The Man In The High Castle (TV Series – Season One) Review

I was so hesitated to watch “The Man in the High Castle” TV series, but boy I’m glad that I did a binge watch of it.  I got through the whole first season without missing a single minute of it.  I have to say the series is very enjoyable.  How come?  Even though the series is flipping history on its head, I must say the series is awesome in a way in which you may want to hang onto every minute of the series.

Spoiler is ahead, and so you should not read on if you think you want to watch this series for yourself.

I must admit, Juliana Crain is very pretty, but her prettiness doesn’t affect her character as if she is a weak flower that needs to be protected from the elements.  She is headstrong with a golden heart in which doesn’t destroy her feminine side as if a female wanna be male sort of things.  In the first episode, she shows that even though she is a woman, she can handle a man in a combat.  If I’m not wrong on the martial art style she has been practicing, Akido allows her to defend herself against stronger men.  Don’t let her macho side put you off if you’re one of those guys who hates to see how a female can easily beat up a male character in movies, because this side of her isn’t telling her whole story.  Besides of wanting to be loved by Frank and possibly by Joe, she is a strong woman who wants to seek out other possibilities that may present to her by chances and luck.  The world she lives in, her people are being treated as second class, because the area — she lives in — is being controlled by the imperialistic Japan; imperialistic Japan empire fought on the Nazi side and won WWII.  She reluctantly joins the resistance when she witnesses her sister got shot by the imperialistic Japanese.  Although Alexa Davalos’s performance as Juliana Crain is not Oscar worthy, but I think in season one she executes her role as Juliana Crain quite brilliantly.  Basically, she is believable in her role.

Frank Frink is Juliana Crain’s boyfriend.  The series’ trademark is about flipping history on its head, but a closer look would probably have you think that Frank Frink is rather a feminine character.  So, the series got Frank Frink as a male character who wants to live under the imperialistic regimes peacefully, because life is precious.  As the Japanese authorities seek out Juliana, they have Frank Frink in custody.  During the confinement, they torture Frank Frink.  When Frank Frink refuses to give up Juliana’s whereabout, the imperialistic Japanese authorities kill his sister and nephews.  When the Japanese authorities finally think that Juliana Crain hasn’t got what they are after anymore, they release Frank Frink.  By the time Frank Frink got his release, his sister and nephews were already being killed.  No longer a mister nice guy, Frank Frink feels the rage that he has never ever felt before from within him.  Frank Frink decides that he needs to kill the crown prince of the imperialistic Japanese empire for a payback.  Nonetheless, things don’t always go as plan for him.

Joe Blake is one handsome Nazi, but he got a heart of gold.  Although he is a Nazi who goes undercover as a resistance member, he loves Juliana Crain.  Meeting Juliana Crain helps Joe Blake changes his mind about many things.  From being devoted Nazi, Joe Blake wants to protect Juliana Crain, but his boss isn’t going to let him do anything like that.  He tries hard to protect Juliana Crain, but things can only get more insane from here.  As the story unfolds, Joe Blake is sort of a double agent, but in the end he wants to help Juliana Crain, himself, and possibly the world.  He has a heart of gold, but can he really help everyone in the end?  Season one isn’t revealing how Joe Blake will be able to save Juliana Crain, himself, and the world just yet.  It seems that he may still have to be working for both sides (i.e., Nazi and resistance) in season two.

Besides the main characters, the supporting characters are believable in their roles.  Basically, the actors and actresses in the series are believable, thus pulling you into this alternate world of theirs.  The costumes and sceneries are all very believable and nicely done.  I don’t know how much money they had poured into making the season one of this series, but the series got all these excellent qualities that make you want to watch every episode of the season one.  I’m not sure how awesome the season two will be, but I know I like the season one a lot.  As I’m writing this review/spoiler now, the season two isn’t yet available on Amazon.

In summary, I think the show is awesome, because it turns a well known, decades old historic moment into an alternate version without being dull and boring.  The show has excellent cast members, interesting storyline, great stage setups, and so on and so on.  I’ve a feeling that if you watch this series you might not be able to skip a single minute of it.