The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 8: Hitler Has Only Got One Ball — A Review

7th December, 2019.

Yep: it’s Saturday evening!

And, if you read today’s Daily Teaser?

You’ll realise I had a few things planned.

Which I managed to get done.

Including sending the first batch of this year’s Christmas cards.

What it didn’t include … ?   Was the old fashioned green double decker that I managed to get on, to get to town.

A double decker bus complete with a driver, and a conductor: with one of those old fashioned ticket machines.

With the buttons and the handle?   Lord knows what they’re called … !

Either way?

It was nice to see.

~≈¥≈~

Either way … ?

Either way, I have to make a confession … ?

With nothing else to do, I made sure I watched a TV show.

Yes: you guessed it … The eighth episode of The Man in the High Castle fourth season … 

~≈¥≈~

Episode 8 — Hitler Has Only Got One Ball.

In the wake of the BCR bombings?

In the wake of The BCR bombings in episode 7, Japanese forces — and Japanese people — are evacuating San Francisco: and the rest of the Japanese Pacific States.

During those evacuations?   Admiral Inokuchi (Eijiro Ozaki) and Inspector Kido (Joel de la Fuente) have a big level meeting with Reichsmarshall Smith (Rufus Sewell): one that sees the Reichsmarshall Smith not getting the intelligence files he wants.

The group goes its separate ways … and sees the inspector meeting an old friend from the Yakuza.

And captured: twice.

First by vigilantes haunting the streets of San Francisco … and then by a group from the Bell Mallory’s (Frances Turner) BCR …

This … ?   And the Inspector’s troubled son, Toru, is in trouble.

Whilst this goes on … ?

The resistance cell led by Juliana Crane (Alexa Davalos)?

Manages to make contact with the Reichsmarshall’s wife, Helen: a Helen (Chelah Horsdal) left thoroughly confused by what she’s told.

A Helen who doesn’t know that her husband … has been summoned to Berlin (the City of Berlin).

Things?   Are taking a turn … 

~≈¥≈~

Now … 

Am I glued … ?   Am I enjoying the show?   Still?

Very much so.

I have to admit: Reichsmarshall Smith and Inspector Kido are two of the most sympathetic villains I’ve come across for some time: with both under pressure in tonight’s episode, and both concerned for their sons.

And, while this isn’t an action led piece*?   It more than makes up for that with complicated politicking and sheer emotion.

Frankly?

It’s another fine episode.

*        I have to admit, I’ve recently caught the first episode of the recent BBC version of The War of The Worlds.   It’s very impressive looking.   But could well have had a touch more action … and less of the main character’s love life.