Sunday 11 March 2018

The Man in the High Castle — Series 2 — Episode 1: The Tiger’s Cave

11th March, 2018.


Yes: quite definitely in something of a funny mood: with a feeling of …

Incompleteness, if that’s the right word.

You see, something that’s been nagging at me for a couple of weeks, now?

Is the simple fact I’ve still not transferred over my complete iTunes library from my old machine, to my new one*.

Same for my old iPhoto library: although I’ve got key elements from both moved over.

Frankly?

It’s taking its time … and worrying me, as it’s not done.

~≈§≈~


With that said … ?

With that said, I’ve had a night off, tonight.

I realise there’s a lot I’ve had to do: laundry, teaser videos, dinner with the family, buying mother’s day card, ironing …

And the realisation that — funny mood, not-with-standing? — I wanted to watch something.

And, frankly?

Much as I fancy a film — Teaser regulars, Olga and Debbi — have both suggested some interesting ones: as have others.

Much as I fancied a film, I also didn’t fancy a film.

The only way out of that contradiction … ?

Is into a TV show.

I’ve been meaning to start on The Man in the High Castle’s second series for a while.

~≈§≈~

Episode 1 — The Tiger’s Cave — opens with Thomas Smith (Quinn Lord), son of Obergruppenführer John Smith (Rufus Sewell) heading for school.   Little realising the death sentence he has hanging over him.

In the meantime … ?   The Obergruppenführer has refused to let Joe Blake (Luke Kleintank) resign … then board a plane for Berlin to deliver the film Blake’s handed over … to the Führer, Adolf Hitler (Wolf Muser), himself.

Back in the Pacific States … ?

Back in the Japanese-controlled Pacific States, in a meeting in the Japanese Embassy, General Onoda (Tzi Ma) reveals to a group including Trade Minister Tagomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) that the Empire now has plans for a functioning nuclear weapon … and the Empire intends to use them …

Whilst this is happening … ?  

Juliana (Alexa‡ Davalos) gets shot, tranquillised, shot again, shoved in a car boot, and then killed.

After meeting Hawthorn Abendsen (Stephen Root): the Man in the High Castle, himself …

Things can only get … odder for Juliana …

~≈§≈~

Now … ?

Mood aside … ?

“How,” I here you ask, “did you feel about this opening episode, Paul?”


Well …

Quite good, actually.

I went into the first series prepared to be unimpressed: knowing Hollywood could — indeed has — played fast and loose with its primary sources.

But came away impressed: both with the overall look and feel of an alternative 1960s, and with the quality of acting, production and writing.

AND with it’s closeness to what I remembered of the book: rhead many years ago.

Going on this first episode of series two?

The production is STILL good.

Although I get the impression it’s going to drift away from the original book.

I’m not surprised …

And not actually unhappy about that.

I realise the original Dick novel can only sustain so many episode: that first season seems to have been those episodes.

It’s now down to the shows creators to carry the story forward in a way that does the original source material proud.

So far?

I think the answer is yes: they seem to be doing that well.

Well enough … for me to want to invest more time in the show.





*        On something of an upside?   With my library on my old machine — the ageing Mac Pro I’ve always referred to as ‘Daniel’ — I had tp repeatedly log in and out of Home Sharing to get the thing to show up, properly.   Not an issue with the iTunes library on the new machine.   That I’ve since chastened Katie†, after the voice I use for the clock.   Go ahead, tell me that’s odd.   Now … how many people give their cars silly nicknames?

†        As I’m sure Debbi, and others, may mention?   I christened my first Mac mini, Bruce …

‡        I’m ASSUMING Amazon didn’t hire her to advertise its AI speakers.   OR the creepy laugh.   (If you’re on a Siri equipped Mac?   Ask it to laugh …)

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