The abandonment of freedom is embraced by more people than some of us may care to admit. To live under totalitarianism is, alas, to some a blessing, for they're devoid of the responsibility to forge their own destinies. They sleep through life, content to let others pull the strings. However, for freedom's advocates, the extremes of governmental control can create a hellish existence and dismantling such, a paramount goal.
This concept predominates Amazon’s “Man in the High Castle”, based on Phillip K. Dick’s classic, parallel-reality novel. The series enters its second season December 16.
In the story's parallel scheme, the Axis, not the Allies,
have won WWII. Now, in an alternate, early ‘60s, Germany harnesses one portion of the
U.S. and Japan the other. There's a burgeoning
tension between the factions, but none as profound as what brews beneath. The latter’s participants acknowledge a series of mysterious films which depict the Allies as triumphant, and the enigmatic Man in the High Castle intends to collect them all.
Returning to the series are Alexa Davalos; Joel de la
Fuente; Rupert Evans; Michael Hogan; Luke Kleintank; DJ Qualls; Rufus Sewell; Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa; Brennan Brown; Daniel Roebuck; and joining the cast, in what’s intended as a significant role, Stephen
Root.
“Man in the High Castle” may not fly well with those discontent with Western-world influence, but for
those who despise global injustice (and yes, many of us still do), the series will prove an inspirational tool. Despite its melancholic content, “Man in the High Castle” demonstrates that one can (and should) oppose tyranny, no matter how grand its scope. It also shows there's always hope for a better tomorrow, no matter what the "reality".
Perhaps, "Man in the High Castle" isn't such an alternate reality, after all.
ReplyDeleteWhere I work, a source of questionable perception has set forth a successful campaign to make us remove our Giving Tree display and its related decorations, plus a scheduled one-man show of "A Christmas Carol". Resulting from this, Hunukkah decorations will also be banned. This, one can only conclude, will lead to the censorship of references to St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Passover...and Halloween. I'm sure that many a Nazi demon is looking up for the fiery bowels of Hell with great pleasure.
Some of us are taking a stand against what's occurred. It's hard to say at this point if we'll be successful. We're sure going to give our cause our best shot.
The United States is founded upon diversity, on the sharing of cultural attributes. Benign symbols and their celebrations and causes should be encouraged, not crushed. We can learn much from one another through sharing. That's the gist of tolerance. Eliminating those special traits that define people is dictatorial: that is, unethical and evil. When, oh, when, will this become across-the-board knowledge?
Finished Season 2. Not sure which of the two tracks I fancy more. The first is textured by the novelty of its concept and its resulting depth; the second has more of a melodramatic or strange soap-opera quality. Both are quite effective in their own ways.
ReplyDeleteTagawa's performance and slip into his alternate niche (our niche, I guess its safe to say) was most fascinating. I also like Brown's quirky eagerness and Sewell's callous intensity. Everyone is really in tip-top form here, virtuous and villainous characters alike, which lends credibility to Dick's influential concept.