What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle (Season Finale)

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 10 “Jahr Null” (B)

I feel like this most recent season has felt especially long, elapsing over the course of two and a half months for me, which is about the same amount of time a ten-episode season airing on standard television would last. Once again, I don’t feel that the time I’ve invested has been worth it, and it’s hard to know what’s going to happen next given some of the events we saw at the very end. I’ve been waiting for Smith to soften and turn at some point, and somehow, it hasn’t happened yet. Hawthorne had the perfect opportunity to spell out for him that he could be reunited with his son in another world, but instead he toed the party line and even went in to shoot Juliana as she about to travel, striking her just as she disappeared so that she’s likely going to perish wherever she’s managed to arrive. What was clear is that Wyatt is a good ally, one who’s going to carry on the cause by hopefully exposing the films to the masses, a likely far more effective strategy than the subtle image messaging that Robert assisted Ed with in this hour. He also sent Himmler to the hospital, theoretically elevating Smith even closer to being in charge of the Reich, though not before he made clear that no “perversion” of any sort will be tolerated in his regime, sending Nicole back to Berlin for reeducation. I feel like, this far in, I’m not going to give up on this show, but I do hope season four is stronger.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Jason O’Mara as Wyatt

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 9 “Baku” (B-)

I always wonder why shows bring characters back after they appear to die only to then kill them off a short time later. Sure, I guess Frank has been back for most of the season, but I still contend that he was a weak character to begin with, and little of what he’s done over the course of the past few episodes has been worthwhile. Inspiring with subversive images doesn’t compare to the work that Juliana is doing to try to save all worlds, and no one will even necessarily know that he’s dead since Kido brought him out to the middle of nowhere to ceremonially end his life, before which he uttered some unconvincing Hebrew. I also misunderstood and thought that Kido was, for some reason, letting him go, which evidently wasn’t the case. It certainly did not seem smart for Mark to gloat before executing the two men who were hunting for Jews, announcing his hidden religious identity to anyone else who might be listening and have nefarious intentions for the persecuted people. Smith is having a serious identity crisis, and meeting with Tagomi at this point feels like the perfect opportunity to do what I’ve always expected he will based on his strong desire to reunite with his son, which is to let Juliana go or even help her. With just one episode left in this season, I continue to feel disappointed with this show, and I hope that the finale will somehow leave me feeling as positive as I did at this point in season two when this show best found its footing.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 8 “Kasumi” (B)

I remember watching early episodes of “Mad Men” where Betty’s therapist would speak directly to Don about their sessions, a clear violation of doctor-patient confidentiality in a chauvinistic age. It’s much more troubling here when the Nazis rule over America, though I was surprised that Dr. Ryan told John pretty much everything, including the fact that, after the dreams we saw her having, Helen kissed him. John is more worried about his family’s own safety in the Reich right now, which is understandable given that Helen is a huge liability who I don’t think will survive the remaining two episodes of the season. Nicole was able to get away with no problem after the lesbian club got raided by flashing her Nazi ID, but Thelma wasn’t so lucky, and it’s incredible that such indulgences are permitted in such a totalitarian society for those in power. All of Sabra watching the film didn’t go over as anyone hoped, with only one viewer and Ed realizing its value. This is not the first time that we’ve seen Wyatt and Juliana end up the last ones standing with a bunch of Nazis on the ground, and the originality factor has worn off slightly. Tagomi fended off an attack with his female friend in his home, which suggests that there are forces working against him, though Kido appears preoccupied with other things like giving Robert his life back after his help. Two episodes to go – will this show end this season on a worthwhile note?

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 7 “Excess Animus” (B)

The gang’s all back together, with Juliana reunited with a typically reserved and far from jolly Frank and a far more visibly excited Ed. Juliana seems very intent on making active change in trying to broadcast the movies that show proof of another world to everyone she can, while Tagomi is far more worried about those in charge here trying to build a way to conquer whatever else exists out there. I don’t know that either is more realistic, but we definitely saw something unexpected in Tagomi coming clean with Kido about the fact that he is a traveler. Kido has usually seemed like a villain here, but maybe that won’t be the case anymore. I can’t understand why we’re still following Robert and his misadventures, which in this episode included coming home to find his house being inhabited by someone else, not having the money to pay a prostitute, and then ending up being tortured by Kido’s thugs for unknown reasons. Mark definitely didn’t have to look hard for the men who were looking for the guy that got killed at Sabra, and judging by their vicious behavior in public, it’s terrifying to think what they might do if they find this secret Jewish community. Helen’s fever dreams are truly something, and I suspect that Dr. Ryan would know better than to do anything with Helen that might find him killed almost immediately upon its discovery. John’s having intense dreams too, and I remain curious about whether he’ll switch sides to a degree also.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 6 “History Ends” (B)

Everything is converging, but that means more than one larger extended plotline is that allegiances are shifting. Kido was more than ready to get the prostitute to identify Juliana as a woman out of place that she saw right before Joe died, but after he went to Tagomi, the trade minister called him when he received a mysterious package with Nazi files on him. The two empires have been fragile allies for a long time, and now things are beginning to fall apart, especially as John, not Himmler, got the call about Joe being killed. Ed and Bobby’s bad fortune being taken for everything they had ended up putting them right back in contact with Mark, who was very happy to tell Ed that his good friend Frank was still alive. Interspersing the Nazi parade honoring John with Frank having his Bar Mitzvah in secret was both a powerful and disturbing notion, one that shows that the resistance is still alive even as Himmler and the Nazi party prepare to rewrite history and erase what came before. Juliana is in good company with Wyatt, who can tell that she has become a more unhinged person willing to do whatever it takes to survive. It’s hard to imagine that John could think about his future when he literally saw a woman disappear in front of his eyes to travel to another world, a signal that his reign may be far from permanent if the world he knows isn’t the only one out there.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 5 “The New Colossus” (B-)

This episode provided some definite power plays that I don’t think were all that expected, but this show still continues to be far less resounding and great both than I had hoped it would be and than most people attest it is. Hoover gathering evidence against Helen and John, including damning details of the Argentinean kidnapping plot, and then having Rockwell present it in front of Himmler felt rather juvenile, since you’d think that the leader of the Reich wouldn’t fly all the way from Berlin to hear accusations in such a dramatic way. The most interesting part, I suppose, was that Himmler wasn’t bothered by what he knew John to have done but rather by his sloppiness in allowing Rockwell to find out and not recognizing Helen for the problematic liability that she is. I didn’t know why we had to see Rockwell indulging his fantasies in Havana, merely to show John’s reach and willingness to crack down when it doesn’t involve a difficult decision. Ed talking about hiding things in his underpants to an ungrateful Robert just wasn’t necessary, and I’m not sure why we’re still following either of those characters. Frank not wanting to prepare for his Bar Mitzvah is also far less compelling than it should be. It was reassuring to see Juliana take immediate action once she saw who Joe had become, and his death is one thing that I didn’t see coming. Hopefully that will help make this show better, and, disturbing as it is, this show should also shift more of its focus to Nicole’s efforts to replace relics of “pre-Reich America” with more potent propaganda.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 4 “Sabra” (B-)

I had the return of a character thought by most to be dead spoiled by reading the opening lines of an article in the Jewish Journal discussing the increased focus on Judaism in this season. I’ve never been a fan of Frank Frink, and I thought that his being gone was actually a positive for the show. Instead, we find out that he’s the artist behind the rainbow resistance image, living in a community of secret Jews pretending to be Christians that nearly got compromised by the man who forced Mark to bring him back to his home. It’s difficult to watch that when there’s so much anti-Semitism roaring its ugly head in the real world, and here it’s state-sanctioned, which means that if they get caught, they’re all going to be killed and it won’t even be considered a crime. While Frank being alive may have been a surprise to audiences, the Kempeitai seems to be fully aware that he is likely out there. Before he and Robert were robbed of their bus and all their possessions by the biker gang, Ed got to experience true happiness in a surprisingly public way, one that was also indulged by the creator of propaganda herself, Nicole. I know how being a “gender traitor” is handled on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but I can’t imagine it’s something that the Reich takes kindly to even if it’s not their most despised trait. As he tries to handle Helen, John is getting more and more disturbed by the films and the dreams about Thomas, and I wonder where it’s all going to lead. Joe may be wooing Juliana, but he’s sure killing a lot of people, the latest of which may be Tagomi.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 3 “Sensô Kôi” (B)

It’s certainly more disturbing than usual to watch this show in the wake of the deadly shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning. One aspect of this show that hasn’t really been explored is how the Nazis, upon learning that there exist other worlds, might reconsider their beliefs. I say this because we’re starting to see even more sympathetic portrayals of the primary Nazi characters, with the Smith family in particular starting to question their allegiances following the release of the propaganda film that attempts to erase American history and paint Thomas as an American hero, one fully worthy of the Nazi salute in his honor. I’ve always found John Smith to be the strongest character on this show, and I think his newfound attitude is due only to his state of mourning and not a question of his principles. Seeing Thomas in one of the movies definitely threw him for a loop, and we’re about to get to a new and important point as Juliana starts to think that she can make a difference with her memories connected to the movies. As Hoover spreads his (correct) theories about the Smiths being responsible for the deaths of the Adlers and Kido gets to interrogate the located Priest Hagan, we got to see the reunion between Juliana and Joe, whose motivations still remain somewhat unclear. Mark’s interest in Robert unsubtly peddling Judaica has apparently gotten him into trouble, and hopefully it won’t lead to anyone getting hurt or killed.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 2 “Imagine Manchuria” (B)

I still can’t understand how it works for characters like Trudy and Tagomi to travel between different worlds, and I’ve always thought that this would be a stronger show if it dealt only with one alternate reality rather than those within it trying to escape back to what we know to be the world. What we’re seeing now is that world closing in on itself, with Kido recognizing Trudy as someone that he had killed who couldn’t possibly be who she was but who was nonetheless right in front of him. Tagomi also stepped in to save Juliana and Trudy from certain death, and now he’s going to be tied to them as things get more intense between the Nazi and Japanese regimes, with Smith’s phone call to Kido to warn him to be on the lookout for Juliana met with understandable dishonesty from the perplexed Kido. As usual, things within the Nazi regime are unstable as well, with Hoover and other sources getting ready to move on Smith, and Helen’s meeting with the late doctor’s wife going horribly awry. I’m not sure what to make of the appearance of Michael Gaston’s secretly-practicing Jew Mark, and our first check-in with Ed and Robert, who are making their way through the neutral zone. We’re just two episodes into a ten-episode run of a show that several months ago was commissioned for a fourth season, meaning that there’s a whole lot of ground to be covered soon, and I’m really not sure what’s going to come next and where it will end up eventually.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle (Season Premiere)

The Man in the High Castle: Season 3, Episode 1 “Now More Than Ever, We Care About You” (B)

I’m only about a week behind getting started on this show, which is much better than the rest of the streaming fare that I’ll be making my way through for the next few months. I’ve found this show to be an enormous disappointment thus far, and it only finally started getting good at the end of last season. This start is half-promising, with some of the same slow pacing but other worthwhile developments to indicate that there is more enticing stuff coming up. Joe made a hard choice to take his father out so that he could be released, and he doesn’t appear to be behaving any better than he did before now that he’s officially back in the good graces of Smith and everyone else in the Reich. Nicole is making her own power moves, and threatening to kill a cameraman if he doesn’t film the right shot has considerably more weight in this world than it does in ours. Speaking of that, Trudy being around makes Juliana far more positive, and she’s made herself a new contact and love interest in the form of Wyatt, played by the dependable Jason O’Mara, whose most recent TV appearance on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” followed a handful of lead roles that didn’t work out. The ceremony for Thomas was unsettling in a number of ways, and it’s hard to figure out how it’s going to set both John and Helen on a different path going forward. The Kempetai continues to use firing squads, another disturbing element of this universe, and as Tagomi cements his role, Inspector Kido is staying focused too. It’s not all too surprising to see J. Edgar Hoover, played by William Forsythe, in this universe, still tracking down secrets but in a far more gossipy way than as head of the FBI. I’m hopeful for a more even and engaging season - it’s taken long enough to get here.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle (Season Finale)

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 10 “Fallout” (B+)

I was thrilled to see that this show was finally reaching its potential at the end of its second season, and this transformative finale didn’t disappoint. I’ve expressed frustration at the notion that Juliana is the center of the world, but apparently that’s true - she was in all of the films and played such a vital role. I never would have expected her to shoot George since she doesn’t always follow through when other people tell her that she can’t do what she wants, and fending off an assassination attempt and walking away clean showed her inner strength. Finding Stephen Root’s Hawthorne acting like the man behind the curtain demonstrated her success, and who would have thought that, after all this, Trudy is still alive? We didn’t see any of supporting characters like Ed or Robert, and Frank is long gone, and so instead we got to watch two of this show’s most notorious and magnetic villains, Inspector Kido and Obergruppenführer Smith, come together to act in the service of both of their countries, preventing catastrophic war based on totally false pretenses. It was stirring to see John honored in Berlin, and a harsh reminder that, decent as some of these people may be, they’re still Nazis. Thomas giving himself up didn’t seem all that honorable since it accomplishes nothing, and better for him to achieve greatness in spite of the limitations he is supposed to have given his condition. I have no idea what comes next but after these two strong episodes, I’m more than willing to come back for what I hope will be a better-defined and more satisfying season three.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Rufus Sewell as John Smith

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 9 “Detonation” (B+)

And here we have it, nineteen episodes into this show’s run. This was the best episode this show has produced yet, and a sign that this has all been worth it. After spending nearly the whole season in New York cozying up to the Smith family, Juliana has definitely created a useful pipeline with Thomas coming directly to her to ask what’s wrong with him, but I think she’s crossed a line that she won’t be able to uncross. Helping to blackmail Henry for George accelerated events in a major way, with Henry announcing Hitler’s death on live TV and then being shot on camera seconds later. While it seemed that the Nazis weren’t prepared for that, it turns out that it was their plan all along to use Hitler’s death to start a war with the Japanese, which presents enormous uncertainty for whatever comes next for the American people with their two conquerors preparing for the next world war. Frank shooting Inspector Kido and detonating an explosive was interestingly-timed because it weakens the Japanese when they’ve already been caught by surprise. Flashing back to Frank first introducing Ed to Juliana was effective since it framed him in the most positive light he’s ever been in since the start of the show, and made him seem like a real hero. Robert and Ed made it out of San Francisco just in time, and I’m now looking forward to an episode of this more than I ever have before. The season finale is sure to be impactful and eventful, and hopefully it can redirect season three to be much more engaging.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 8 “Loose Lips” (B)

It’s astonishing to me just how much this show continues to revolve around Juliana, episode after episode. Joe thinks she’s dead and it’s the reason that he’s now decided that he has a role to play in Nazi Germany. Frank was torn apart the moment that he got confirmation from Arnold that Juliana actually has been working with the resistance this whole time, and now it’s hard to know what’s going to come next. She always seems to come back into play at exactly the wrong moment, like when Robert is coming around to the idea of being a team with Ed and Frank, something that’s immediately negated because Frank’s mind is somewhere else. The big development of this episode, as dramatized at the end of the hour, was Hitler’s death, something that seems so monumental because of the way that it played out with such a grand crowd in attendance. It also helped that John was busy interrogating the man he thought was in line to be the next fuhrer only to discover that it’s actually Heusmann, who may have much more of an agenda and a grand vision than he led his son to believe. I’m curious to see how the world reacts to the news of Hitler’s death, if it is shared at all, since we’ve already seen just how much Juliana was able to make happen and those on the West Coast seem sure that it’s going to be the start of something big and potentially game-changing.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 7 “Land O’ Smiles” (B)

Opening this episode with Frank reading in very forced Hebrew from the Haggadah during a Passover seder with his family felt like a strange place to start, and after seeing the episode I think that it was there only to allow him to come up with the idea to put a plague on the pharaohs (and utter that line). Frank’s debate with his new ally Sarah was interesting because it showed what it’s really like to be associated either with a religious or ethnic group in this world. Frank spotting the radiation on the buses was awfully convenient, and now with the Yakuza threat gone, he can focus fully on his activities with the resistance. I didn’t comment when he showed up earlier this season, but I’m very pleased with the casting of Michael Hogan from “Battlestar Galactica” as a former reverend whose faith has been very much lost. Frank and Ed are best buds now after Ed swooped in with that intense story about Abraham Lincoln to convince the buyer that he shouldn’t walk away, and then the timing couldn’t have been any better for their visit with the Yakuza. I was surprised that Kido just pulled out his gun and started executing all of the Yakuza, and he just got in trouble for not filling General Onada in and watching too many Western movies. In New York, it was unsettling to see the Nazi Queen Bees preparing a giant swastika flower arrangement. John delivered an intense eulogy for the man he killed, and though the doctor’s wife is hysterical, I don’t think she’s truly suspicious. The Smiths are lucky that Juliana was the one who saw Thomas spasm, but they have bigger things to worry about now that Hitler’s health is in serious jeopardy.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 6 “Kintsugi” (B-)

Who isn’t dreaming about Juliana? For someone who’s not really all that dynamic, she takes up a good portion of attention on this show. Joe hallucinating her during a major trip at a party in Berlin was definitely her wildest appearance, though the site of her as Tagomi’s daughter-in-law holding his grandson in her arms was particularly jarring. It’s strange to see Tagomi spend the entire hour in a different universe, learning about what values his family members have in an alternate America. Ending the episode with a speech by JFK was strange, and didn’t feel so appropriate since, whatever place Juliana and Joe have started to find for themselves in this world, it’s not actually headed towards any greater sense of liberty. Joe realizing who he is supposed to be in Berlin is a journey filled with paranoia about his true purpose, but I think he’s approaching an important realization that may not send him down the path he thinks it will. Both he and Juliana are infiltrating social circles in different ways, and Juliana is starting to care about the Nazis she is getting to know despite their inherent ignorance and outright xenophobia. I’m not too enthralled with John’s plan to spirit away his younger son by making him the alleged victim of a made-up kidnapping plot in South America, mainly because the idea of John being able to divert an entire investigation and fail to figure out what happened is entirely impossible to believe. I suspect a far more tragic fate will befall his son and their family before that plan can be put into action.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 5 “Duck and Cover” (B)

My interest in this show wanes every episode or two, and I found this installment to be considerably less engaging, though I am now halfway through the season. This show just got picked up for a third season, so it’s obviously headed somewhere, and I may just have to stick around for the whole thing since I still want to like it so much. What was cool about this episode and by far its most compelling moment was when Inspector Kido traveled to New York and met with John, marking the first meeting we’ve had between our top two villains who are also humanized in their own ways. John was right to point out that Kido could never have expected him to grant his request, and it’s intriguing that he traveled all that way to ask. As John is earning the ire of his wife for not focusing on protecting their son, it’s incredible just how many people are obsessed with Juliana. I was confused about Tate Donovan’s age when I recognized him after seeing his name on the credits last week as the man playing George Dixon, but the math does work out for him to be Trudy’s father and to be considerably older than Alexa Davalos even though he doesn’t necessarily look it. Him having to protect her from the good guys who want her dead makes her a dangerous target, and it’s a wonder that she’s still alive. Joe’s newfound information has changed his perspective already, and I’m not sure whether it will make him more or less in favor of helping the Nazi cause. Frank is getting in way over his head, but since the beginning it’s been clear that he needs to do something and make a difference, so it seems like he’s found both the cause and the avenue now.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 4 “Escalation” (B)

Things have certainly intensified when it comes to Frank and his involvement with the resistance, going from someone not at all interested in having his life and those of the people he cares about adversely affected by his activities to someone who is now fully invested and actively causing problems for the Japanese. Seeing innocent people killed is definitely what triggered him, and though he doesn’t seem to think it’s a good idea, Ed doesn’t resist too much and is now helping his best bud in both that and his other illegal enterprise of antique forgery with their unamused partner Robert. We’re seeing a civil war of sorts play out between Inspector Kido and General Onada, and some unexpected tricks played during the battle. Tagomi is continuing to try to figure out how he can stop this world from continuing on its course and get back to somewhere better, and thus far he’s not having too much permanent luck. As Joe tries to leave Berlin but finds something keeping him there, Juliana is busy back in New York trying to find clues. She’s apparently a natural for the Reich’s form of the ACT (very different from the standardized test I took to help me get into college), and she even has time to track down George Dixon, who found her pretty quickly. As usual, it’s the drama related to John that feels most poignant and stirring, as he tried not to let his wife know what was going on and then saw even more fear in her eyes when she learned the truth about her son.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 3 “Travelers” (B)

This episode sent things back in a more compelling direction, though I’m still not sure that everything is equally interesting. The drama happening in the Greater Nazi Reich and in Germany itself is definitely superior to what’s going on in the Pacific States, and that’s largely because the characters in the former are better than those in the latter. To start with the inferior, Frank is keeping very busy as he now enlists Ed to be the latest thorn in Robert’s side as their operation heats up and moves its base into Robert’s home, something the antiques salesman really doesn’t like. Much as he tried not to, he’s also getting very cozy with the resistance, and now he’s in it whether he wants to be or not. Arnold was surprisingly forthcoming with Inspector Kido, but Juliana is far enough away from all this that it shouldn’t matter. Her chilly arrival to New York showed that the political asylum she thought she was requesting was a far more systematic and unforgiving operation, where she has to be examined for purity and evaluated based on her child-bearing potential. John made a very personal and direct approach, and he did that in the midst of having to deal with his son’s unfitness to remain alive in this world, something he chose to prevent by killing the doctor who was following up on John’s inaction. Joe’s time in Berlin has not been too pleasant, and I’m looking forward to seeing the surprise he’s going to experience when he returns home and finds that Juliana is much closer than he ever expected.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 2 “The Road Less Traveled” (B)

The whole time that I was watching this episode, I was thinking that I would give it one more chance with episode three and then give up if it didn’t get any more interesting. Fortunately or unfortunately, by the end of the episode, I felt that things were headed in a more interesting direction. The fact that Inspector Kido knows who Juliana is and was able to identify her by name when he heard the description shows just how much she’s an important player in all this, and watching her walk fearlessly to the physical line that separated Japanese and Nazi territory so that she could fall on it and request asylum as an ally of Joe was intense. Hopefully that will be just the game-changer this show needs to liven itself up. It’s also pretty incredible that Frank was able to get a message to Inspector Kido to convince him to sew up the case about the Crown Prince’s assassin and get Ed released. He was in pretty bad shape, and learning that Frank, his grandfather, and everyone else who worked at the factory would still be killed even after his execution was a grim fate that didn’t even come close to being realized, which is a relief. I’m not sure what becomes of Ed now, but I suspect that Frank and his good friend Robert are going to be deeply indebted to the man who helped them get Ed released. Tagomi’s investigation into concepts like Nelson Mandela and the Cuban Missile Crisis that don’t exist in his world is intriguing, and he’s clearly moved away from the kinds of practices that are normative in his world, like targeting public buses. Let’s see how next episode plays out.

What I’m Watching: The Man in the High Castle (Season Premiere)

The Man in the High Castle: Season 2, Episode 1 “The Tiger’s Cave” (B-)

I’ve always wanted to like this show a lot more than I have, since I think it has unmeasurable potential to be great but hasn’t lived up to that in any way so far. Part of that has to do with its two protagonists being relatively unengaging people, and this opening installment didn’t help that at all. For the entirety of the episode, Julianna was closer to answers than she’s ever been but squandered the opportunity, instead revealing just how little she knew and ended up nearly getting taken out before escaping from a car trunk into what should be the definition of enemy territory. I still can’t grasp what’s going on here with these films and what the Trade Minister experienced when he closed his eyes and woke up in a different dimension, but I do like the casting of the reliable Stephen Root, whose credits span from “Office Space” to “True Blood,” as Abendsen, who seems to be the closest thing to that figure that we’re going to get for the moment, exempting Lem, of course. And then we have Frank, who is determined to make things right in some way and is going about that in a very brash way, bringing along a character I really don’t like, Robert, who it now seems will be taking on a much more significant role in the show’s plot. I’m much more intrigued by Smith and his visit to see Hitler, who is quite worried about the films and their continued existence. I’m hopeful that this show improves its excitement level and general storytelling over the next few episodes, since I’m not sure I’ll be able to stick with it much longer otherwise.