The Man In The High Castle Episodes 2-5 Reviews: Did You Find What You Were Looking For?

Since the pilot aired on Amazon last year, I have been anxious awaiting "The Man In The High Castle". See my episode 1 review here: Episode 1 "The New World" Review Apparently I'm not the only one. Last week the volume was so high it crashed the servers. I couldnt even access it at 5 AM. Luckily things are better now.

Episode 2 "Sunrise" began with a bang. Juliana Crane (pretending to be her sister Trudy Walker) makes it to the neutral zone. She has the contraband film and hopes to pass it on to an unknown contact. Meanwhile her boyfriend Frank Fisk is left behind in Japanese controlled San Francisco. The Kempeitai (Japanese police) brutally beat and torture him. Frank's sister and her two small children are also brought in. If he doesnt spill the beans, they will be gassed in a reception room. But Frank really doesnt know anything. Inspector Kido finds someone else who might be the culprit. In a truly heartbreaking scene, Frank is released but it's too late for the others. He is required to identify their bodies in a warehouse. Since they are classified as enemies of the state (and Jews), they are not even get a burial. Frank's brother in law returns from a business trip to find his entire family exterminated.

Back in the neutral zone, Juliana meets up with Joe Blake. He's driving a truck full of coffee makers. He also has a copy of the banned film "The Grasshopper Lies Beneath". We know there's going to be a love connection between these two since they're both young and attractive. It turns out Joe reports to the Nazis. He says he's secretly working for the Resistance but I'm not so sure. Juliana and Joe are almost killed by a menacing character called the Marshall. He's a bounty hunter. The Marshall hangs the person who sold Juliana a bible and then ties his body to the Canon City sign for everyone to see. Juliana is also almost killed by Origami Man (we dont know his real name). She thinks he is her contact but the guy is really an SS agent. They fight on the road above the dam. She eventually pushes him over. Thank God for Aikido. Joe and Juliana eventually get the film/films back to the Man In The High Castle via diner owner Lem Washington (who was the real contact all along).

Next is the part where I get confused. Juliana heads back to SF after she calls and talks to Frank's friend Ed (DJ Qualls who is Citizen Z on "Z Nation"). Uh, why would she return when she can be killed for treason? Joe also returns to his home base in New York City.

When Juliana reunites with Frank, she expects things to be like before she left. Uh, no. Frank is not the same person. And it doesnt seem she even considered what would happen to him after she left. To top it all, he knows deep down inside that she doesnt really love him. I'd be pissed if I was Frank too. He asks her "Did you find what you were looking for?"

There is another plot brewing. Japanese trade minister Tagomi is working with a man named Wegener. They are trying to get atomic bomb plans from the Nazis over to the Japanese (since they believe the Nazis will go for a power grab after Hitler's death). The Japanese prince is making a speech in San Francisco. Frank is there was an old Colt revolver and two antique bullets. Ed already shot him in the arm with the third bullet. Before Frank can act, someone else shoots the prince. Frank flees and drops the locket he made for Juliana. The prince's guards commit hare kare. If Kido doesnt find the shooter, the same will happen to him. All hell is about to break loose in the Pacific States.

Episode Guide:

Episode 1: "The New World"
Episode 2: "Sunrise"
Episode 3: "The Illustrated Woman"
Episode 4: "Revelations"
Episode 5: "The New Normal"

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). An excellent start but I'm a little bogged down by some of the later story lines. All in all, I'm still very much enjoying the story though and cant wait to see where it leads. There are 10 episodes total. Besides the main characters, Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith and Inspector Kido are very menacing as baddies on each side. I'm also enjoying Tagomi's quiet plotting.