But don’t worry, the foundation of the series is still the same, as it must be. The tenuous peace between Germany in the American Reich and Japan in the Pacific States is still barely holding together in this 1960’s alternate history in which the Axis powers won World War II. The resistance movement is still seeking to collect films for the titular man in the high castle, films which, among other things, show a different version San Francisco destroyed by an A-bomb and several of the main characters gathered up and executed. Her new mission is based on the smallest of details and puts her in a huge amount of danger, but that’s where this series lives; everyone’s always grasping at straws to survive and find a better life. Frank Frink (Rupert Evans) and his self-sacrificing friend Ed McCarthy (DJ Qualls) claw their way back from the aftermath of the Crown Prince’s assassination to connect with the resistance, for example, but find themselves beholden to the Yakuza as a result: not an easy place to be. It’s great to see Brennan Brown back as Robert Childan, the antiques dealer specializing in rare Americana. His kowtowing to the Japanese while dealing with Frank’s recklessness provides rare humor in this serious show, and the sarcastic wit is even more pronounced in season 2 now that Ed is along for the ride. Although it’s hard not to feel sorry for Childan, his discomfort is endlessly entertaining as he gets deeper and deeper into the mess that started with him hiring Frank for his art forgery skills. If only the resistance knew they could get information about the United States that won World War II from Tagomi firsthand instead of relying on films! But besides Abendsen, as the man in the high castle is known, many of the resistance fighters this season are bent on survival and inflicting maximum damage on the enemy, including Callum Keith Rennie’s and Cara Mitsuko’s characters, who bring a more militant sensibility to the underground movement this season, to great effect. Rufus Sewell is back as Obergruppenführer John Smith, and although he’s still having to protect his family, especially from those who would insist he kill his “defective” son, he thankfully has more crossover with principle characters this season. Juliana’s move to New York brings her directly into his path, and a visit to the Führer himself brings new concerns into the mix. It’s a joy to see Smith manipulate those around him while remaining sympathetic. The discomfort of rooting for a Nazi is one of the great paradoxes of enjoying The Man in the High Castle — somehow it works! Even Inspector Kido of the Kempeitai, who narrowly avoided having to commit seppuku in the season 1 finale, gets some added development this season. As he and Tagomi work to contain a ruthless general who has a cavalier attitude towards American lives, Kido’s quest to discover more about the man in the high castle and his films becomes more complex this year, and viewers will find themselves warming up to this character, who was so despised before.
The Man in the High Castle was a topic on the latest episode of Sci Fi Fidelity. Listen below or subscribe! iTunes | Stitcher | Soundcloud
