The Man in the High Castle

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Season 2
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 125 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 125
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 125
  3. Negative: 17 out of 125
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  1. samidabull
    Dec 17, 2016
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off, the dialogue was so clique and generic, that i spent about half of each episode just finishing the character's sentences. It was so bad that for a minute I thought that maybe I was missing the whole point and that this was actually an amazingly clever satire of bad tv. (spoiler alert...it's not) What a steaming pile of crap. The whole plot line of the mysterious films and the man in the high castle himself are just gone. All the main characters have been shipped off to the four corners of the world so they have no possibility of ever interacting with one another again, and instead of one main show, we now have many different little, tiny shows that are all independent of each other with no connection whatsoever. The only reason Season One stayed interesting is because as a collective whole, the character's intertwining stories kept the stakes high enough, but these characters aren't strong enough or developed enough to each merit their own story line. This simply was creative suicide. Not to mention that the story lines have turned to soap opera. I see that the writers wanted to switch from a plot-driven story to a character-driven story but it doesn't work when your characters are cardboard cutout caricatures because we have nothing invested in them individualy. The only thing I cared about what how they were driving the plot towards the films and the man in the high castle, and that's just gone. We watch Joe Blake throw a season long tantrum because of daddy abandonment issues, Juliana trying to blend in in the suburbs by living a banal suburb lifestyle, the Trade Minister who crosses into another dimension and the only thing he's concerned about is stopping his wife from divorcing him, and frank frink who's the only story line with any excitement except there's nothing to like about the character at all, so who cares what happens to him. Honestly, who cares what happens to any of them at this point. I can't believe some genius thought that these characters were strong enough to each merit their own story line, as if we're really sitting at the edge of our seat while we watch Joe Blake spend SEVEN episodes pouting because his daddy is rich and powerful and wants to hand him the keys to the kingdom. The worst thing (no, it's all the worst thing actually) is that each episode is a series of cuts from one story line to the next, but it makes no sense because nothing that happens in each story line affects the other. So why is this happening at all? Does no one care anymore how the films were actually made, or how they could actually exist? I realize I'm starting to repeat myself and really am just venting at this point, but this is the biggest disappointment of any second season I've ever seen.… Expand
  2. chrissycat
    Jan 20, 2017
    10
    While the first season set the tone, the second season rushes along. I have become enamoured of each of the characters. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa certainly delivers an award worthy performance as trade minister Tagomi. Yes to season 3.
  3. dam1730
    Dec 29, 2016
    10
    After browsing the professional reviews of this show, what I see is a consistent theme: ranting about race and so-called "promotion" of Nazism. First of all, the races shown in the show are a product of the story. One would expect a Nazi Reich to be all white, non-handicapped people, as everyone else would be promptly killed. There is no promotion of Nazism in this show. What this showAfter browsing the professional reviews of this show, what I see is a consistent theme: ranting about race and so-called "promotion" of Nazism. First of all, the races shown in the show are a product of the story. One would expect a Nazi Reich to be all white, non-handicapped people, as everyone else would be promptly killed. There is no promotion of Nazism in this show. What this show illustrates is that all of us are capable of both good and evil, and even Americans can fall into evil if the conditions change. I believe that reviews of this show have been tied to feelings about the election in the United States. It seems that professional critics are expecting this show to somehow denounce the Trump presidency in some way, when obviously it is not intended to do so, nor could it do so considering that the filming obviously did not take place in the month after the election took place (facepalm, duh, stupid professional critics).

    What some reviewers don't seem to get is that this is a strange genre fusion of historical fiction and science fiction. I find it interesting that Westworld (which I enjoyed), which suffers from Lost syndrome, has gotten such high review scores, while High Castle gets knocked for becoming less real. Like another one of the best shows on television, The Americans, High Castle makes the viewer sympathize with characters that you normally wouldn't: members of the Japanese Occupation, children and family of Nazi leaders, etc. If a show can bring humanity to people who we would normally look at as fully evil, it is doing something right.

    Real score: 8/10
    Score I'll give to make up for idiots: 10/10    … Expand
  4. chloehorton
    Dec 19, 2016
    10
    This is a spectacular edition to the series, the supernatural elements slid perfectly into the shows aesthetic, the acting was superb and it would be a travesty for this brilliant show not to receive a third season
  5. ozymandias79
    Dec 19, 2016
    9
    This show is great and the second season is better then the first. The characters made some bold moves this season, which created a very tense mood. The only room for improvement is world building. The airport scene with the Nazi jets was great but there should be more scenes like that. Also, good to see better use of DJ Qualls this season. Man in the high castle would have been an 8This show is great and the second season is better then the first. The characters made some bold moves this season, which created a very tense mood. The only room for improvement is world building. The airport scene with the Nazi jets was great but there should be more scenes like that. Also, good to see better use of DJ Qualls this season. Man in the high castle would have been an 8 this season but the last episode pushed it to a 9. That intro song is so creepy! Zi hail!… Expand
  6. shoulderoforion
    Dec 30, 2016
    8
    I thought this was a seriously solid season. I hope that they bring it back for a third season. Interesting juxtapositions of reality & time I'd like to see further explored and brought together.
  7. ppinto
    Dec 30, 2016
    9
    I continue to find this series fascinating throughout this second season. It has some issues with pacing, as some episodes move along a lot sifter than others, but the (re)construcion of the alternate reality is brilliant. All episodes feature some little gems such as what medication desperate housewives would take or the brands that would be available. Plus, the plot is thickening and youI continue to find this series fascinating throughout this second season. It has some issues with pacing, as some episodes move along a lot sifter than others, but the (re)construcion of the alternate reality is brilliant. All episodes feature some little gems such as what medication desperate housewives would take or the brands that would be available. Plus, the plot is thickening and you grow more invested in the characters the more nuanced they become. Absolutely recommended.… Expand
  8. philipkdick
    Jan 13, 2017
    10
    Please stop with these political correct hypocrisy: Get real, we can't have a black SS Oberführer as POV in this show. Plus, there's absolutely no Nazism promotion,this is called "character depth". In "The Man in the High Castle" Nazis are not just stupid, shallow bad guys like in the whole american cinematography (i.e. Saving Private Ryan) you should get used to it, because I guess itPlease stop with these political correct hypocrisy: Get real, we can't have a black SS Oberführer as POV in this show. Plus, there's absolutely no Nazism promotion,this is called "character depth". In "The Man in the High Castle" Nazis are not just stupid, shallow bad guys like in the whole american cinematography (i.e. Saving Private Ryan) you should get used to it, because I guess it reflects a little more the reality.… Expand
  9. Fairfis
    Dec 18, 2016
    10
    Smart, deep and engaging. Not to mention well filmed. A masterpiece. While some characters may feel a bit shallow (Joe Black, I'm looking at you) the main protagonists are multifaceted and undergo impressive development.
  10. moothemagiccow
    Dec 17, 2016
    8
    I totally forgot what was going on in this show. I blitzed ten episodes in like 3 days last year and did it in two this time. Fortunately, the storyline changes pretty significantly and soon our characters find themselves in different arcs and situations. I only had to ask google "who is that" like 3 times. I pondered watching the first season again but ehhhhhhhhhh.

    My only complaint is    I totally forgot what was going on in this show. I blitzed ten episodes in like 3 days last year and did it in two this time. Fortunately, the storyline changes pretty significantly and soon our characters find themselves in different arcs and situations. I only had to ask google "who is that" like 3 times. I pondered watching the first season again but ehhhhhhhhhh.

    My only complaint is that the show is literally too dark. I have to turn up the brightness all the way on my tv to see anything. Also, Tagome is totally wasted this season. He was probably my favorite character. While new characters step in, I was surprised to see existing ones given more depth. Folks that previously served as menacing faces are given human sides, and it really helps the story.

    This story was really good! I don't know if it's over or not, but this would be a pretty good place to stop.    … Expand
  11. dan547
    Dec 16, 2016
    9
    Man, I've missed this show. It's not perfect but it has such a fantastic and compelling realization of alt-history America that I just simply can't stop watching.
  12. JorgeLestre
    Jan 27, 2017
    4
    Although it still manages to keep the story going, it stumbles when it tries to fit in sci-fi in a historic 'cool' way. The performances are not quite so engaging as well but it doesn't mean the rest of the show will be miserable though.
  13. WorldofLucky
    Feb 3, 2018
    8
    Still can’t do better than the Nazis, mysterious films, alternate worlds and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.

    It’s the next season of the same world. We pick up almost immediately where we left off, having met the Man in the High Castle, the Nazi conspiracy and the drive to make a H-Bomb by the Japanese. I can’t talk very much about the plot itself if you haven’t seen it. It does ratchet up the    Still can’t do better than the Nazis, mysterious films, alternate worlds and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.

    It’s the next season of the same world. We pick up almost immediately where we left off, having met the Man in the High Castle, the Nazi conspiracy and the drive to make a H-Bomb by the Japanese.

    I can’t talk very much about the plot itself if you haven’t seen it. It does ratchet up the intrigue, who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. There is more of a focus inside New York (the Reich) and Mr. Tagomi opens up a totally new storyline that comes together at the end of the season.

    It humanizes all the main characters, including Obergruppenführer John Smith, and Inspector Kids. It doesn’t make what they do ok, so no apologism for their behavior, but it does show you why they do the things they do. Like all people, even villains, they are the hero of their own story.

    This season was a little different, I found I didn’t like Juliana or Fink as much. Not acting or the writing. They were great, but their storylines took them into places I didn’t like and their character’s twists and turns made me not like the characters themselves as much.

    Pros: Once again, great acting, immersive sets, an compelling story and I love Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Mr. Tagomi. I liked him last season, but he clicked with me a lot (well so did John Smith, but Mr. Tagomi took it away).

    Cons: Once again, I don’t think there is an overall con, but because there are so many roles you will probably hate someone… I still can’t stand Joe Blake, not the fault of the actor, he is good, just don’t like the character, this season he whines an awful lot and I just can’t stand it.

    Hands down a great show, I still can’t recommend it more.    … Expand
  14. mestospb
    Jul 9, 2018
    7
    Great video. Beautifully painted world, a good story BUT poor elaboration of the alternative world.
    First, Japan's imperial policy. In the real world, Japan's plans are Nai-Guy-Sphere. The Pacific States would not be part of Japan - Nai. And not even a colony Guy. And part of the Sphere would have their government. Phillip K Dick has it. But the authors of the show removed the "Sacramento    Great video. Beautifully painted world, a good story BUT poor elaboration of the alternative world.
    First, Japan's imperial policy. In the real world, Japan's plans are Nai-Guy-Sphere. The Pacific States would not be part of Japan - Nai. And not even a colony Guy. And part of the Sphere would have their government. Phillip K Dick has it. But the authors of the show removed the "Sacramento government.". The whole of Siberia was part of the Sphere Including Mongolia and Kazakhstan. Ataman Semyonov has already received a salary from the Prime Minister of Japan - two thousand yen a month. In our world !!! All that he was required to recognize as the Emperor of the All-Russian - Japanese Emperor. In Nye was only Karafuto-Sakhalin. In Guy, only the Northern Kurils. and the Commander Islands. And also all the Pacific islands. The ruler of Great Britain was planned Edward. The border of the Reich along the Volga. Odessa to Romania and Karelia and Cola to Finland. Seven colonies - the Reichskommisariates - Norway, the Netherlands, Valonia (Belgium and part of Northern France), Ostland (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, part of Belarus), Ukraine, the Caucasus and Muscovy. There are no documents about Reichscommissariat Turkestan - so it's fiction. The Germans did not destroy all blacks, they made slaves and sterilize 50%. The Nazis even had black military units. The Japanese did not forbid Christianity - they only banned Protestants. But neither Catholics nor Orthodox were banned, but only demanded to pray for the health of the Emperor and the victory of Japan. The Japanese never molested the Jews. They forbade only Judaism and Islam. The main punitive detachments of the Japanese were Russians, such as Asano Brigade. 70% of Japanese operatives working in intelligence against the Allies were Russian. When in 1927 Japan drove out the American business, their place was taken not only by the Japanese but also by the Russian white immigrants. Because the Russians who lived in Manchuria and Korea were ideologically loyal to the Emperor people. Russian Tsar were 50% Germans 50% Danes - so the Japanese - nothing special.Americans with their worldview can not understand. But for Russian loyalty to the Emperor who patronized them was natural. And nationality is not important.
    The authors know very little of History to write an alternative story. However, Phillip K Dick, too, as a result, it turned out that it's better to look at forgetting History and understand its alternative development and look like a fairy tale.    … Expand
  15. IcarusV
    Dec 28, 2016
    10
    My favorite TV show at the moment! Great character build, intriguing and interesting world. Can't wait for the next season and see what's going to happen!!!
  16. Ripandread
    Feb 28, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This series episodes jumps around like a live toad in a hot frying pan. The characters are all over the place. There is the Japanese Trade Minister who is able to live in an alternative reality where the Allies win the war and his daughter-in-law is the same person who worked for him while she is a member of the resistance in the Axis dominated world. Frank Frick and his buddy Ed start out working at a fake gun making factory and end up with Frick being a member of the residence while Ed...I don't know what Ed is. Then there is John Smith (Original name isn't it?) who it appears fought for the Americans at the start of the war but ends up a high ranking member of the Nazi SS. "Juliana" is the show's heroine who got involved in the resistance because her sister was killed; yet even though Juliana saw her sister's dead body the sister shows up alive at the end of season 2. Finally there is the "Man in the High Castle": A seedy looking character who has a warehouse full of films depicting the Allies willing the war. To summarize my review. I just don't get this show and what direction it is trying to take viewers. Maybe the third season will tie up some loose ends.… Expand
  17. parallax_84
    Sep 30, 2017
    9
    Really good show, the season 2 goes deeper within the resistance & the enemy lines and starts to answer some questions left in the first season. Smith,Juliana and Frank threads are very interesting. this show deserves more recognition.
  18. hassall
    Dec 22, 2016
    8
    When the first episode came out it did't really make any sense but i recently the second episode it started to make sense the thing about this TV show it needs time to build up, give it time guys give it time.
  19. icet1986
    Dec 21, 2016
    8
    This season was an excellent continuation of the first. Not without its faults, The Man in the High Castle has built a world that draws you into an alternate history that creates a backdrop for compelling storytelling. This season sees the main character's stories diverge and either you love it or you hate it. I felt that the separate story arcs gave more room for character development.This season was an excellent continuation of the first. Not without its faults, The Man in the High Castle has built a world that draws you into an alternate history that creates a backdrop for compelling storytelling. This season sees the main character's stories diverge and either you love it or you hate it. I felt that the separate story arcs gave more room for character development. Definitely worth your time… Expand
  20. sweismann
    Jan 2, 2017
    10
    Much more character nuance than the first season complemented with superb acting. The stakes escalate higher and it's impossible to not give credit to the surprising climactic finale and all the interwoven ways it tackles the overall topic of the season. It's a shame most critics never even gave it a review for the full series order and saw its plot points through. If not my favoriteMuch more character nuance than the first season complemented with superb acting. The stakes escalate higher and it's impossible to not give credit to the surprising climactic finale and all the interwoven ways it tackles the overall topic of the season. It's a shame most critics never even gave it a review for the full series order and saw its plot points through. If not my favorite overall, then definitely the most unexpectedly satisfying season of television I've seen.… Expand
  21. nicof
    Jan 13, 2017
    10
    People who criticize the show because of its turn to sci-fi like Mr. Todd VanDerWerff, maybe are forgetting this little detail: Philip K. Dick was a Sci-Fi author. Please, read carefully this review of Shifting Realities by P.K. Dick:

    "In this posthumous collection of adventurous essays, journal excerpts, autobiographical sketches, plot scenarios and interviews, science fiction writer    People who criticize the show because of its turn to sci-fi like Mr. Todd VanDerWerff, maybe are forgetting this little detail: Philip K. Dick was a Sci-Fi author. Please, read carefully this review of Shifting Realities by P.K. Dick:

    "In this posthumous collection of adventurous essays, journal excerpts, autobiographical sketches, plot scenarios and interviews, science fiction writer Dick (1928-82) ruminates on parallel universes, the Jungian connective principle of synchronicity (meaningful coincidence), mind as energy field, his LSD trips, the I Ching, telepathy and "fake realities" manufactured by the mass media. Dick, who in one piece describes himself as a "pre-schizophrenic personality," plunges readers into altered states of consciousness. He claims, for example, to have retrieved buried memories of alternate realities; in another piece, he recalls having been a secret Christian in ancient Rome, awaiting Christ's return from the dead. Sutin, Dick's biographer, in his useful introductory essay, interprets Dick as a philosophical and spiritual thinker with affinities to the Gnostics of the early Christian era. Included are two completed chapters of a proposed sequel to his novel The Man in the High Castle; they conjure a Nazi-controlled post-WWII world in which Hermann Goring runs a Luftwaffe base in Florida in 1956".    … Expand
  22. GarethB
    Jan 4, 2019
    6
    Far too slow and loses impetus a lot, fails to tackle the pacing issues of season one by compounding them even more. Should be far more interesting with the villains who are present.
  23. Jagen
    Aug 1, 2023
    8
    Increasingly gripping story, stays interesting throughout. All the characters are well drawn, with shades of grey.

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Jan 3, 2017
    75
    The score ably amps up the foreboding, and the action sequences are gritty, scary and especially well-staged.
    Read full review
  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Dec 19, 2016
    20
    It’s the worst TV show of 2016. ... By the end of its second season, The Man in the High Castle has essentially abandoned everything fascinating about its first season in favor of a junky sci-fi drama with reality-hopping characters and a bunch of caricature Nazi bad guys.
    Read full review
  3. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    Dec 16, 2016
    70
    All this means that it’s frequently an interesting series rather than an absorbing one, and that it encourages a kind of detached contemplation that not many dramas can offer.
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