The N@zi Alt-History Show That Was ‘Hijacked by Sjws’ - The Man in the High Castle

What if the Axis Powers Won World War II? What if the Allies lost? The Man in the High Castle answers those exact questions.

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, one of the most famous alternate history novels ever written, was adapted into an American drama series by Amazon in 2015. It posits a world in which the Axis powers have won World War II and have colonized the U.S., with the Japanese Pacific States on the west and the Greater German Reich on the east, and delves into heavy topics surrounding World War II and the Cold War by using science fiction motifs such as including a greater multiverse of parallel universes full of endless possibilities.

In this video essay I discuss Amazon’s Man in the High Castle adaptation, its themes surrounding politics, and its hits and misses. So let’s finally talk about one of the most puzzling shows on TV - The Man in the High Castle.

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TIMESTAMPS:
Intro 0:00
Content Note for the ENTIRE video 2:04
The world building and Springtime for the Japanese 2:07
The Alt-World, Doppelgangers, and Holding a Mirror up to Society? 12:52
The Power of Film? 16:27
"Not this white man" & the Asian and Asian American characters 17:36
The Reich, Evil, and The Best Character in the Show 20:58
The white women 29:47
The worst fandom? 34:50
Conclusion 39:48

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References and Further Reading:

New York Subway Pulls Nazi-Themed Ads For New Show, 'Man In The High Castle

‘Man in the High Castle’ Nazi Subway Ads Cause Controversy in N.Y.

A new billboard for 'Man in the High Castle' shows the Statue of Liberty giving the Nazi salute

Amazon's new TV series simplifies (and inverts) novelist Philip K. Dick's original, more sinister vision of everyday evil.

Amazon's 'Man in the High Castle' is a missed opportunity to discuss homegrown fascism

Finally, "The Man in the High Castle" fascist fantasy ends amidst America’s sobering reality

THE WHITE AMERICAN MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE

Springtime for Mussolini?

How American Racism Influenced Hitler

The Cast of The Man in the High Castle Wants You to Find Comfort in Their Fascist Dystopia

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Transition and end credit music:

[garaj]

The whole section on white women reminds me of all the people i've known who have claimed, even now, that Melania Trump is "trapped" in a relationship with her husband, as if she's incapable of being a horrible person and choosing this kind of life for herself.

[jackneison]

I really wanted to like this show, but just couldn't get into it. I feel like it failed where the Wolfenstein trilogy succeeded. The entire resistance in Wolfenstein is made up of people who the Nazis hate, including BJ (who has an "aryan ubermensch" appearance, but is also half-Jewish). The game also goes out of its way to point out that brutal racial oppression existed in the US long before the Nazis took over. Not to mention that the entire premise of the game is killing as many Nazis as you can, which is based af.

[sammyvictors]

The show is tonally confusing. Like the writers showing different themes that clash horribly.

Its an amorphous mess.

[aliceplays]

WW2 Alternate history stories almost always fall flat for me cause it gets caught up in the aesthetics of Nazism and seems to diametrically oppose Americans with Nazis ideologically rather than examine the similar power structures that can make fascism arise in any society if bent in that direction. We get caught up in the stormtrooper red and black Authoritarianism that we end up perpetuating images created by hitler instead of recognizing the real self mutilating loser ideology that nazism is. Anyway wolfenstein does ww2 alternate history better imo lol

[SirThinksMuch]

"Why John is the best character"
I thought you were going to say "because he's played by Rufus Sewell, acting legend" but this was fascinating too.

[DoAllDogsLikeMarmite]

Watching this, I've got to wonder how many people assume the Nazis only got into power because people were scared or complacent, as if there wasn't like, a reactionary movement driving their beliefs.

[bluejellyfish]

They should have shown an perspective where the black characters talk about how even before the naz* won they where treated the same and that America has always been this way, it’s just the rolls are changed. They should have also shown the prospective of a non Japanese Asian person specifically Chinese or Korean.

[giasas]

Very interesting analysis though... I think the root of the problem with the show may be that the creators tried to put distance between the show and the horrors and reality of fascism. We should be able to have media about fascism, but if it's got a both sides attitude about it or it's overly sanitized, I don't know how helpful it could really be for fueling useful discussion 🤔

[solarmoth]

I watched this show back in highschool. It felt confused sometimes. It didn’t focus on the Jewish, Black or other minority characters enough I thought. I found myself wanting to know more about them and wished they were more fleshed out as the show went on. The show left so many questions and loose ends about how the world was set up. I think this was a good exploration of the failings and successes of the show.

[TindraSan]

things might have been better had they switched gears as early as S2, only baiting the bigots throughout the first season. that would've at least felt more deliberate and less of a "OH SHIT we muddled the point of the book" last minute fix

[grandsome]

That's why I like to stick to the Wolfestein reboot when it comes to WWII alt-history, it middle fingers the Nazi so much at every occasion they can.

[winterishere]

The fact that we both saw the same show but interpreted very different things is fascinating.

[Lycandros]

I find it almost impossible to watch these types of shows, the writers almost always misunderstand, ignore, or just can't fathom actual reasons for people's actions. So it's a super surface level attempt at telling a difficult story that makes me pissed off and depressed. Enjoyed listening to your thoughts and observations though, I'm always curious how well this is done (or how terrible it is).

As for Nazi's, I heard about a book written by a Jewish man who went to Germany after the war and interviewed a bunch of 'regular' people. Teachers and the like, those who supported and voted for the Nazi party. Can't remember much (haven't read the book yet), but the one I do remember wasn't upset or ashamed by what the Nazi's did to the people in the camps, he was upset that Hitler brought them into a war they couldn`t win. That is a character I want to see in these types of shows.
*Mean Girls*

[madiunknown]

So... I didn't watch The High Castle. But am I to understand that neurodiversity and disabled rights never came into play aside from once character who magically wasn't disabled in our 'good' alt-world?
In a show about a movement based on eugenics? Set in America, where eugenics was huge in real life, and treatment of disabled people was abysmal?
Because that doesn't sit well me.

[charlieni]

This show is so interesting to talk about yet nobody seems to be doing that! Comparing the worldbuilding to Springtime to Mousolini is brilliant.
I binged every season the moment they came out because I was so intrigued by the setting. I completely agree that season 4 is easily the best despite it being rushed so badly and not having Tagomi. It finally confronts the mentality of turning evil into banality of unpresecuted people living under fascism that sustains and even protects its existence. Smith started his transformation in the name of survival. But he was unwilling to do anything to stop the Reich from committing atrocity when he got into a position of power because of the privilege granted to him through the system. His eventual admission to Helen that he didn't know how to stop is one of the few truly powerful moments in the show.

Edit: God finally someone sharing my hatred for Joe! He always comes off as smug to me even in scenes he's not written to be so. I don't know if it's the actor or the direction given to him, clearly he demonstrates how the show has no idea what to do with him and he's only there because he's in the book.

[Sean-niqy]

I think the Sopranos covered the 'I didn't know/mafia wife' trope much better.
They knew. they always know. maybe not concrete, maybe they dupe themselves to wilful ignorance but they always are aware of what they're doing. I don't buy it. Everyone is a willing actor and the daily compromises they make are a choice.

[ifyousayso]

Imagine growing up in a literal fascist dystopia and still claiming to be apolitical

[onegirlarmy]

My take the first time I watched it was that the Nazis had been more "efficient" about their exterminations, which is why there were very few left by the 1960s. It made me very uncomfortable.

[gapsule]

Wow good thing DnD couldn't get their show about the Confederacy winning the war. I cant imagine the horrible ad campaign and weird message those two would come up with.

[zmckeown]

I love seeing notifications for your videos pop up, always something interesting that I can't wait to watch and learn about :)