Has anyone else watched the last season of "Man in the High Castle"?

[Generic Other]

I wouldn't normally talk about a series before all had a chance to see it, but this one was really very disturbing in a myriad of ways. An Amazon Prime series, I thought it was excellent, perhaps the best series I have ever watched. Philip K. Dick wrote the original novel.

For those who haven't seen it, the basic premise is what the US would be like if Germany and Japan had won WW2. A "what if" history, it quickly became a blend of horror and sci-fi. A mindblowing plot.

For 4 seasons, viewers have watched all manner of horrific events unfold. Now without giving away too much in the way of spoiler, I will say parts of the series seemed almost too painfully real. Something vaguely similar about American Nazis in the series and MAGAs in the real world.

So I was interested in the reviews after I watched the last episode. Amazon reviews were more shocking than the show. The beginning of the series got high reviews but by the last season, an endless number of 1-star reviews claiming the show was terrible because the series turned out to be "SJW" propaganda. Alt-right reviewers trashed liberals over and over to the point where I began to wonder if the reviewers all had some Fox News ubergrubenwriter dictate their comments. It became clear that many of the shows viewers actually rooted for the complete Nazi takeover of the USA and were disappointed by the ending!

Rufus Sewell the actor who played the head American Nazi John Smith was quoted as saying he was “pleased that as the show progressed it became harder for actual fascists to enjoy…gratified that those people were offended with the show. I take a certain pleasure in people turning off in disgust upset that we are showing the dark side of Naziism.”

If you have Amazon Prime, I recommend the series. If not, get the book. Then go laugh (or cry) at the reviews. These strange people live and work amongst us.

[iemitsu]

1. Funny that the MAGAts were upset

by the ending.
I was relieved to see the good guys win.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. I enjoyed the series.

However, I was a bit disappointed with a few aspects, especially as it related to Jews. I also found it interesting how many supported this endeavor, but when a similar genre was suggested with the South winning the Civil War, those same people who enjoyed this series and its premise, lost their fucking minds. I also found the ending a bit underwhelming.

Overall, this was a really good series, scary as fuck in some ways. The acting was really good too.

[hlthe2b]

4. South winning the Civil War as premise--likely many feel that hits far too close to home

I can sort of see their point. Man in the High Castle pitted many Americans against Americans, certainly, but under the thumb of German and Japanese conquerors. We are living the Confederate v American rebirth with the Tea Party movement, the Alt-Right and the reemergence of White Nationalism. I don't need to see the latter as a tv drama. It is already there on daily news.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

15. Try "Guns if the South"

It’s a book by Harry Turtledove, and I think it’d make a great miniseries. The ending is bound to really piss off modern neo-confederates!

[hlthe2b]

17. Just read the wikipedia premise. Sounds interesting.

[hedda_foil]

18. Turtledove has a series of books in that alternate reality, from the South's win to the present.

The entire series is terrific.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

20. At the risk of dragging this off topic

“Guns of the South” is a stand-alone novel, whereas the “Southern Victory” series is its own thing and is not a sequel to “Guns of the South.”

I also highly recommend one of his more recent books, “Through Darkest Europe.”

[TeamPooka]

26. I've always thought his best story was THE TWO GEORGES written with Richard Dreyfuss

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Uh huh.

[hlthe2b]

24. I tried to give a thoughtful reply and you "uh huh?" What does that even mean?

[Behind the Aegis]

25. It means, "Yeah, OK."

[Roy Rolling]

3. I'm gonna watch, thanks!

One of my favorite movies is Dark City starring Rufus Sewell. With content available from thousands of sources, finding something to watch is like finding a needle in a haystack.

[hlthe2b]

6. I've been a Rufus Sewell fan dating back to Kenneth Branagh's '96 Hamlet casting as Fortinbras

He's a very handsome man, but boy he was an imposing figure on film even with that first (to me, at least) major role.

[mikeysnot]

31. Cold Comfort Farm

and Dark City were great, i was watching this series and was like "where have I seen this guy before.

[tikka]

5. I was disappointed in the last season

It seemed like a slapdash ending. Too many story lines seemed hurried just to wrap up the story.

[hlthe2b]

7. I looked forward to it coming back, but had a little trouble getting back into it

and rather than binging through the last season took several weeks just to watch the first few episodes. But, then something "clicked" and I really zoomed through the rest. I know some feel the finale to be a bit less than satisfying and I probably initially agreed. But, I've given it some time and read online what the producers were trying to convey as well as the fans of the novel and I have come around. I think on the whole I really liked the final season. I will probably watch again.

On the whole, my disappointment was with the loss of some really instrumental characters in the previous season or early into this one. I thought the Trade Minister (Tagomi) should have continued longer and I really hated losing Frank in the manner and timing that we did. The good guy/bad guy confusion about Joe Blake bothered me too. That seemed like a really confusing reveal. Still a good production, I think.

[MurrayDelph]

22. I just glad

they finally added the "skip opening" option, so I didn't have to hear "Edelweiss"

(In what may be a unpopular opinion, I think the lyrics in The Sound of Music suck ).

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. "the dark side of Nazism". There is another side?

[hlthe2b]

9. "SJW"

Search Results
Featured snippet from the web

"Social justice warrior" (SJW) is an informal, derogatory noun referring to people who hold socially progressive views, while pursuing personal validation in place of deep-seated conviction and engaging in disingenuous arguments. It has been associated with being "woke" and call-out culture.

Somehow I doubt I am the only one who was confused...

[Blue_Adept]

10. If you're confused by SJW being used in a deragatory way, you haven't been on the internet long

Or are just in very safe spaces. It's talked about here frequently.

[hlthe2b]

11. Well, let's see. I've been on DU since the selection in 2001. You? Don't be so snide

Acronyms are not universally accepted by everyone. I merely provided clarification for others that might have been confused. If someone had done that for me in one of my postings, I would have thanked them!

[Blue_Adept]

12. Been here since 2001 as well.

But the fact that you're wondering what SJW means really does mean you're very out of touch on the current goings-on of politics online. It's like being on here since 2001 and not knowing what GOP means.

[hlthe2b]

13. Why are you attacking me? Really?

It was used in Amazon comments.

Is it so important to try to claim superiority for yourself because you are offended that I clarified an acronym that not all use? Really? Rather sad.

BTW, your profile shows 2008, not 2001. Not that it matters, but ....

[appalachiablue]

19. Two years ago I had to look up SWJ which I saw posted here.

I thought maybe it was a sexist, racist slam for 'single women Jewish.' I had no idea it was for social justice warrior and I've been a liberal Dem for almost 40 years.

[hlthe2b]

21. Ditto.. especially in the context of Man in the White Castle. I thought similarly to you.

and, like you, I've been a dedicated working progressive (not merely an internet poster) for decades.

[cilla4progress]

28. Never heard SJW either

Been here since '04-ish as well as online, in general and news junkie.

Think I'll stick with my "very safe spaces"!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. One of very few shows that I enjoyed more than the book.

I think they did a good job with the concept.

But, I won't read all your post, since I'm only two episodes into the last season.

It is getting a bit far-fetched, though.

[bluedigger]

16. A pretty good show.

I think Amazon pulled the plug prematurely on this one, probably due to the reasons stated. They did a decent job closing, but the series could have run a couple seasons more.

[Iggo]

27. No, not yet.

And now I'm leaving this thread.

[HAB911]

29. I have purchased the book and intend to read it

for me, the series brought home the question, what would it have been like if we lost. almost too painful to contemplate. would my father have come back from New Guinea? would I have been born if he did? what a nightmare.

[DavidDvorkin]

30. Only the first three episodes of the last season so far

We're enjoying it as much as we did the first three seasons. However, I don't like the way some important characters were simply discarded. Or the sudden change in Himmler's attitude toward John Smith, which seems driven by plot requirements rather than the character.