The Man in the High Castle Recap: Happy Days

Rufus Sewell as John Smith.

Rufus Sewell as John Smith. Photo: Amazon Studios

Could this entire flavor of The Homo in the Loftier Castle exist transitional? After creator Frank Spotnitz left the projection, Amazon decided not to hire another showrunner to end out flavor 2, so perhaps nosotros're watching a bridge to a whole dissimilar version of the show, one that doesn't have place in an alternate history as much every bit a post-apocalyptic vision of America. If that's the case, let'due south promise future episodes take later "Detonation," a shocking hour that promises an action-packed season finale.

Nosotros begin in the alternating reality, where Tagomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) is finally preparing to go out. Before he does so, he watches intense footage of nuclear explosions. Volition this be the alarm to finish nuclear fallout in his real globe? As Kennedy ends the Cuban Missile Crisis, Tagomi may use the knowledge he's gained of what happened at Hiroshima and what nearly happened in Cuba to relieve millions of lives.

But first, the Resistance has kicked into action. When Juliana (Alexa Davalos) brings in Lucy's married man under the guise of a health issue for his wife, George Dixon (Tate Donovan) pops up with a gun. They've got Lucy, they say — and they tell him that she's pregnant. "Do it for your kid." This is a theme of the testify: How much will we do for our children? How much volition a parent sacrifice for their kid's safe? Of course, this could all be a scam considering Juliana learned that Lucy has been trying to have a baby for a long fourth dimension. The threat nevertheless convinces Lucy's hubby to go on Boob tube and reveal the death of Hitler. "Yous've all been the victims of a prevarication," he says. He is shot to death on the live broadcast, just the whole world knows that Hitler is no more.

Releasing this information earlier the Nazis were prepare does not make Reichsminister Heusmann (Sebastian Roché) happy. He calls Smith (Rufus Sewell) and conveys his disappointment. Now that he's been revealed as the side by side Fuhrer, Heusmann is shot in full-villain mode: pursed lips, ruddy room, low lighting. He might also have horns, also.

As Frank Frink (Rupert Evans) continues to plan the Resistance bombing, "Happy Days Are Hither Again" plays on the radio. (Mayhap "Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead" would have been also on-the-olfactory organ?) They're still planning to attack the Kempeitai, which is a lilliputian surprising given how warning the Japanese would certainly exist afterwards Hitler's death. Also, Frank discovers that Ed (DJ Qualls) might have been followed and bugged past the Kempeitai. It's increasingly hard to believe that Frank would get through with what he does in this episode.

Meanwhile in Berlin, Nicole (Bella Heathcote) is impressed with Joe Blake's new power position, though she'south still skeptical of his allegiance to the cause. "I'm not sure you even believe in what the Reich stands for," she says. Which reminds me: I'chiliad non sure what this Reich stands for, either. Or what whatever of these characters believe. Who is Nicole? What does she desire from Joe? What's the crusade? Maybe we'll find out next season . For now, Heusmann reveals that Hitler was assassinated. Everyone is stunned, and Kido (Joel de la Fuente) looks grumpy. "Vengeance volition be swift and proportionate," he says.

Thomas (Quinn Lord) visits Juliana to ask her about what happened afterward the funeral. He wants to know the truth almost his own health. She's touched, but tells him to become to his parents. Unfortunately, she's already sealed his fate. Recollect how Smith turned off the power in the dorms before against Juliana in the last episode? He did that considering the dorms are monitored. This conversation with Thomas was recorded. His secret will exist revealed.

Before nosotros get to the episode's nigh unexpected twist, it'southward time for a flashback! Ed and Frank are hanging out at a picnic tabular array. It'south the day Ed met Juliana. "Dream a Lilliputian Dream" is playing and the sun is shining. Davalos is quite skilful here, more relaxed and genuine than the plot-heavy bulk of Loftier Castle usually allows. Information technology'south a cute flashback that ties Ed/Frank/Juliana together again, information technology reminds us of what's been lost, and perhaps nigh of import, it adds weight to Frank's emotional good-bye scene. Yes, he's going to drive the flop into Kempeitai HQ himself. He knows he may not come up back. As a parting gift, he gives Ed his share of the Yakuza profits. I love Evans, merely he'south been underutilized this flavor. I think a chiliad sacrifice of his character could greatly help the bear witness. We need a shock. The flavour needs to end with a bang.

Not if Tagomi can exercise anything about information technology, though! He returns from the other side with a film reel of nuclear explosions from the Ban the Flop group. He also figures out that his assistant Kotomichi (Arnold Chun) is from the "real globe," too! His family unit and friends perished in the bombing, so he traveled to this world to escape the hurting. What? Huh?!

A few questions: 1) Did anyone wait that physical items could travel dorsum from the alternate reality? Think of the things that Tagomi could have brought — like a history book! 2) Tagomi'south not solitary?! How many people are also jumping dorsum and forth? How does that process actually work?

We don't get whatever conclusive answers, but Kotomichi tells Tagomi that it'south too belatedly to save the world. Hitler is dead and nuclear war is coming.

Before the bombing, Smith attends a briefing about the Resistance uprising. Although the rebels are trying to take advantage of the Fuhrer's death, Smith doesn't seem also concerned. He goes to hear the recording of when Thomas met with Juliana. Sewell does so much hither with his eyes and his brow. It'southward all coming down on him. Thomas knows he's sick. Smith asks the man with the recording, "Have you shown this to anyone else?" Always say yep to this question. Especially if a Nazi asks y'all. Say at that place are copies everywhere, too. You know, only to be safe.

Every bit Childan (Brennan Brown) and Ed lath a double-decker out of boondocks, Frank and Sarah (Cara Mitsuko) drive the flop into Kempeitai HQ. Is the show really going to blow upwardly San Francisco? Impale Frank and Sarah? They beginning the detonation sequence and head into the edifice, as Tagomi arrives exterior. Kido comes down and spots Frank in the lobby. Frank pulls out a gun and shoots Kido before everything goes BOOM. I did not await that. There'due south no way that Frank, Sarah, Kido, and Onada are all dead, right? There are bloody bodies everywhere and a Japanese flag burning outside.

Of course, Kido is notwithstanding live. Nothing can take him down. Shoot him, blow him upwards, it makes no departure. He's the Terminator. He puts his spectacles back on and sits upwardly to come across the rubble of the building around him. Where Frank stood is now a fire-strewn pit. Kido straightens his accommodate every bit Ed and Childan watch the explosion from their charabanc on the Golden Gate Span.

Other Notes:

  • The Tagomi story line has e'er been a little confusing, but "Detonation" adds to the complexity instead of clarifying it. He literally disappears to the alternate reality, he can bring things dorsum, and he'south not the only one who can practice it? I have more questions than I think High Castle will respond.
  • Exercise you think Frank is actually dead? I could see them killing off smaller characters like Onada or Sarah, merely practise they actually have the guts to impale 1 of their leading men? Again, every bit much every bit I love Evans, getting rid of Frank is the kind of large move this evidence needs.
  • 1 episode left! What exercise you think is going to happen? Who has been your flavour MVP? I'll salvage my pick until the finale.
The Man in the High Castle Recap: Happy Days