Great new series - The Man in the High Castle

When I saw the outstanding opening sequence to the 1st season of HBO's True Detective series, I thought, "If they put that much quality into the opening sequence, this is probably going to be good." It was more than that, it was great.

When I saw the lousy opening sequence to the 2nd season of the True Detective series, I thought, "This is probably going to suck." It sure did and I stopped watching half-way through the third episode.

When I saw the outstanding opening sequence to Amazon's "The Man in the High Castle" I thought, "This is probably going to be good." It sure is.

Sometimes you can judge a series by its cover.

The production values are outstanding, as good as a $XXX million dollar movie, IMO. The acting is uniformly excellent, with the possible exception of the sinister "Marshal" who could tone it down a bit, I think.

Based on "The Man in the High Castle" - 1963 Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Author: Philip K. Dick

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick

Average 4.5 stars out of five from 21,969 reviews on Amazon
8.4/10 from 6,536 reviewers at IMDB.com

Well worth watching and free with Amazon Prime. If you buy much from Amazon, the free 2-day shipping alone is worth the annual cost of Prime.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RSI6NKS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

[video=youtube;0Ug4mVobL4s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ug4mVobL4s[/video]

I'm two episodes in. Loving it so far.

Yeah, the Marshal is over the top. And why didn't the nazi agent just kill him when he knocked him out. Not much like the book though and I find that I don't much like the characters.

The Jewish boyfriend is lame and his skinny friend from work is totally lame; does he have a crush on him or what. Guess my take on the show doesn't jibe with yours and I'm not sure I'll get through all 10 episodes, especially since I find myself yelling and cussing at the stupidity of the characters.

hball55 said:

Yeah, the Marshal is over the top. And why didn't the nazi agent just kill him when he knocked him out. Not much like the book though and I find that I don't much like the characters.

The Jewish boyfriend is lame and his skinny friend from work is totally lame; does he have a crush on him or what. Guess my take on the show doesn't jibe with yours and I'm not sure I'll get through all 10 episodes, especially since I find myself yelling and cussing at the stupidity of the characters.

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Sure, there's always points to nit pick. I like The Walking Dead (TWD), but there are LOADS of issues with it, far more than with the TMITHC if you even slightly think about them, like:

Why not just use one of the huge 900 series military diesel trucks abandoned all over the place, draw area walkers into a herd in one area or on a long stretch of road with noise, and just go on a zombie smashing spree?

How can walkers have enough biting strength to bite or tear through raw flesh with their hands if they're so mushy you can tear them apart by hand or easily smash their skull with your foot?

Gasoline and, to a lesser extent, diesel fuel has a shelf life. Octane additives I think would help with the former, so are they using that? They are way beyond the shelf life of gasoline, at least as I've found reading about that shelf life on-line.

And on and on... The answer for not doing these things or not taking them into account? - it wouldn't nearly be as entertaining. A little suspension of disbelief is allowable when, in every other aspect, a series is so well done.

I just binge watched the entire TMITHC first season, all episodes having just been released on 20 Nov, long after the Jan 2015 pilot which I didn't see until now, and think it's one of the best, most intelligent series I've ever seen with all kinds of twists you won't see coming. I rate it even better than TWD and perhaps even better than another series I really liked, Jericho (binge watching that took an entire three day holiday weekend!).

I have the great advantage of NOT having read the book as you did and the few less enthusiastic reviews I've read have been made by people who've read the book and, thus, already know the answer to the mystery behind what's going on and even some of the plot twists in the series that might be the same as in the book. For them, of course the show would be inherently less entertaining as they already know the big mystery about what's going on with those films everyone wants. I don't; I have an idea, but I won't share it and, actually, I don't want to know.

Many others agree that this is really good stuff:

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-man-in-the-high-castle/s01/

Pro Reviewers - 96% positive
Viewers - 95% positive

IGN - 9.2/10 AMAZING - The Man in the High Castle is a superb, frightening experience filled with unexpected twists and (some sci-fi) turns.

When I first saw the trailer for TMIHC, I was really excited! When I googled it & found out that it is based on a book, I decided to get the book. I have not got the book yet (my old eyes don't like small paperback type and HC versions are pricey), but what should I do first, watch the TV series, or read the book?
PS: My favorite TV drama series was JERICHO.

I have not read the book.

From what I've heard, the book spoils the watching of the series.

I plan to watch the series until it eventually is discontinued, then read the original book. [On Kindle. My eyes love being able to change typeface size, and reading with backlighted Kindle Paperwhite has REALLY helped me in that department, even though I'm only 48 YO.]

Marc

Saw the first episode, liked it a lot.. Plan to see the 2nd one today.

I've not read the book. But I have read that the TV series has MANY differences from the book.

So, I'm not so sure that reading the book would help.

Unlike "the Martian" where the plot was the same, with minor changes and mostly many things condensed or left out so it would not be a 6 to 10 hour movie.

"Because you liked TMINTHC by PKD, you might also like:"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_adaptations_of_works_by_Philip_K._Dick

Anyone remember Blade Runner? That also was based on a book by Philip K Dick.

Are you as tired of pathological PC as much as I am?

Amazon adorns New York subway with Nazi insignia (Technically Incorrect)

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-adorns-new-york-subway-with-nazi-insignia/



[video=youtube;i3mFx2e5hAg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3mFx2e5hAg[/video]

TALON said:

When I first saw the trailer for TMIHC, I was really excited! When I googled it & found out that it is based on a book, I decided to get the book. I have not got the book yet (my old eyes don't like small paperback type and HC versions are pricey), but what should I do first, watch the TV series, or read the book?
PS: My favorite TV drama series was JERICHO.

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Yeah, on Jericho, a real sleeper. Cancelled, then brought back due to massive viewer pressure.

I'd definitely recommend watching the series before reading the book just to be spoiler safe.

Winston said:

Are you as tired of pathological PC as much as I am?

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Oh hell yeh! PC:dark: I saw a poll that around 50% of the millennials want to limit free speech! Then you had that disgusting female try to sut down FREEDOM of the PRESS in Missouri! :shock: I said it before and I will say it again, I will defend my !st Amendment Rights with my 2nd Amendment Rights:2:

Amazon adorns New York subway with Nazi insignia (Technically Incorrect)

I saw that yesterday. The insignia was missing the swastika (oops, I most likely offended someone). Maybe people should see TMIHC, so they know what a great country the USA is, & get over being offended by my opinion.

I've made it to Ep. 4 (I think...). Is it just me, or does Alexa Davalos (Juliana Crain in the series) look an awful lot like Liv Tyler's character Faye Dolan in "That Thing You Do". I guess one thing that helps is that both are set in the early 60's.

So the wife and I just finished watching and really enjoyed it. That is till the end. It felt a bit abrupt. Does anyone know if there will be another season? Is this how the book ends as well?

Started this as well and really enjoying it.

Amazing how an online book store is now providing prime time entertainment...never would have guessed that's what Amazon would become years ago. My kids (16 & 20) are now leaning more towards Amazon than Netflix for their streaming needs. The USAF will move me in about 7 months, and I am thinking that I don't need anything other than a fast Internet connection at the next home--no landline phone or cable TV. Never thought I would see the day when the big phone companies & prime time networks were on the decline for lack of interest.

sooner.boomer said:

I've made it to Ep. 4 (I think...). Is it just me, or does Alexa Davalos (Juliana Crain in the series) look an awful lot like Liv Tyler's character Faye Dolan in "That Thing You Do". I guess one thing that helps is that both are set in the early 60's.

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I was going to say that Alexa Davalos resembled the girl in Chronicles of Riddick, then realized that she was that girl.

ewg1967 said:

So the wife and I just finished watching and really enjoyed it. That is till the end. It felt a bit abrupt. Does anyone know if there will be another season? Is this how the book ends as well?

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No, in the he book Juliana slits Joe's throat in a hotel in Colorado then goes to a party thrown by the Man in the High Castle (Hawthorne). She is determined to ask him if he wrote the Grasshopper or did the Oracle (I-Ching) write it. She never gets an answer. Juliana thought Hawthorne would thank her for killing Joe, but he was indifferent. She leaves the party . . . the end.

You'll just have to read the book to make sense of it if you can. It's not really something you can make sense of. It's not a story with a conclusion . . .

Geez, idiotic spoilers and political crap (should I threaten to use my "2nd amendment rights" on those who posted spoilers?).

Have to bail on this thread till at least after I've seen all the episodes.

georgegassaway said:

Geez, idiotic spoilers and political crap (should I threaten to use my "2nd amendment rights" on those who posted spoilers?).

Have to bail on this thread till at least after I've seen all the episodes.

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Don't be a fool George, what I posted was from the book, not the movie. But knowing you, you will always find something to complain about.

<No spoilers are present in this post>

I finished watching the 10 episodes today. Also read parts of the Wikipedia entry for the book.

I'm pretty sure there will be future seasons. Without spoiling anything, the series ended in a way that left many things open for future use. And, this is a premiere Amazon series similar in corporate import to for example House of Cards for Netflix. It would be a huge embarrassment if they just let it drop, and from what I hear it is becoming a "buzz" series.

I'll admit, I get uneasy with all the Nazi stuff ... what "could have been" and so forth... but then that's the point.

A great series. Edgy, and on its way to being thoughtful.

Marc

Finally watched Ep. 10. I hope there's more (I guess that's a successful way to end a season...). That girl that shings "Eidleweise" at the beginning hash an anoying shpeesch impediment.

Can anybody think of a reason the theme song is a (strange version) of a fictional patriotic Austrian song?

I like the first couple episodes, and I'll probably watch more. I'm just so curious about how this works and how that works and who is where in this universe...they don't let you in on too much of it, but they just have the storyline play out exposing you to little bits. To me though, I'm distracted wondering about things they don't show.

I don't have a link handy (on mobile right now) but there was a great write up of it. Google edelwiess plus man in high case and it should come up in first few hits.

Watched it on flights to and from Salt Lake...LOVED it and I am dying for more! Captivating and confusing...but that's what made it captivating.

I saw the first episode last week and I plan to watch the rest. Good start and I'll wait to read the source story. I've always liked a good alternate history story since watching the Star Trek TOS episode "Patterns of Force" as a kid. Kirk made a convincing Nazi. :wink:

The opening tune Edelweiss is a very creepy version, but if you read between the lines it kind of plays into the story line. This song was originally written for The Sound Of Music and is representative of Captain Von Trapps goodbye to the the homeland. This is kind of echoed in the series as the Nazi's are now living in and running the east coast of the US.

Viperfixr said:

Started this as well and really enjoying it.

Amazing how an online book store is now providing prime time entertainment...never would have guessed that's what Amazon would become years ago. My kids (16 & 20) are now leaning more towards Amazon than Netflix for their streaming needs. The USAF will move me in about 7 months, and I am thinking that I don't need anything other than a fast Internet connection at the next home--no landline phone or cable TV. Never thought I would see the day when the big phone companies & prime time networks were on the decline for lack of interest.

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Yeah, I stream only using Amazon Prime simply because it's a fringe benefit of what I'm mainly after - free two-day shipping. While I used to stream from Netflix, I go with mailed Netflix Blue-ray/DVD items now since the vast majority of movies made these days are total garbage IMO. I use Netflix for the items you'll never find for rent or streaming anywhere, like old sci-fi films, but since the no longer made DVDs of them are wearing out, they're dropping out of the library at Netflix and I may drop Netflix completely. For the very rare modern stuff I actually do want to watch, I use Redbox, but it's been a few months since I've rented anything from them.

EDIT: Not strictly in tune with the topic, but since Amazon Prime streaming has the X-Files available, I recently did some on-line research and compiled a list of their more humorous episodes:

"Bad Blood" - Season 5, Episode 12
"Je Souhaite" - Season 7, Episode 21
"Jose Chung's From Outer Space" - Season 3, Episode 20
"Dreamland" - Season 6, Episode 4
"X-Cops" - Season 7, Episode 12
"Humbug" - Season 2, Episode 20
"Hollywood A.D." - Season 7, Episode 19
"Small Potatoes" - Season 4, Episode 20
"Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" - Season 3, Episode 4
"Arcadia" - Season 6, Episode 15
"Rain King" - Season 6, Episode 8
"The Amazing Maleeni" - Season 7, Episode 8
"The Post-Modern Prometheus" -Season 5, Episode 5
"War of the Coprophages" - Season 3, Episode 12
"Improbable" - Season 9, Episode 13

I don't have a link handy (on mobile right now) but there was a great write up of it. Google edelwiess plus man in high case and it should come up in first few hits.

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I found a link with a quote from the guy who made the sequence. It's supposed to be eerie and unsettling, he realizes it was fictional and written in the real world after the time portrayed in the show. He thinks it's evocative of resistance to the Nazis. Ok, I guess that explains it.

https://communityvoices.post-gazett...opening-credits-in-the-man-in-the-high-castle

2nd season now available for free streaming by Amazon Prime members:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSNS5LA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

The opening sequence of the first 2nd season episode reminded me of this bit of trivia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamy_salute

The Bellamy salute is the salute described by Francis Bellamy (1855–1931), Christian socialist minister and author, to accompany the American Pledge of Allegiance, which he had authored in 1892. During the period when it was used with the Pledge of Allegiance, it was sometimes known as the "flag salute". Later, during the 1920s and 1930s, Italian fascists and Nazis adopted a salute which had a similar form. This resulted in controversy over the use of the Bellamy salute in the United States. It was officially replaced by the hand-over-heart salute when Congress amended the Flag Code on December 22, 1942.

Season 3 now online. Amazon has already confirmed that the series has already been renewed for Season 4.

Cool - thanks! I enjoyed the first 2, I'll queue up season 3 next.

cheers!