The Man in the High Castle — Series 3 — Episodes 4 and 5: Sabra and The New Colossus.

16th October, 2018.

Yes, OK … I’m getting old.

But … ?

Frankly … there’s a couple of things.

First off … ?

I’m in a Facebook group: for Dr Who fans.

This year’s celebrity gimmick?

Get J. K. Rowling to do a script for Dr Who.

Personally?



I read the first of the Harry Potter books, a long time ago: I can see the appeal, but felt the series wasn’t for me.

Although, yes: it’s got kids into reading.

Which is a big achievement.

But … ?

The fact EVERYONE keeps going on about Ms Rowling, AND the Harry Potter franchise, as if it were the only thing on the bookshop’s shelves?

Is just a little bit off-putting.

The more I hear … ?

The more annoyed I get about it.

And secondly … ?

Yes: I got some cheap Sainsbury drinking chocolate.

OK, twenty years ago, that possibly would’ve been a beer.

Frankly?

I’m glad I’ve replaced it with cocoa … 

And a TV show.

Yes, you’ve guessed it: I’m catching up with The Man in the High Castle, season three, again … 

~≈§≈~

Episode 4 — Sabra — sees a hidden community in the Neutral Zone battle for its survival.   With Mark (Micheal Gaston), the town’s resident rebbe bringing an easily fought off danger to town … 

But also having to prepare Frank Frink (Rupert Evans) for his upcoming bar mitzah.

Juliana (Alexa Davalos) is getting re-aquainted with Joe (Luke Klein Tank): who, unbeknownst to to her, is working directly for Reichs Führer Himmler, himself …

Episode 5 — The New Colossus — shows us the government of the Greater American Reich is not as unified as it seems.

With Oberst-Gruppenführer Smith (Rufus Sewell) coming out on top in a very understated battle with Reichsmarshal Rockwell.

Back east?   Trade Minister Tagomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) has survived an assassination attempt.

And Juliana?

Has a … run–in with Joe … 

~≈§≈~

Now … 

Yes: I did enjoy that cocoa, thank you!

And yes: I thoroughly enjoy the show.

Granted, The Man in the High Castle is veering away from its original source material.

But some things still seem to have happened in both worlds: and it’s interesting To see how the producers work them into the series.

J. Edgar Hoover still gets blackmailed: by Nazis, rather than the Mafia.   (OK, ALLEGEDLY blackmailed.)

A Buddhist monk burns himself to death: although in protest at oil shortages, rather than the Vietnam War.

And … ?

Cuba — as Rockwell’s death shows — is still the den of thieves it was in the 1950s.

Watchable?

That The Man in the High Castle is!