Man in the High Castle: Season Four – Review
I had been eagerly awaiting the fourth and final season of Man in the High Castle. This has been one of my favourite seasons, being related to my interests in the Second World War and science fiction.
This season moved pretty quick as they had to tie up a lot of loose ends. Before this season, the Japanese held the west coast of North America and the Nazis held the east. However, the Japanese were struggling, especially with their war in China. Meanwhile the Nazis had built a portal to a parallel world, very much like the one we live.
Juliana had discovered that she could transport between world without technology. Wounded by John Smith, she travelled to the other earth and was found by a good version of John Smith.
The rest of this review will have spoilers so you haven’t watched season four, stop reading now.
Juliana gets to know the Smith family on the other earth, including their son Thomas, who had died on the Axis-victorious earth. At the same time, the Nazis started sending spies and assassins into the other earth to gather technology and information, and to begin to shape events.
In the west, the Japanese are in conflict with the Black Communist Rebellion, who are being supplied by the Chinese and who are seeking an area of self-rule for African Americans. They are ultimately more successful than anticipated as the Japanese withdraw from North America, partially through the influence of the Japanese Crown Princess.
Things move quickly on the Nazi side. Himmler, the successor to Hitler has become increasingly paranoid. There is an increasing distrust of John and Helen Smith. They have one eye on conquering the alternate earth and one on taking over the rest of the former United States.
Meanwhile there is widening divide between the Smiths’ daughters. The younger one has fully bought into Nazi ideology while the old has grave doubts, partially due to time in the neutral zone. Plans for a renewal of the “Final Solution” to wipe out the blacks, Jews, American Indians and others begin to come to light.
The resistance discover, through the counsel of Juliana, that the key is the portal. Things move very quickly. The American Reich becomes independent of Nazi Germany. John Smith is forced to face the consequences of his decisions. And the resistance takes control of the portal.
Overall it was a satisfying conclusion to the series. The only thing I didn’t like was the final conclusion of people from other earths coming through the portal. Nothing was explained of who these people were, where they were coming or why they were coming. It was a moving scene but seemed disconnected to the rest of the series.
Still, I loved this entire series. The acting and writing was excellent. The sets were amazing as they were able to catch the feel of the mid-1960s on both earths. Not only that, they were able to combine a number of genres successfully into an engaging story.
