The Enemy Of My Enemy..."The Man In The High Castle: Season 2"

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2 (2016)

TV-MA

Starring Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, Joel de la Fuente, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rufus Sewell,

Created by Frank Spotnitz

The Story:

Tensions in America are straining in the early 60s as The Resistance continues to chip away at both the Japanese Pacific States and the Greater Nazi Reich. The web of deceit and lies on all sides will tangle even further this season as the world stands at the brink of a final war.

So the slow build of Season 1 is long gone, and you know the majority of the characters by heart this go round.

Here's the genius of it all though:

while we watch an America under control from the Axis Powers, you begin to sympathize with characters in leadership roles on both Japanese and Nazi fronts.

That's right, this Amazon Original has Stockholm Syndromed the audience!

:)

Julia (Davalos) tries to escape to the Nazi Reich, and seeks Obergruppenfuhrer Smith's (Sewell) protection.

The Japanese want her dead, and so do the Resistance. Smith feels it's in his best interest to keep her alive, at least for now.

However, all is not well at the Smith household on both a personal and professional level.

Let's just say that a big part of season 2 involves the tenuous alliance between Germany and Japan that has been tearing apart at the seams, and there are some really big events that happen that pretty much burst right on through.

10 episodes. Available to stream for those with Amazon Prime.

I would highly recommend starting with Season 1 first if you haven't though, just to get a lot of information on who, and what, you're witnessing.

It's worth it.

Final Grade: A-

Just Who Is "The Man In The High Castle" ?

The Man In The High Castle (2015)

Amazon Original Programming

Starring Luke Kleintank, Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Arnold Chun, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rufus Sewell,

Created by

The Story:

In 1962, World War II has been over for about 15 years. However, it was America that lost, and it is now divided into the Pacific States of America, controlled by Japan and the Greater Nazi Reich. In between is the buffer zone, which pretty much works as the Colorado Rockies. There is, however, some films being smuggled by the American resistance and sought after by the Nazis. The newsreels suggest a different timeline of the world where the Allies won World War II and the world turned out very differently.

For those with Amazon Prime, you've undoubtedly already watched this one. The pilot was their most watched show on their service.

However, if you haven't, you really should.

The settings, the costumes, the look of the show is nothing short of spectacular as they reinvent the early 60s and put a decidedly unAmerican spin on the country.

The show builds slowly, and centers on Joe (Kleintank) an undercover Nazi trying to get into the resistance and find these films; Julia (Davalos) who winds up with a film in her possession and quickly gets involved over her head; and Frank (Evans) who was with Julia until she vanished, and then has his world turned upside down until all he can think about is revenge.

Frank's story is the most heart-breaking of the main stories, and shows just how cruel the Axis powers could be.

However, that's not to say the Axis aren't just as riveting to watch with their stories, especially that of Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith (Sewell) who has always been a great villain, and he rises to the occasion once again. But to see the family man behind that steely Nazi glare, you almost, almost, sympathize for his situation at home.

So too Trade Minister Tagome (Tagawa) who wants to prepare his country for the moment he feels the Nazis will turn on Japan and seek total global domination.

There's a lot going on, but it's well worth your time.

I'm not sure where they're going with the story, and in many cases, that's a wonderful thing.

Currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Season 2 coming soon.

Final Grade: B+