After the penultimate episode diverged considerably from this show’s central characters and storyline, I was pleased to see an installment that felt as satisfying as possible given this show’s truncated conclusion and the scope of what it was trying to do. Seeing protesters outside Hitler’s trial with white power signs was very disturbing, as well as the indication that the chief justice might be biased and allow for very strict readings of the law that might allow him to actually not be held accountable for all he did. Hearing from Mindy and other survivors was very powerful, and having a Jewish defense attorney, played by Josh Zuckerman, added a whole lot to the importance of what was happening. Nyasha Hatendi was very memorable as Oliver Frankel, the prosecutor, who was standing for nothing and continued pushing, and, as is often the case in real life, self-righteousness and a desire not to be thought of as weak was ultimately Hitler’s undoing on the stand. Using a direct Mel Gibson quote and ideas that Donald Trump expressed caught me by surprise, demonstrating just how cyclical things can be, and I found that to be a very emotional and worthwhile creative choice. After the guilty verdict was rendered, this show kicked back into full gear for one last extended sequence, which fortunately did fell the still-alive Travis, have Eva die in the process, and put Hitler in prison as an anonymous number, the worst fate for someone with such an ego. The confirmation that Meyer was Ruth’s killer was an interesting wedding gift from Harriet to Jonah, especially since the show ended with him still trying to track down the Nazis who were still out there. That was a fitting way to close out the show, with most of the characters getting happy endings but the resounding knowledge that evil still exists in this world. I might have been open to more of this show but I’m glad that this second season was very strong, better even than the first, and I’ll remember it fondly to recommend to those okay with seeing more than a bit of brutality on screen.
Series finale: B+
Series grade: B+
Season MVP: Jennifer Jason Leigh as Chava
Season grade: B+
Series MVP: Al Pacino as Meyer
Best Season: Season 2
Best Episode: “Only the Dead”
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