:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 12:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 12:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-22 05:20 pm (UTC)*HUGS*
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Date: 2016-12-23 12:06 pm (UTC)*hugs*