One thing I absolutely enjoy when I’m starting a brand-new television series, is the anticipation and wonder that comes with seeing a new show find its groove and its footing over the course of the first few episodes. Because you’re simply in for quite a treat as the story tries out new things all while staying true to the plot points that it introduced in the pilot episode and anticipation and wonder are exactly what was surging through my veins shortly after I settled in to watch the second episode of Lodge 49, because ‘Moments of Truth in Service’ turned out to be an absolute delight.
 
Because this second episode decided that it was going to try and inject a wealth of humor into this story and it succeeded at that since I found myself laughing out loud often over the course of this hour and who knew that most of the humor in this story would have come from Liz’s storyline in this tale? Granted, that’s not meant to insult her, it’s just that she was such the straight arrow in the pilot episode that I didn’t expect to see her help generate some chuckles. But she did, and it was glorious and perhaps the highlight of the night for Liz was the Bank scene and her awesome one liners revolving around the loan agent she was working with, and how said agent, took out loans to go to school to lend money to others.
 
However, while Liz’s journey, and other moments helped to bring about some laughs. The mysticism that was present in the pilot episode was only further enhanced in this story since Ernie called London to start the succession process since he decided of his own accord that it was high time for him to become the Sovereign Protector and well, what we saw in London was just downright fascinating. Because in this part of the story, we came to learn that there are many Lodges all around the world, and that Lodge 1, has some strange traditions and I for one, am dying to know exactly why Jocelyn was forced to wear a blindfold when speaking to his supervisor. Was it because it’s a strange respect thing? Or did it involve something magical?
 
Time will tell of course, but all mystery aside, what made me truly happy when I watched this episode, is that it continued in the pilot’s footsteps and made sure that we received quality and relatable time with our characters as they just tried to make it through the day in some cases and it was quite lovely to see Dud experience some growth in this tale. Because he nearly slipped back into his old habits, which could have gotten him into some serious trouble. But he stuck with the Lodge, and he stood up to Ernie when it comes to the shady choice Mister Fontaine made when it comes to Dud’s membership fees and well, this was just a lovely little episode when all is said and done.
 
I really loved the fact that it found a way to increase the laughs this go round because the comedy was just delightful, and the chuckles didn’t just come from Liz, we also need to make mention of the amazing courtroom scene where both Dud and the man who bought his father’s house had an epic meltdown once the Judge declared it was lunchtime because that was also downright hilarious and well, this series is just shaping up to be something truly special. I can’t get enough of the quirky characters, and it’s provided me with just enough mystery to keep that part of my brain pondering upon on the possibilities down the line and really, it’s just turning out to be a beautiful character study through and through, one that features some fascinating human beings and well, I want more. So, that means it’s high time to fire up the AMC app, and return to the Lodge. Until next time.

​Destiny is a concept that is always in the back of our minds. Because the idea that everything we are doing in our lives is leading us down a particular path to a particular moment, one that likely benefits us in wonderful ways, is fascinating to say the least. For it implies that there is some level of control to our chaotic lives after all and every hardship we go through is going to have some kind of payoff when all is said and done and that brings comfort to our souls and joy to our hearts and the thought of destiny is definitely a wonderful one to hold on to in times of crisis.
 
However, as is often the case with grand concepts such as destiny, we simply don’t know if it is real or not, which is where the wonder of fiction comes into play and recently, I finally had the opportunity to start a television series named Lodge 49, that oddly enough, focuses heavily on the notion of destiny, and I use the word odd simply because, I hadn’t a clue that this saga was going to focus on that notion in the slightest. In fact, the opening moments of the pilot episode, ‘As Above, So Below’, do little to clue the audience into the fact that something philosophical and spectacular is headed their way. Instead this fascinating episode focuses heavily in the beginning, on a man who has seen better days; Sean ‘Dud’ Dudley.
 
For we learn quickly in this tale, that Dud has more or less hit rock bottom after losing everything that mattered in his life. He can no longer enjoy his greatest passion, which is surfing, thanks to a snake bite, and his dream job disappeared shortly after his father passed away and at this point, he’s homeless and destitute and just trying to get by. And he’s not alone in feeling lost at the moment since the pilot also introduces us to Ernie Fontaine, a salesman who is down on his luck and hoping for more in this stage of his life and there’s also Dud’s sister Liz, who is saddled with all the remaining debt from their father’s passing and well, we quickly come to see in this opening chapter that all of them are desperate to find some kind of direction in their lives and this world.
 
Enter the mysterious Lodge 49, a place that seems to call to Dud when he discovers a ring that came from the Lodge and when he goes there to return it, he meets Ernie and comes to realize that there is something special about this place, and he needs to be a part of it and that’s where the mystery revolving around destiny truly takes hold in this story. Because it seems as though something special has brought both Dud and Ernie to this Lodge and of course Dud is seemingly welcomed into the Order of the Lynx with open arms and there appears to be more to this place than meets the eye, especially when one considers how offended and surprised Larry is when he hears Dud’s story, before he slugs Dud in the eye and well, the mystery surrounding this Lodge is fascinating to say the least because it seems to imply that there is something legendary about the Lodge and that Dud may in fact be part of some kind of prophecy revolving around it, and the Order…
 
But of course, that’s all conjecture at this point, but the clues are definitely there and well, I have to admit that I’m sorry I didn’t dive into this series sooner because, it’s fascinating. Not only does it have my interest thanks to the whole mystery surrounding the Order of the Lynx and the lodge, but it offers so much more than notions of destiny. This is an outright quality character study, one that dives into some serious matters when it comes to our legacy and how to handle life when the world comes crashing down around us and what matters more, is that this series finds a way to present these notions without going to dark places and that’s no easy task. Either way, I’m definitely intrigued by what Lodge 49 has to offer and I would certainly like to know more about Dud and the Order and I’ll be definitely be diving into more episodes to see exactly where this quirky and unique story is headed. Until next time.  

​As I settled in to watch the next episode of Amazon’s new thriller Homecoming, I have to admit that I was expecting more of the same, which is not a bad things by any means, because I love a slow burning mystery that haunts the audience as it slowly reveals its secrets and that’s precisely what this series has delivered in spades over the course of its first two episodes. But as it turns out, the next chapter in this fascinating saga, ‘Optics’, decided to change things up big time by taking the time to remove some of the mystique surrounding this facility by indeed confirming some creepy things are happening within Homecoming’s walls, but not before teaching us a little more about our two main characters.
 
Which quite frankly, is where we are going to start first with this recap, because I was taken aback by the fact that Walter and Heidi were finally revealed to be to wonderfully good people when all is said and done, since the series has kept them mired in mystery over the course of the first two episodes and this grand reveal came about by way of a moment of crisis that Shrier helped create when he took the keys to a van to get outside of Homecoming for a bit, and Walter went with him. Not out of fear or panic, but to support a fellow soldier and help him come to understand that their current situation did indeed revolve around helping these men recover from the trauma they experienced while on tour and it was magnificent to see Walter go this far to support a friend and help him find mental peace.
 
Because this could have put him in some serious trouble, had it not been for Heidi. For she took the time to overlook this as a minor slip from Shrier and a solid act of friendship from Walter and rather than chastise and lay on a guilt trip she simply let it go, and for that matter, she stepped in and defended Walter and Shrier when Colin came calling, demanding that both of them be released from the program and it was equally as magnificent to see Heidi try and keep these men in the program so they could receive the right treatment. But while both of these stories were warm and fuzzy, and helped to make Homecoming seem like a normal place for a change, all of that was wiped away with a single revelation.
 
For in the middle of Heidi and Colin’s conversation, the boss man revealed that they were indeed feeding a secret medication to the former soldiers, which sent chills down my spine since that meant the pills some of the men have been taking are placebos and it reaffirms that something fishy is going on here and well, these concerns were only further compounded in the future by way of a big reveal wherein we learned that Heidi actually doesn’t remember her time at Homecoming, or Colin for that matter, which is strange to say the least. And to make matters worse, we also came to learn that Agent Carrasco was able to uncover that Heidi’s last day at the facility was 5/5/18, the same day that Cruz was arrested for assault and it just so happens, that Heidi was hospitalized on this day and her time in the hospital was the reason for her release and well, the coincidence there is too great to ignore…
 
If anything, I have to admit that I am supremely stunned over the fact that we received a few answers this early on in season one’s run. Because I truly thought this saga was going to start sending answers our way around episode five or six. But here we are, fully aware now that Homecoming is indeed doing something shady with its ‘clients’ and that somehow, they managed to wipe Heidi’s memory and that something incredibly awful happened between her and Cruz on 5/5/18 and it wouldn’t shock me if the series continues to drop bombs our way so that the day in question becomes all the more ominous as we close in on it. Either way, I loved this episode, and I am so enjoying this series and well, I would like to know more please, so, if you’ll excuse, it’s time for another slice of pineapple…

If there’s one thing that people love and adore when it comes to cinema and television, it’s a good mystery. There’s just something magical about trying to figure what is going on in a story, and when a juicy enigma presents itself, it motivates us to pay close attention to the movie or show we are enjoying at the time, and work to uncover said mystery before the story reveals all of its secrets to us and a quality conundrum, is precisely why I’m finding myself completely and utterly hooked by Amazon’s brand new series, Homecoming.
 
Because my goodness, something incredible is brewing in this tale and the curiosity that was simmering in my mind after watching the pilot episode, came to an outright boil when I settled in to watch the next chapter in this saga, ‘Pineapple’, because things went from strange, to intense in this particular tale while at the same time, this story worked to keep an air of mystery hanging in the air. However, all curiosity aside for the moment, the first real warning sign that we were going to be in for a nail-biting ride came by way of the opening moments. Because the chilling music playing over images that should have brought comfort made everything seem dangerous and unsettling and that was further compounded by the fact that the treatment is not going well for one particular soldier.
 
In fact, a fair chunk of this episode revolved around the fact that Shrier is starting to have second thoughts about his stay at Homecoming, to the point where he’s skipping his medication, and detaching himself from his friends in this place and really, the most intense scene of the story came about at dinner where Shrier questioned if this band of brothers were actually in Florida and he also pondered upon Homecoming’s ‘real’ purpose, and his frustration with a lack of answers, and his suspicions exploded in a powerful moment when he outright lost it and screamed and hollered at anyone who would listen. 
 
Yet, the tense nature of this story didn’t end with Shrier’s outburst, the future kept it going as well since Carrasco continued his deep dive into that complaint that Walter Cruz filed years ago, and the mystery surrounding that complaint only grew when Walter’s mother refused to answer questions and deflected every step of the way and her push to make this a non-issue was complimented nicely by the grand reveal from Heidi’s mom that Heidi simply came home one day and wouldn’t discuss the details of why she left a fine paying job behind in order to move back in with her mom and take a gig that didn’t quite cater to her talents.
 
If anything, the mystery simply persists in this tale, and I’m dying to know why there is such anger oozing from people in the present and the future when it comes to Homecoming. It’s just fascinating really and something epic and terrible must have happened if so many people are that desperate to have their memories of this place fade away and well, while this episode offered up no easy answers to the mystery at hand, I am ready to discover more. Especially now that I know that Shrier is likely going to cause some trouble down the line. Which means at this point the only way to get the answers I seek, is to dig in and deal with the ugly, so I’m off to revisit this strange place once again. Until next time. 

​If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about television marketing in this day and age, it’s that we get a pretty solid idea of what to expect from a new series well before it hits the airwaves. We know its hook, we get a fair idea of what kind of plot to expect and well, this kind of marketing is both good and bad. After all, this does let us know if this is the kind of series that we want to watch or not, but the downside is, there’s no mystery or excitement when it comes to this brand-new show. You know what you’re getting into and that can remove the sense of wonder that comes with discovering a new story to enjoy.
 
But, believe it or not, it is entirely possible to build an air of mystery when it comes to a new series and for proof, look no further than what Amazon has done with its new series, Homecoming. Because while this new show received a healthy marketing campaign, I knew little of what exactly this series was going to entail other than the fact that it starred Julia Roberts and that it revolved around a mysterious facility and well, not knowing much more than that prompted me to give it a look this past weekend and as it turns out, that air of mystery only grew shortly after I settled in to enjoy the pilot episode, ‘Mandatory’.
 
But we will get to said mystery in a moment, shortly after we discuss the grand and fascinating setup that is presented to us in this story. For in this opening chapter, we are introduced to Heidi Bergman (played by Roberts), who is the administrator/lead therapist of a facility known as Homecoming, and this place is designed to help former soldiers reacclimate to civilian life by providing them with therapy and skills training so that when they head home, they can find jobs with ease and enjoy a normal life. But, while that seems simple enough, something horrible is going to happen in this place down the line, since the story also takes us four years into the future, wherein we see that Heidi has left Homecoming and will do anything and everything to forget her time there, especially when the Department of Defense comes calling to investigate a complaint that was filed while she was in charge.
 
If anything, that’s where the mystery begins to build in this tale since let’s be honest, Heidi’s disdain for her time in this facility makes one supremely curious as to what went down to make her want that kind of separation and the mystery only grows from there. Because we learn very little of how exactly this place helps these fractured men, and the odd discussions between Heidi and her boss involving medication and results is suspicious to say the least and well, all of this raises red flags and questions in our mind, and it instantly sucks you in to the overall story, because you have to know more when all is said and done, and a few technical elements help enhance our curiosity as well.
 
The running time of each episode is a fine example of this, since Homecoming’s thirty-minute length is just enough to give you exactly what your brain needs and leave you hungry for more and the way its shot and the music that accompanies those images adds an air of dread, as though something horrible is around the corner, and well…something is and I want to know all the details as to what is going to happen here, which means I’m all in and ready to discover more about this mysterious place. So, it’s high time then I don’t delay this journey any further and play the next episode, in order to satisfy my curiosity, regardless of the consequences because deep down I know, this is not going to end well…

This past weekend BBCAmerica aired a sensational project unlike any other program I have ever seen. Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives contained 8 stories, all told by women, in a setting much befitting the stage. Each segment shared a brutally truthful reality that we all face today. The unique style was eloquently done by each actress who added an emotional element that could not be reproduced. The choices of subject matter ranged from revolutions to sexual assault and some in-between. One piece in particular stood out as a futuristic look at what humanity’s reaction would be if racial scales were tipped. 

Three of the eight stories were about sex in some form. 'Bovril Pam' starts out innocent enough. The young secretary played by actress Jodie Comer speaks to us about a new co-worker, one we aren’t supposed to like, and humorously we don’t. Eventually though, Jodie’s character turns the topic from hating a co-worker into a sexual awakening. Pam asks if she’s ever had any orgasm before, and the secretary hasn’t. Pam has, and it was another girl who gave it to her. Taking place in the 60’s amidst the start of the sexual revolution, this piece delivers a very eye opening experience into the discovery of one's sexuality. Rather, ones' sexual experimentation; in a time where sex was a very repressed topic, let alone something even friends spoke of. The idea of achieving an orgasm with a woman has our young secretary thanking Pam and questioning her sexuality.  

Along with this are probably the two darkest subjects, in my opinion. 'Compliance' and 'Pig Life' deal with the very heavy topic of rape. I’ll admit, these two were personally hard to watch. However, this is a very real and very important thing that needs to be addressed. The way this was done was so beautiful, so heart breaking, that while I was troubled, I was also proud. I was proud to have someone openly talk about what it’s like, first hand, and what you feel while it happens. Especially in the States where it’s such a taboo topic at the moment.  In 'Compliance' we have a young actress meeting her producer in a hotel room. Things quickly go south as he assaults her. The powerful imagery from being in character and on a stage only to transition to the wig and make up being pulled away is so brilliant. It was like taking off the mask you wear only to reveal the pain beneath. Our actress finishes her soliloquy while in a shower, fully clothed, and describing the most violent parts of her experience.

In companion, 'Pig Life' shines light on marital rape, which was made illegal in the U.K. in 1991. The wife lays on a bed and talks about the husband she once loved, the man who takes what he wants as if it’s his right, and the brutal realization of what he did to her. Coming to terms with being a victim of rape is perhaps the hardest thing to go through. My heart snapped in half for what she went through. For the powerful emotions that she expressed are a hard truth that many women still face this today. This piece was perhaps the most accurate at the aftermath. To say something means you’re admitting to being a victim while to say nothing means you’re omitting that it happened. Yet, to do both means you’re judged. It is the judgement that is the hardest to face.

Now that we are halfway into Jodie Whittaker’s first season as the Doctor on Doctor Who, I have to admit that I am truly impressed with her job in the role and where the series is headed with her at the helm of the TARDIS. Because it’s inherently clear that the cast and Chris Chibnall are working to bring the show back to its roots if you will and give us a Doctor that will do anything and everything to preserve life while teaching others to appreciate the wonder of the universe. And for proof, look no further than last night’s episode, ‘The Tsuranga Conundrum’, where all of those elements were present from beginning to end, in the most magnificent of fashion because this one, felt like vintage Who with a modern twist.
 
After all, old school episodes of the show always found the Doctor and his friends in the middle of deep space to investigate or experience something special and that’s precisely what happened with Team TARDIS in this tale, except this time around, their poking about on a planet full of junk, got them into a little health related trouble when a sonic mine detonated right in front them. Thankfully a medical vessel was able to pick up them and the technicians there helped nurse them all back to health and well, that’s where the first modern twist of the night came about. Because in this day and age, danger and gritty storytelling are a staple of Sci-Fi and a surprise visitor aboard this ship brought forth that very grit.
 
For in this tale we were introduced to the Pting, a cute little species with big black eyes and a teddy bear structure in nature. But their voracious appetite for…every kind of matter out there and their toxic exterior made this little guy extremely dangerous as he began to consume the ship bit by bit, killing one member of the crew in the process and putting the entire ship and its inhabitants in danger since eventually, it would either set off warning signals that would force the vessel to be destroyed to keep others safe, or blow up the ship by consuming it to the point of critical damage and well, this episode quickly became a race against time to save every single life aboard. 

​Which is where both old school and new school crossed paths in the story because the Doctor had to work to figure out how the heck to get rid of this little bugger without killing it in cold blood and as she worked to deal with this starved menace, the intensity continued to ramp up and moment by moment the danger continue to grow in this tale, to the point where I actually found myself pacing a little bit thanks to the intensity present here. But, thankfully, the Doctor figured out how to feed the little bugger everything he would need nutritionally and save the ship in the process and that final push to save the day and every life aboard brought about the return of a thematic concept that’s hung heavy in a good way over this season; hope.
 
Because week in and week out, we see an effort from the show to make the Doctor a true beacon of hope and how that concept was handled this week was, to quote the Doctor, brilliant. Because everything the Doctor did in this tale, revolved around in believing in others, and trusting them to the do right and in doing so, she inspired everyone on the ship outside of Team TARDIS to give their best in this tough and terrifying moment and for their efforts, most of them lived to see another day and the one that did not make it, died a hero and left behind a legacy of bravery and nobility and it was just wonderful to see that the series keeps finding new ways to keep this theme going and leave our spirits soaring in the process.
 
In the end however, I really enjoyed this old school approach to this tale and it was quite cool to also see that the show is working to build continuity again from week to week since this entire situation was indicative of the Doctor’s warning from last week that space is a dangerous place. But clearly, the team is up for the challenge, and the Doctor’s good nature is rubbing off on them as well since Ryan put in a little extra effort this week to inspire a new father to be the best dad he can be and well, while this one may have offered up a simple monster of the week episode, it at least gave us plenty to chew on as the story played out and well, I loved this episode through and through since it was just plain fun. Until next time.  

Often times, television shows and movies know precisely when to scale back the darkness that they are presenting and with good reason. After all, too much darkness in a story can become overwhelming for an audience to the point where they are supremely uncomfortable and unwilling to see where the story goes, so scaling back, even just a bit, gives the audience everything they need to properly enjoy the tale they are so invested in. But sometimes, a story refuses to take its proverbial foot off of the gas pedal, or it’s outright unable to do so because the darkness is just that relevant to the story and well, all of those latter options apply to The Man in the High Castle.
 
Because a few episodes ago, the slow burning character study that season three provided us with was replaced with darkness and tension, and all of that, came to a stunning head in the season three finale, ‘Jahr Null’, since it seems that everything that could possibly go wrong, and offend the audience in the process, was going to happen in this tale. Case in point, the fact that Hawthorne Abernathy, whose real name is Abe Hawkes, was captured by John Smith at last, and his capture was only the beginning for this bleak tale. For Juliana’s plan to destroy the Reich’s dimensional gate failed miserably, putting her behind bars as well and believe it or not, things actually managed to get worse from there.
 
For this sequence of events removed all hope from my heart in regard to John Smith stepping up and doing something more and heroic in this twisted world. Because despite how disturbed he was by the events happening around him, he still followed orders and gave them as well, and it’s just sad to see that John no longer has a spine. Yet I made mention of the fact that this episode managed to outright offend the audience, or at least in this case me, and that’s something the series hasn’t done much of this season. But the kickoff of Jahr Null, wherein the Statue of Liberty was blown to bits and left to rot in the New York harbor definitely left me glaring at my television with disdain and the fall of Lady Liberty only inspired further ugliness in the story since her collapse led to all kinds of riots and purges of American History from a youth that doesn’t understand the evil they are embracing, and this, well this just made me sick.
 
Because it speaks to the power of fascism, and how quickly a society can embrace it and seeing Manhattan burn in celebration of the Reich, left me shaking my head with disgust and it left me wondering if there would ever be hope for this world. And believe it or not, there is, thanks to Wyatt at least. Because he and a damn fine sniper were able to wound the Reichsführer badly during the celebration, putting a damper upon it and Wyatt wasn’t quite done wounding the Reich just yet, since he also made many a copy of the film, and it is clear now he plans to distribute it in order to inspire others to rise up and fight and in the Pacific States, Frank’s symbols of hope are now finding new life as well thanks to Ed and Jack and Robert and of course…Juliana is out there somewhere in the multiverse, albeit wounded and hopefully…she returns and soon to help this world resist the horrors that permeate it.  
 
Yet, despite the sliver of hope that this finale provided us with, the darkness still overpowered everything and quite frankly, it was a necessary evil so to speak. Because there is a level of comfort and routine that has come about with this series when it comes to the Reich and what it represents and the ugliness that Himmler helped motivate in this tale, alongside the experiments present in his story, all served to remind us of the depravity of the Reich and the need for this world to rise up and I really do hope season four of this saga features a Reich in crisis as the people fight for their freedom, and the setup for that here was handled nicely and really, when all is said and done, this was quite the powerful finale. It upped the ante, it made me squirm and I’ll be damned if I wasn’t captivated while watching this and well, I want more. I want to see if the people do indeed rise up and if John will ever grow a spine and sadly, I have to wait until season four to see if all that will happen and I’ll be keeping my eyes open on the web to see exactly when this particular and harrowing tale will return to wow us all. Until next year.  

I have to fully admit, that I was a touch nervous when I settled in to watch the next episode of The Man in the High Castle, because something in my gut told me that the penultimate episode of season three, ‘Baku’, was going to build upon the darkness that permeated the prior tale and well, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the feeling in my gut was one-hundred percent right and my nerves were justified since this turned out to be one stunning and unsettling tale. One that took the sense of danger that lurked behind the story in the last episode to a whole new level by bringing the threat of war back to the forefront of the series.
 
Yet, how it accomplished that was done in the most fascinating of fashion. Because rather than provide us with traditional moments, the kind that see troops mobilize and threats be exchanged, a simple phone call from Trade Minister Tagomi to John Smith solidified the danger at hand because Tagomi proposed a quiet meeting in the Neutral Zone between the two men to hash out the problems facing the GNR and the JPS and while Himmler saw this as a great intelligence opportunity, Smith took this situation quite seriously and provided Tagomi with great respect and the desperation and worry on both of their faces during this meeting, spoke volumes to the threat now looming over both nations.
 
Plus, Juliana’s story only added to the tension since she and Wyatt were able to inspire others to join her cause in Chicago, and eventually, her tiny army, one that featured a few familiar faces from another life, assembled in Pennsylvania, wherein they were able to learn what they are up against at the facility and they came to realize just how dangerous this mission is going to be when they make their move to destroy the dimensional gate and well, the sheer danger present in this part of the story, and the buildup over the fact that Juliana is ready to make her final assault is what made this part of the story so incredibly tense since it did a fine job of setting everything up for the finale and well, the stakes are high are to say the least since the multiverse is at risk here.
 
But, the darkest story in this tale belongs to Frank Frink, who was able to express his beautiful artwork all over key places in the Neutral Zone before disaster struck. Because Kido found out Frank was back in Denver, and he and his lackey were able to corner Frank and bring him to the former site of the Manzanar Internment Camp, wherein it seemed as though Kido and Frank were making peace between one another as they both spoke to their mistakes from last season, and their motivations. But in the end, all Kido wanted was to have an honest discussion with his enemy, and look him in the eye before putting him down and in a stunning moment, we saw Frank’s life finally come to an end at Kido’s hands…
 
So, yeah. I didn’t think it was possible for season three to get darker but here we are, with another character wiped from the face of the story, and the Man in the High Castle in peril since John Smith was able to track him down in the Neutral Zone. And when all is said and done, I find it fascinating that nothing was resolved in this particular tale outside of perhaps Frank’s story. Because the threat of war still looms large, we’ve no idea if Juliana’s plan is going to work and well, that kind of uncertainty is pure genius since we simply don’t know who will survive what will likely be a powerhouse season finale and well, rather than provide conjecture, it’s best to just suck it up and see how it ends, which means it’s time for me to settle in and watch the season three finale and discuss it with you all a little later on. Until next time.

If there is one particular staple that makes The Man in the High Castle such a compelling story, it’s the outright darkness that permeates this tale as a whole. Much of that is of course accomplished by the sheer fact that the Nazis won the war and now rule most of America, but the fact of the matter is, the story sometimes goes above and beyond to allow for that darkness to grow by giving us moments that leave us squirming in our seats as we watch on with great discomfort and oddly enough, season three has been devoid of a lot of those particular moments.
 
And to make matters worse, we have in many ways, become immune to seeing goose stepping fools on this series since it is the norm for this show and this story. But thankfully, the Writer’s Room was fully cognizant of this unfortunate side effect that comes with watching this series and the next episode in this harrowing saga, ‘Kasumi (Through the Mists)’, brought back the age old tradition of making us supremely uncomfortable by way of disturbing moments, straight from the get go for that matter, since we were immediately privy to some of the work going on behind the scenes with Year Zero, as we watched the Liberty Bell be melted down and transformed into a visual nightmare as it was repurposed to become a massive metallic Swastika and the dark moments didn’t end there.
 
For just about every single character in this tale faced new kinds of adversity and trouble since the Reich continued its attack on the Trade Minister, going so far as to send an assassin to his home to bring him down, an attack that failed but it still demonstrates the Reich’s resolve to take control of everything and it added a new sense of danger to the story since these two countries may be on a path to war, regardless of their efforts for peace and speaking of the Reich, this episode saw all the hope we had for Helen disappear in the blink of an eye as well since she expressed her disdain for the Reich aloud, and she even made a move on her therapist and well, who knows what fate awaits her since John can only do so much to protect her.
 
But the true darkness and bleakness when it comes to the story arrived by way of Juliana’s journey. For her own hopes when it comes to inspiring others were dashed when everyone at Sabra in essence laughed at the film and stepped away from it, showing either their cowardice or disregard to all the possibilities and matters were only complicated further on her way to the Reich since she and Wyatt ran into trouble at a border checkpoint, and despite Wyatt’s best efforts to keep their noses clean, their trek toward Pennsylvania turned bloody when gunfire was exchanged and well, it’s only a matter of time now before the Reich realizes what Juliana is up to, making her attempt to stop the Nazis from interdimensional travel all the more difficult.
 
So, yeah. This was just a bleak story through and through, and the vibe that I received in this one is that everything is starting to slowly unravel right before our eyes, and considering the fact that Joe Blake is dead, I’m honestly wondering if anyone left standing is safe at this point, or if more death and carnage is about to head our way. But what matters most, is that this felt like a vintage episode of the series, where danger permeates every single thread of the storytelling and clearly, we are now building to something big in this tale since Juliana is close to the facility and war appears to be brewing and well, I simply have to know how this ends, which means it is time to settle in and watch another chapter in this chilling tale. Until next time.