Year: 2015
Director: Frank Spotnitz (Writer)
Based on the Phillip K. Dick counterfactual novel this 10 part series is available on Amazon Video, but probably coming to Blu-Ray/DVD at some point next year. It shows world where the Allies lost WW2 and the Nazis and Japanese control most of the world (not sure about South America), Nazis control Europe and Africa & Japan Asia but they share the US (Nazis-East Coast, Japs-West Coast) with a ‘Neutral Zone in the middle.
The story revolves around Julia Crain, whose half-sister is involved with the resistance, Frank Frink her boyfriend with Jewish ancestry, Joe Blake a new recruit to East Coast resistance, Nobusuke Tagomi the trade minister of the Japanese Pacific states and Obergruppenführer John Smith an SS officer in New York.
Their stories revolve around some Newsreels which may or may not be real and add the Science fiction element of the story.
We really enjoyed this, the first episode ends with a cracking twist and the last with multiple stories coming together in a pretty satisfying way. And with other couple of twists that we didn’t see coming (but that may be just us!). It is fairly grim and complicated in places with the Axis powers carrying their crimes committed in WW2 to the bitter end.
The acting is of a high standard with Rufus Sewell standing out as a Nazi that has his belief in the Third Reich shaken by a family problem. It does look fantastic, you can where the money has been spent.
Highly recommended.
Might appeal to people who enjoyed:
Harry Turtledove books, Fatherland by Robert Harris
I really enjoyed this although I wasn’t sure about the final scene with Tagomi. Not sure if this is how the book ends. I might have to watch it again. It looked as though Amazon spent a lot on the production and it showed.
As far as I know the book has a definite ending. I liked the final scene, very intriguing and looking forward to see where they go with it.
Have you watched the whole series already? That’s impressive. I’ve seen the first three so far. It’s intriguing but as you say, a bit grim in parts.
PS If you have Prime, you should watch Bosch.
Bosch was good too. I can see Netflix and Amazon becoming major players in drama serials.
The ending of the book is rubbish (and I’m a massive PK Dick fan).
Wasn’t there a couple of chapters of a planned sequel published in one of his collections.
Very grim in parts and unsuitable for a young audience, the one I just watched featured a beheading, which I could have done without.
Amazon have a 15 rating on it which is probably par for the course, given the content, these days.
Just finished it.
Im in two minds
On the minus – quite drab at times and the julia/joe/Frank axis got a bit dull and angsty. I guess they want umpteen seasons so the central intrigue re the films was hardly addressed. Tone v downbeat.
On the plus – Rufus Sewell – loved the episode with the family dinner. Sometimes the budget looked quite tightly controlled (nondescript locations with few extras) but the Nazi stuff was well done. The last scene was good – hopefully Season 2 will dive deep into this and quickly.
Overall, not up to Bloodline standard. Bosch I enjoyed more, although what was that last episode??
What was wrong with the last episode of Bosch?
Just finished it. What sort of end was that FFS! Not. Happy. At. All.