The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 10: Episode 10 Fire from the Gods — A Review

14th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially Saturday night.

With little in the way of cash.

Which, unfortunately?   Is the perils of unemployment.

You have plenty of time to do whatever you want … 

But no actual cash to do it with.

Frankly?

That means a cheap night in, watching TV.

Yes: you’re right.

The last episode of The Man in the High Castle.

Hey ho … 

~≈¥≈~

Episode 10 — Episode 10 Fire from the Gods — opens with an ambiguous pre-title teaser: showing us the portal gently waking into life … and then closing down.

And opens, after the titles, where Reichsmarshall Smith (Rufus Sewell) has told Helen (Chelah Horsdal) that he has to travel to the Poconos: and wants her with him.

He’s got something to show her.

In the former Japanese city of San Francisco?   Vigilantes has attracted the former Kenpeitai HQ: with the explicit intention of killing Inspector Kido (Joel de la Fuente): who has very different ideas.

Whilst the Reichsmarshall leaves Helen at home?

She finds Smith’s plans for Nazi America’s own version of the Final Solution.

She phones Juliana (Alexa Davalos) to let the latter know what the Reichsmarshall’s plans are … and what time he’ll be taking the train.

On the train?   The Reichsmarshall gives the order to bomb San Francisco: against the wish of Helen … a Helen who now knows they son is still alive on another world.

A Helen who is killed when the rebels attack the train … living her husband alive … 

Only to commit suicide during the gunfight between his body guards and a group of rebels led by Juliana.

Back in San Francisco?   Back in San Francisco, Bell’s (Frances Turner’s) forces are digging in: to protect the city from the on-coming bombers: not knowing that their problems may soon be over.

~≈¥≈~

Now … 

Is this a good episode?

Is Fire from the Gods a suitable finale for The Man in the High Castle?

There’s a question!

On the whole?   Yes: this is a very good episode, which ties up most of the character arcs.

Robert Childan?   Gets to go to Japan, to the woman he lives.

Inspector Kido?   Gets to see his son safe.

Helen, and her husband, the Reichsmarshall?

Both dead: she in the train crash, dying knowing that her son won’t see what his parents could have become.

The Reichsmarshall?   Dying by his own gun, mourning the man he could have been.

The invasion … ?   Cancelled … in a way that could have set up  plot lines for a fifth season.

And Juliana?

The one character arc I feel wasn’t resolved?

Was Juliana’s.

We never find out what happens: only that’s she is facing a future, welcoming incoming immigrants from other worlds.

The Man in the High Castle is a great series: but with a deeply ambiguous ending.

Not quite as ambiguous as — say — The Prisoner’s.

But one that will no doubt be talked about for a while.

And one that I feel was a cop-out.

~≈¥≈~

15th December, 2019

As a final thought?

It occurred to me, this morning — when posting today’s Daily Teaser — what bothered me about Fire from the Gods.

It’s the fact that San Francisco didn’t get bombed.

For much of the first two season Juliana Crane would have visions of her home city after an A-bomb attack.

Something not followed through on, in this finale.

At the moment?

I feel this would have made for a much darker — and more striking — ending.

Would have been an extra factor in Reichsmarshall Smith’s suicide: he would not only be feeling grief at Helen’s death, anger at her refusal to see Thomas … and be dealing with guilt at killing the population of San Francisco.

I also think — given ’Frisco’s destruction — that Juliana and Hawthorne Abendson would have fled through the portal: rather than been a welcoming committee.

The episode is fine as it stands.

But could — should — have been a lot darker.

The Man in the High Castle will be talked about for a while.   Partly?   Because the show’s producers could have gone one way … but went another, instead.